Visit to the local dog park has me questioning if I belong here

[Riley girl]

Hello everyone!

I am sorry for the length of this post. Thank you very much if you make it to the end and actually have the energy to comment afterwards ;)

Riley is now 4 months old with all of the proper shots needed to visit the local off-leash dog park. For our first visit I made sure it was at a time that the park was completely empty so she could get used to all of the different smells. Well, we had our second visit last night when the park was filled with all sorts of different dog breeds.

One of the owners we met had her three bearded collies there. (They were HUGE but really sweet to Riley) The lady introduced herself and said she either worked for, or runs, a bearded collie rescue, I was barely listening at this point because her 3 dogs were surrounding Riley. After asking me what breed Riley was mixed with I told her that she was an F2b doodle. She insisted that I was wrong about Riley having any relation to a poodle, lab, or golden. I kind of laughed it off and told her that since I found her on Craigslist anything was possible, but that the couple I got her from insisted that they purchased her from a Labradoodle breeder.

Of course they were complete strangers getting rid of a young puppy (after only having her less than a month) on Craigslist and may have lied or been lied to. I wasn't even looking for a dog at the time because we had lost our 13 year old lab/pit in January and the ache was still there. I was looking for another kitten to keep my daughter's cat company!  But when I saw her face I couldn't resist! I only reimbursed them for the first vet visit ($100) so it's not like I spent near the amount a doodle would have cost, though I was wanting a Labradoodle when the time felt right.

So I've been doing research on bearded collies and Riley does fit the bearded family, but she also fits into the doodle family. The fact that she is greying is common in both bearded and poodle breeds. The big nose, small eyes, and high ears also seem to be a trait of both doodle and bearded. The one thing that almost convinces me that Riley may be a beardie instead of a doodle, I can find examples of her coat and coloring online for beardie mixes, but not Doodles.

So, I'm going to have her DNA tested just so I can know what health problems may arise in the future.

Either way my family loves her more than I ever thought possible, so she is stuck with us =)

If it turns out that I do not in fact own a doodle, I will suspend my account until I give Riley a doodle sibling LOL

[Deborah Brown]

Wow!  I can understand your confusion.  She is a beautiful dog but I have to admit that I've never seen coloring quite like hers.  I love the fact that she is unique.  :)

DNA testing is not as pricey as it once was and I'd probably do the same thing out of curiosity.  I think, however, based on her body build, that she will turn out to be a doodle.  I've had lots of people who aren't familiar with the range of coats, etc. amongst doodles tell me that a dog is not a doodle.  

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Riley's puppy pictures look more "doodly" to me than he looks now. His coat does seem more wirey than the usual doodle fleece or wool. BUT I am no expert !  I am sure you will get more informed opinions.

Either way, he is just super cute.  If he is not doodle-I think you should get an honorary membership here on DK!!!! 

[Riley girl]

Her coat looks like it would feel course, but she is so soft! (Of course, she still has her puppy coat and that could change.) When you move her long black hair she is pure grey underneath and it feels like cotton, so I am hoping she stays soft =)

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

I totally agree Lori!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We all get that! One man informed me once I had a short, fat, poodle puppy, and I should ba ashamed of myself.
Another one of my doodles ( a rescue) was a PWD, a Sheepdog, a Spaniel... I forget the rest.
Dog parks have all kinds of experts.
One thing for certain, you have a beautiful Doodle. Congrats
PS- I once was told I had an InBreed! Instead of a crossbreed. The man was having trouble with his words. I blogged about that one too. Shocking

[Riley girl]

The secretary at our vet's office told me "My neighbor has a labradoodle and it has curly hair, your dog is not a doodle" I smiled sweetly and told her that doodles come in a multitude of colors and coats. Seeing one type doesn't make you an expert. She actually sneered at me! The vet called her a mutt! I corrected him too.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've been told dozens of times that JD can't be a Labradoodle because : "Labradoodles don't shed" or "Labadoodles don't have straight hair", lol. One lady in my neighborhood insists that he is an Irish Wolfhound mix. 

The shelter said that they had copies of his papers from the pet store, and that he was "registered" as a Labradoodle." But they wouldn't let me see them, and how reliable would they be anyway?

I honestly don't care if he's a doodle or not. I didn't set out to adopt a doodle, I set out to adopt a really sweet, really cute dog who would be a good companion, and I got that. :) 

[Pat and Traveler]

Riley is gorgeous!  Don't count on the dog DNA testing to tell you anything realistic.  We did this for my daughter's big dane/pit looking dog, and the results came back that one of the identifiable mixes was Yorkie!  The results listed no main breeds at all, just mentioned possible traces of three breeds--the other two trace breeds were terrier and lab.

Nobody is going to ask you to go away!  Riley looks doodly enough--maybe she's a beardie/doodle--so just call her a doodle, stay here and enjoy!  :)

[a.k.a. Rodney]

That's what I thought at first...Bearded Doodle...maybe you have brought new version to DK and doodle lovers everywhere
Doodle.3.0

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Whatever mix Riley turns out to be, I hope you will stay here on DK. :)

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

I would think we would miss Riley around here if you were to suspend your account...I love his looks and am truly amazed by anyone out there that decides they know EVERYTHING about everyone else's dogs.  He is gorgeous.  Meg is not very doodly in her looks, a few people have correctly guessed her as a doodle and we refer to her as a Disneyesque Doodle or other times we say she is a scruffy coated doodle.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

How confusing! I do see doodle in Riley and I think her coloring is gorgeous! No matter, I hope you keep posting photos of beautiful Riley!!