First time Doodler looking to adopt

[Beth Ridley]

My boyfriend and I are looking to adopt a Goldendoodle around June or later and we live in the Boston area. My boyfriend suffers from mild allergies and we have heard great things about Goldendoodles. I am an experienced pet owner, but do not have any experience adopting pure bred dogs. Does anyone have any advice on finding a reputable breeder or any other tips on going through the adoption process? I have read up on F1, F1B, and F2s but am not sure which, if any in particular, is the right choice for us. 

Thank you!!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

If you are looking to adopt a doodle then be sure to check out a good rescue group like DRC or IDog.  If you are looking to purchase a puppy from a breeder be sure to read this link on What to Loof For In a Breeder: http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder

 

If allergies are a big concern you may want to consider a purebred poodle or poodle mixed with another non-shedding dog. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Goldendoodles are not purebreds, they are a mixed breed, and as such, there is great variation in them from one to another. There are lots and lots of discussions here about the fact that it is very difficult to predict a doodle's coat or size before it is full grown. I am sure some of the others here will have lots of advice for you. If allergies are an issue, please do your research very carefully. Lots of doodles do shed and are not allergy friendly.

For the sake of clarification, when you use the word "adopt", you mean buy a puppy from a breeder, is that correct? I ask because to me, "adoption" usually refers to adopting a homeless dog from a rescue, which is another option. There are lots of doodles in rescue, and with an adult dog, you know what you are getting.

Here is our DK article on What To look for in a Breeder. Lots of good advice here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder

[Beth Ridley]

Hi Karen,

Thank you for the great information! By adopt I am referring to anything from buying a puppy from a breeder to adopting an adult Goldendoodle (this may be the incorrect use of adopt and be confusing).

We are open to options and still considering what is the best route for us and appreciate your comments!

[Ginny Nightingale]

I totally agree with the answers you have gotten from Amy and Karen--and just want to add a few facts--first of all, if you are looking to get a puppy OR a rescue, you would broaden your opportunities if you included labradoodles, there are not  many differences between them and then you would have more choices. Also, F1b is a doodle crossed back to a poodle and therefore, has more poodle--and as such MAY have less of an allergic tendency. BUT you really don't know with any breed, mixed or pure, if you are going to react. 

The best thing to do is to contact breeders in your area and ask to visit to see if your boyfriend has any reactions--of course, not all doodles are created equal with regards to coat types/allergens but at least you would see if those doodles caused any reaction--in which case getting a doodle might be risky with regards to allergies. I had a bunch of kids visiting my house recently and I have 3 doodles. Two of the kids had allergies....one was hardly bothered by the dogs and the other couldn't breathe! So, you never know...good luck!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Whether you should consider a doodle also depends on how "mild" those allergies are.  If they are a minor nuisance, then a doodle might work and you should choose the type based on looks and the individual dog on its personality and the breeder it comes from.

 

My husband is mildly allergic to dogs in that he just gets a bit stuffed up living with a dog.  He copes with it by taking an allergy pill every morning and is totally fine.  Our Luna sheds pretty heavily and she is not a hypoallergenic dog (my brother is allergic to dogs and he got hives when she licked him!)

[Janet]

I'd love a mini goldendoodle, but I'm having an IMPOSSIBLE time finding one from a rescue or something of that sort in Louisiana. I've googled the prices for one and well no thanks and would rather recuse one if possible.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Please, please, please do not only consider adopting a dog from a rescue because you feel that it is a discount from the high prices that breeders are asking.  A good breeder can ask a high price because their breeding dogs have been tested and they provide a 1-2 year health guarantee on their puppies.  Plus the demand is high right now too.  If someone can't afford to pay a breeder (and i'm not trying to imply that you can't afford to pay the breeder), can they afford to pay for any of the costs that could suddenly occur with a rescue dog with an unknown history? 

I have 2 doodles.  1 from a breeder and 1 that was adopted.  I have spent a ton of money on my adopted doodle.  We have gone to several group training classes along with private training sessions to deal with his many fear issues.  He has had numerous ear infections and was recently diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (allergies) which is something that we will be treating for the rest of his life. 

There is a reason that many of these dogs have been dumped in shelters.  While it is entirely possible to get a perfectly wonderful and healthy dog from a rescue/shelter, it is equally just as likely that that dog will have behavioral or health issues. 

[Janet]

I just think it's a bit  excessive for a dog to be between $1800 -2200+ that is pretty much just a mixed breed dog. Rescuing one has nothing to do with a discount. I believe in don't shop, adopt if  possible.You could do alot with that much amount of money. I just would rather give a dog a home then make  breeder rich. But you tend to find the standard size and not the mini ones that needs homes. It's kinda disheartening  to see all these "designer dogs" breeds now and the people that breed them want an astronomical price for them when so many perfectly great and healthy shelter dogs get put to sleep everyday because there's too many dogs and not enough people. But that's just my little old opinion on that.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

What you say is true, but when you adopt a dog in order to give a home to a dog in need, it's difficult to have requirements as to breed, size, etc. There are tons of smaller poodle mix dogs in shelters all over the South, Louisiana included. So "don't shop, adopt" is ceertainly possible. But for people who only want a certain mix in a certain size, i.e. a mini goldendoodle, a breeder is the only real option. They are out there in rescue occasionally, but the demand is far greater than the supply. The DRC gets 50 applications a day from people looking for mini goldendoodles in rescue.

It's like the difference between going to a department store or a resale shop to buy a dress. In the department stores, you can look for a specific color, a specific size, a specific designer, a specific fabric. In the resale shop, it's more like a treasure hunt. You can find something you will love that will be perfect for you, but you can't have a preconceived idea of what that looks like. :-)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am surprised if you feel this way about Doodles, you joined a Doodle website. I adopted a 10 year old Lab from a Lab rescue. The rescue fee was $100. We called her our million dollar baby. She came with severe separation anxiety (which was never mentioned) and we paid lots of money for a trainer, vet fees, doggie daycare, medication, and eventually had to hire a dog sitter. She destroyed our front door and molding, which was not cheap.  We loved her and gave her a good life, but when she went, we wanted to start over with puppies. I would gladly pay the price for a good breeder. There are no guarantees, but it sure increases my odds. I love the idea of adoption and we went that route, but chose to go a different one the next time around and I do not regret my decision for one minute.

[Janet]

Granted that the parents' pedigree is pure, but it's a mixed breed dog once they have puppies. There's no two ways about it. I'm looking into get a dog and I like the mini goldendoodle. See. I've get a few senior cats and I'm probably going to have to get a puppy of some sort. I think getting an adult dog would not be safe for my cats. It's highly unlikely I'd find a baby or a young  mini goldendoodle up for adoption. I'm just trying to see what my options are. Not trying to cause a heated discussion but that's just how I feel.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

No one ever said it was not a mixed breed. In fact, look at the first response from Karen.  You are free to adopt, rescue, buy... whatever works for you...and so am I. Good luck in your search.