Infographic: All Dogs are Individuals

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I thought this was interesting reading.

• What do we think we know about a dog based on their breed or breed mix?
• How accurate are our guesses at breed when we don’t know a dog’s background?
• And what can we predict about dog behavior based on breed or physical appearance alone?

http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/pages/Multimedia-Infographics

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Great illustration

[Camilla and Darwin]

Great, thanks for sharing this!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I love this article, Jarka. It should be required reading for every person who is considering getting a dog of any breed, but most especially a mixed breed dog like a doodle. How many times have we tried to explain exactly this to a prospective new doodle puppy owner? 

"Once a dog is a mixed breed dog, they are not a member of any breed. Each mixed breed dog, even those from the same litter, will have a unique genome." 

Or this: 

If a dog's DNA reveals he is 12.5% Golden Retriever, which 12.5% is it? The dog's hips? How he digests food? We can't be sure."

I get so tired of seeing people say "the intelligence of the Poodle with the temperament of a Golden Retriever" or "The personality of a Labrador Retriever with the non-shedding coat of a Poodle" as if anyone could say which traits any given doodle puppy will get from either parent. Some of the breeder websites lead inexperienced potential dog owners to believe that certain genetic traits from each parent automatically show up in the puppies. Like magic, lol. 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Absolutely! I was one of those silly people until we got Auggie. He was TOTALLY different, even though he has the same 50% as Monty (they have the same dad) so I thought: how much different can he be? So I'm happy to squish other people's thoughts about doodles in a hurry now.  The DK community raised me well. :-) :-) :-)

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Haha I'm the same way! This article reminds me a lot of my recent blog post. Whenever people ask about Ragley's genetics and say "so she's 75% poodle and 25% golden retriever?", my response is ALWAYS: "in theory..." they get a look of confusion, but its the only way to truly answer!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

You must have been on the outskirts, listening in, today, as I tried with all my might to explain this very thing to a not so sharp woman at Starbucks.

I must have said, Goldendoodle doesn't necessarily mean 1/2 and 1/2 ten times.  Swish...right over her head!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Maybe Adina could add this somewhere on DK for people looking to get a Doodle.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Great idea, Laurie.  I am going to add it to my greeting to people who join the DRC looking for a doodle.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Another great idea! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Done!

[Sally S Miles]

Excellent - truly something that is worthy.    Simple and sensible, not to mention necessary.   I agree that all should read it, study it - as in all should research prior to inclusion.    It's why top breeders do temperament testing. It's why studying your dog is valuable to you and the dog. It's why you like salty and your sister likes sour.... 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Great read!  Thanks!