GoldenDoodle 101 anybody?

[Chris H]

Hi folks, 

I'll be moving to the LA area soon, and once we plant our roots we'll be looking for a GD to add to the family. I've been a long-time Golden Retriever lover, my girlfriend a long-time Labradoodle lover. (I grew up with goldens, she with LDs). So we decided the GD would be perfect for us. 

I've got a few questions for the group (and would also welcome any links to good resources on the topic)

1. Can you tell if an F1 puppy will grow up to be a light shedder by it's coat? Or is it pretty much a 50% gamble? (I don't care about the shedding, but she does - I only ask because I think the F1 puppies would have a lower probability of health problems, no?). 
    
2. Can anyone recommend a breeder in the California/Nevada/Arizona area? We'll look to pick up our (probably F1b) GD by this Fall of 2012. 

Thank you so much!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

But it's not just doodles. People say rude and stupid things about many other kinds of dogs, including poodles. I cannot tell you how many times over the years I had absolute strangers sneer at my poodle and make comments like "Why don't you get a real dog?" Once, as I passed two men while walking my last girl, one of them said (intentionally loud enough for me to hear) "I'd like to kick that dog like a football." And my dogs were not in show cut and did not have shaved faces. They looked very much like the doodles who are clipped short.

When I fostered German Shepherds, I encountered strangers who shouted "Keep that @#!*! dog away from me!" when I was nowhere near them, had the dog under complete control, and the dog was a retired police K9 to boot.  

JD is actually the first dog I've ever had who has not attracted any negative comments ever, from anyone, even when they knew he was a doodle.

People are just nuts. Ignore them.

[Katie and Sophie]

So well said Karen.  I actually don't get many negative comments about Soph, just the occasional Aussie and Poodle- she must be so hyper!  Its actually Soph's sister Jade, our beautiful Weimaraner who gets the brunt of the breed discrimination.  People usually have no idea what she is, but if they have just heard of them without any real interaction I get all kinds of rude remarks.  They are so high strung, so neurotic, have such bad separation anxiety, excessive energy, the whole ordeal.   All the while she is just sitting there politely waiting to be petted.  If only they knew how intelligent, calm, well behaved, and sweet my little girl is.  Yes, you can see bad traits from the result of poor breeding, but that does not by any means define the breed.  It really does hurt your feelings to have people judge your dog before they have ever even interacted with them.  So I completely understand how you feel when people made such rude comments.  It hurts.  I love purebred poodles, they are beautiful and athletic and smart!  And great dogs to have as pets!  So yes, people are nuts.  Love whatever dog you have and you can't go wrong.

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

Lisa, that is unbelievable!  But, I agree with Karen- you gotta chalk that up to nothing more than a rude man who was obviously never taught basic manners.  

Honestly, some of the most out of line comments I ever encountered were from strangers feeling the right to comment on my children (who were generally well behaved little people).  So, again, Karen is right- some people are just nuts and think someone handed them a megaphone and asked for their commentary on anything and everything.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Nothing wrong with mutts.  They are sometimes the best dogs.  However, the doodle haters are mostly snobs and like to wiggle their mouths on line.  Don't listen to that!  Get what you want and it looks like you are doing your research.  I always spend a lot of time researching and have been very happy with all my doodles.

[Charlotte and Bo]

Karen is right. People are just nuts.  I suspect many of the haters just don't like dogs. Some are convinced that their breeds should remain pure.   Before I got Bo the labradoodle, I had a beagle/basset mix, a dobie/shepard mix and some "who knows what mixes". I also had a pedigree chocolate lab I inherited from my mom.  Except for the lab they were all rescues. They all had their quirks but were all good dogs.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

My Daisy is an F1B Goldendoodle, non shedding. The father a standard party poodle and her mother a f1 Goldendoodle. Her sister Bella,(not mine but a close friends) same parents also non shedding.

I think it's the luck of the draw but from what I read and hear about here on DK F1B are more likely to be non shedding.

Daisy(2-1/2) is past her puppy coat, requires grooming every 8 weeks or so, and Bella is just finishing (at 1 year old), they let her coat get away from them and she is a matted mess :o( and will be shaved this Saturday. So please consider that in your choices of non shedding cause that is what you get.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Hi Chris, Welcome to DK. I have two Labradoodles. Fudge is an F1B and does not shed one hair, but she mats. Vern is a F3 Labradoodle and he sheds minimally and has very few mats. I am a terrible groomer, so I opt to have them groomed and it is $120 for both. My only advice is don't rule out Labradoodles if you find a great breeder. Many of us have Labradoodles that look exactly like someone's Goldendoodle on this site.  I think there is a very active California group here on DK and you might want to join them and private message them for recommendations. Good luck with whatever you decide and I hope you post some pictures.

Here is one link for the LA Group. There are other CA groups and you can do a search by CA.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/losangelesdoodles

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I live in the LA area and have two ALDs.  You should not have any trouble finding a reputable breeder in the large area you mention, unless you are looking for something really specific.  Example: a chalk white English goldendoodle,female or a dark red female goldendoodle.  I hope you settle in well to LA.  There are lots of negatives, but also many positives - among which are its an hour/two at the most to a beach, the desert, houndred of hiking trails, skiing.  Most of us are actually pretty ordinary and nice.   If you will be here in September there is a large doodle romp ( you may come without a doodle) in the Malibu hills.  You must be invited and pay as the money all supports a different local dog charity.  It is usually about $25/person and includes a buffet.  You will meet lots of wonderful doodles and people and get lots of doodle breeder references. Join the Southern California Doodle group so you don't miss getting the invite if you are interested.

Welcome to LA.  (Go Kings! and doodles!)

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Sounds exactly like our family!  My husband was a GR fan and fell in live with our realtors F1B GD. Check out my photos of Hunter and you will see the photos of her coat changes. 

Yes, Hunter does shed some but nothing like a GR and in the spring is the worst. If I keep her brushed out it is very minimal and if she is cut short it's next to none. The one plus I have found to the F1's is the matting, they tend to matte way less, hunter will occasionally get a matte under her legs but very rare. I love the scruffier, crazier coat look in the F1s. They do tend to be less consistent in their look. 

Hunters breeder was in Ohio and her website and Facebook group has a lot of photos and info you could reference. I found it a little harder to find a standard sized F1 when we were searching. I will private message her info. Let me know if I can answer more questions for you :-) 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna is an extremely "retriever-ish" F1 mini GD and she sheds quite a bit.  Her shedding is mostly in the Spring - she grows a thick undercoat for the Winter months. Her coat is AMAZING though and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The way I see it is that it's work either way (light/non-shedder or heavier shedder like Luna).  The non-shedding dogs are work on the grooming and shedding dogs are work for your house/clothes.

If your dog doesn't shed (usually curly coat), then it requires a daily investment of time in brushing the dog and a less frequent time or money investment for full-body clipping/grooming. 

  If your dog sheds but has a short, wavy coat (like Luna) then you may not have to brush the dog at all (which is the case with her.. no matts) BUT you have to instead tackle the loose hairs on clothing and the "tumbleweeds" of dog hair around the house.  When Luna's Spring shedding is going on there are little bunches of hair all over the house, even 1-2 days after vacuuming.  I do comb her every day in the Spring to try to speed up the seasonal shedding.  But again - no matts so this is a very quick process.  The only hair trimming I do is her sanitary areas, belly and paws (belly looks funny when it's really long, she can't show off her petite figure!)

[Lynda Kamrath]

I am enoying following you in your search for a goldendoodle.  Keep us all posted on your progress.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Chris,

First of all, I have 2 goldendoodles - both F1.  My first one, Bexter, does not shed AT ALL - his coat is very soft and beautiful.  I do have to brush him once or twice a week now because he will mat if I don't.  He is a mini weighing 40 pounds.  Maggie is a standard goldendoodle weighing 60 pounds.  She does not shed hairs, but I will see clumps of hair on the ground sometimes.  Not bad though.  She also will mat in some places if I do not brush her at least once a week.  These dogs are wonderful temperaments.  They are well behaved, with honestly (I must admit) very little training.  Maggie is just really mellow and wants to please.  She is VERY CALM.  Bexter is excited when he first sees a new person (wants to jump on them), but after 5 minutes is also VERY CALM, but he is very adventurous and loves to walk and hike.  I am a runner & I hope to run him as soon as his joints are all the way formed (I have about 6 more months to go and can't wait).  These doodles love all people, kids, other dogs, etc.  They are an absolute joy.  Their grooming is more costly than what I'm used to with dog ownership, but really that's my only complaint.  They are healthy, wonderful, and mine don't require much exercise.  They just play in the yard & they're fine!  You will love your doodle.  Just make sure you get him/her from a good breeder.  It sounds like your dog will have a very happy life, since you work from home and are an active couple!  I can't wait to hear about your doodle decision!  Good luck.