Doodles Who Love Doodles

[Jennie & Emma]

Today I took Emma for her first beginner agility class.  There was a class already in progress and the only dogs in the class that were distracted by her were the two doodles in the class.  I have been noticing for awhile that Emma has a distinct preference for other doodles, she can recognize them a mile away.  If there is a doodle at the dog park she will want to play with it above all others no matter what the size.  (She usually likes to play with smaller dogs).

Emma is my first doodle, but I have owned other breeds for a long time and have never noticed them having a preference for their own breed.  Is this a unique doodle thing?

[Katie and Sophie]

Soph does this too.  Jade, our Weimaraner, also does this with other Weims.  I think it might have to do with their energy levels and temperaments.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have to say that my male dog Rio is freaked out by any dog with pointy ears! He has seen soooo many doodles in his lifetime (I groom them) that he doesn't know what to make of a dog that doesn't have big droopy ears--so that is kind of the same thing--we have a goldendoodle next door that he just adores!

[GBK]

Yes, mine are totally drawn to other doodles, they make a beeline too them even if they haven't met yet.  Our group in las vegas meets up quite a bit and I hear the same thing from everyone else.  We just got back from the dogpark tonight and they saw the doodle in the park before I did and were over sniffing and making friends right away. 

[Raley the Doodle]

That is funny!! I don't know if Raley would pick another doodle out of a crowd - she hasn't been around that many, but she loooves playing with them. Doodles playing with doodles is the funniest thing! They are so bouncy and clumsy tumbling around with each other.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I've noticed that with Monty as well. He will immediately go to a doodle in a dog park if there is any, and will try to play. Otherwise, he does not play with other dogs. It's very interesting.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

My two have been raised with other doodles, Murphy with my daughters doodle and frequent visits from his brother since the beginning and Bella with all 3 of them. We have a monthly doodle romp here for what is now in its 4th season, and they do tend to migrate and stay near each other exclusively when at the romp. Other dogs may come over to the group, but doodle play is unique to doodles and other breeds just don't "get it" .
The other dogs they seem to notice most easily are golden retrievers as well. Always makes me wonder too, what do they recognize about other doodles or retrievers? Is it a unique doodle thing? I couldn't say, I've only ever owned doodles.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna does this too, but she also does it with Goldens and poodles.  Her favorites by far are doodles that are related to her - there are a few that frequent the same dog park as us (they have the same poodle dad, different mothers).  She always plays like CRAZY with her half-brothers and sisters.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Yes, Finn does this too.  He loved everybody as a puppy but he's learned the hard way that his play level is too much for some dogs. They just don't get him! I was thinking about this when I took him to a festival in town last weekend.  There were tons of people and dogs and he's trained now to ignore other dogs when we're walking.  He's pretty good at it but he really doesn't have much interest in other dogs until we see a doodle.  It's always a doodle.  This time we ran into two at different times-- both well mannered, standing quietly. But when Finn and another doodle see each other  it's like, let the dance begin!  They bow, they bounce, and if they can get away with it, they try to hug each other.  Instant friends. Like there's some secret doodle handshake:)  I've never seen other dogs do this so I was wondering too.. 

[Jennie & Emma]

Yes, I like that.  Secret doodle handshake. :)

[GBK]

LOL how about a Secret doodle tail wag!  Last night Buddy was waiting at the gait for a dog to come into the park wagging his tail real fast.  Of course it was the new doodle friend we met the night before :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our doodles prefer doodles or poodles, especially Ned.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Jake notices right away if it is a poodle or a doodle but his best friend who lives up the street is a Samoyed named Angel.  She is a ruff and tumble kind of gal who plays just like doodles!