Anyone see the article on CNN about Labradoodles?

[Doug and Beth]

They seem to say in the article that it's a gimmick about non shedding or non allergen according to a new study.

 

I tried to paste the link but it's not allowing me

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Adrianne, we need a lot more people like you....frankly I don't want most of the people that compliment me on Daisy to ever own a DOG let alone a doodle. I can't tell you how many people ask me - "do you have to groom her?" Oh no, I say, she comes and stays this way, then I laugh and say OF COURSE, you really need to groom EVERY dog but Daisy requires a lot of money, time, and care, but she is worth every penny!

 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna's breeder advertises her doodles as "less to non shedding", so that people know there is a chance they will shed. 

 

We wanted a chance to have a dog that wouldn't shed like crazy, but accept that she may just shed like a GR.

 

I think there is a lack of honesty from some breeders and a lack of education on the part of many new dog owners.  The new owners are well-meaning I am sure, but don't realize what they are getting themselves into.

[Nina]

Hi,  My dog is something like 7th or 8th generation Aust multi gen labradoodle and she sheds a little.  So when people ask me if my dog is non-shedding, I always tell them that she sheds a little.  It isn't fair to the doodle dogs to have people expect them to be perfect and then be disappointed when each dog's "reality" hits...shedding, etc.

 

[Shelby and Kev]

Jealousy my Dear!  Doodles Kick Arse

[Ali & Sonny D.]

As a person who is farily allergic to dogs, I do have to say I do much better with my Sonny than I do with most dogs. If I cuddle too much with Sonny I can get itchy eyes but with other dogs, particularlly labs, I can get hives on my wrists and arms.(from both saliva and fur) Although not trully hypo allergenic, I do do much better with doodles. Plus my allergy shots help.

[Michael Gurley]

I always wonder whether I'm slightly allergic to my dog, but I'm sure it's just because I cuddle her far too much (if that's possible) and I let her sleep next to me in bed. Sometimes she even inches her way up until her head is on my pillow!

 

I do agree that it's good that this article was posted. Maybe it will cut down on the misconceptions about doodles!! Sunny is an ALD- 6th generation- and she sheds a little bit.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

People are stopping me on the street all the time asking questions about Riley.  I find myself telling them all the negatives about getting a puppy and owning a dog that I'm sure they think I'm a nut job.  I just know that Doodle ownership or indeed owning any dog is a huge responsibility.  I can see lots of people oohing and aahing over Riley.  They remark about how gorgeous he looks and how well behaved he is for a puppy and I can see them thinking "I'd love one of those"  After a conversation with me if they still want a 'Riley" then they should go ahead!!!!

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

I raise goldendoodles and have had great success with the non allergen aspect.  When I have someone contact me that has allergies I tell them that not all doodles are non allergenic.  What I do is schedule for them to visit.  I bathe the puppy and put up a puppy pen in an area that I don't ever let the retriever go.  I have the potential buyer or their child who is allergic play with the puppy for a good while.  I want to puppy to lick them roll with them etc.  Then they go home and report back to me 24 hrs and then 48 hours.  Labradoodles may be different but this has worked for me. Lynne  Fountain Falls goldendoodles

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

As to non shedding I've found it interesting that according to my own data, my American goldendoodles shed more than then my English Goldendoodles.  My English doodles dont shed much at all if any.  It may be my stud poodle.  He has recently been bred to an American retriever so we will see.  Even when my Doodles shed it is not like when the retriever shed.  The shedding is like little soft dust bunnies that stick together.  When the retriever sheds which is always, there are white hairs left where ever she vacates.  Much harder to deal with.  Also, I really like that the doodles dont seem to have the same "doggy" smell that other dogs have. Is that just me or do I just love everything about doodles.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I think the stud has a lot to do with it (even though I'm not a breeder).

 

Even though people say that the "retriever ish" doodles are in the minority.. almost EVERY litter sired by Luna's dad looks retriever ish, regardless of if they are F1 or F1B.

 

Luna's entire litter was straight-haired (as far as I know - they all looked non-scruffy at 6 weeks).

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

Good discussion and one I will refer any potential puppy buyers to.  A lot of what I do when people call me for a puppy is educate.  I'm amazed at the number of people that call me that 1. don't know what questions to ask a breeder 2. Have not done their homework about goldendoodles 3. Never ask to see health testing documentation 4. dont ask for references and 5. dont ask to visit where the puppies are raised.  Id say 90%(I'd need to look at my records) of people dont do those 5 things.  It makes it very easy for dishonest unscrupulous breeders to sell anything.  As a result as we know, our beautiful doodles end up in shelters. Another thing that gets to me is people are taken aback when I make sure they understand that they can not breed my pups unless we have come to some kind of agreement before they buy a puppy(that has only happened once)

As I stated earlier, Ive had very good results with "testing" my puppies with particular clients, before they take them home.  I recently sold a puppy, last October, to a wonderful family in Raleigh NC.  They drove all the way here(an overnight trip) to do the testing thing with their special needs child and his three siblings.  It went great, they took the puppy home three weeks later, every thing was wonderful.  Then, the oak trees in the yard started blooming this spring.  The doodle would bring in the pollen on his coat and the child, who was all over the dog would have terrible reactions.  They even had him specifically tested by a doctor for this dog.  After lots of emails and phonecalls with me(also in my contract if the dog needs to be rehomed) they flew her to the grandparents who had already fallen in love with her on a earlier visit.  SO, what some people think is the dog, may be something the dog is bringing in from another source.  It took weeks of testing the dog and the child to figure it out.  

I always encourage my new doodle families to join forums like this for their own education, few do. 

Just another take on the allergy issue.

Lynne

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

My adult daughter has asthma and I have allergies to animals depending on the individual pet (mostly saliva).  When we purchased Harley I new there was a chance that we would have the same issues as with other animals, and was willing to do what was needed (keeping hair vacuumed constantly) if he wasn't a low shedder.  My daughter has a mild to moderate skin reaction to Harleys saliva only and  I have not had any type of reaction to him at all.  He does shed at this time, but nothing near what our past pets shed (Lab and German Shepard) I find small hair bunnies around.  I think an issue easily overlooked is the time requirements to keep a coat looking nice.