PERFECT DOODLES!

[Richard Crowe]

It breaks my heart to see a Doodle who needs rehoming because of behavior problems because that is a wasted opportunity for the original owners to have a wonderful companion.

We read so much information regarding Doodles being "The Perfect Dog" (and they are) that some folks don't realize that even a Doodle, as great as they are, needs training and supervision - especially during the formative puppy months.

Lots of behaviors which seem cute from a eight pound puppy are no longer cute when that puppy reaches 40, 50, 60 pounds or more.

Even Doodles, as smart as they are and as easily trained as they are - need working with in order to make them into a well behaved pet.

The first thing we taught Holly was to sit for her food and treats! We didn't want a big dog jumping on us later on. Early in her formative puppy stage, we also taught her that biting and nipping was not acceptable behavior either towards us or towards her Maltese friends. Holly doesn't nip or bite us and she nuzzles her Maltese like a mother dog nuzzles her pups. Holly is allowed on the furniture but, only when we invite her. We have a bed for her in the family room and another in the bedroom.

We entered Holly in obedience training as early as they would accept her because we wanted to give her a basis before she grew large. We knew that she wasn't quite ready to absorb all the obedience training but, even though she flaked out during the last portion of each session - she learned a lot.

Everything we do with Holly has some training value and either teaches her how to do something we desire (Judy is working on shake and roll-over) or teaches her not to do something we don't want her to do (like pulling up up clumps of lawn and eating them - dirt and all - which usually ends up with messy loose stools).

Standard Doodles can grow to be BIG-BIG dogs and need training. I will be the first one to admit that we don't train our Maltese to the degree that we train Holly. After all, it is a LOT easier to control a six pound Maltese than a 50 pound (soon to be 75 or 80 pound Doodle).

Some smug purebred owners seem to think that Doodles are being dumped in large numbers just because they are mixed breeds (and in the thinking of many AKC oriented folks - next to worthless). However, these smug people haven't looked at sites like petfinder.com which shows the vast number of purebred dogs who have been dumped and are up for adoption and rescue.

I think that if all Doodle owners would commit themselves to working with their Doods and if all prospective Doodle owners would examine their lifestyles to see how a 60-100 pound dog (who sorely needs human interaction and attention) will fit those lifestyles; there would be far fewer Doodles needing rescue.

[Adina P]

I agree with the need to train any dog that joins your family. There aren't THAT many doodles in rescue (relative to other types of dogs that is) ...it is so overblown by pure breed folks. Tons of pits and labs and lab mixes and cattle dogs and many other types. But I have to look hard to find rescue doodles in my state--they don't come around too often.

[1v200f3rbrnxk]

I really have to agree with you. any dog including Doodles that are known for a good amount of intelligence in addition to being "people" loving dogs NEED TRAINING not only for the basic obedience but to stimulate them as well.

PS did i mention my max and peanut are perfect doodles and that Luna our cat we adopted a month ago isn't purrfect yet? ; )

I know I am on a daily training basis here........just as with my kids, they didn't raise themselves
nor do dogs of any breed.

I wish more people would take time to consider a dog is a 10 to 15year committment, needing love, guidance, patience, sense of humor for sure, training and much more.

A dog only knows unconditional love ...........the only conditions that come with a dog is that you love them and help them out to learn.

[bokhud88hc94]

Hello ... couldn't have said it better myself! You are 100% correct ...

.. pets are like children .. they need to be taught right from wrong. People need to commit to thier furry children as they would thier biological ones. That said .. it takes consistency, love, patience, and practice. It doesn't happen overnight. Puppies don't come to us knowing right from wrong. They don't come to us housebroken and they don't know commands .. its through training that they learn these behaviours.

Most important is that individuals do thier homework before purchasing a pet. It's a very serious commitment .. one that should be taken as seriously as marriage or buying a new home! People really need to take the time to do research about the breed they are looking into bringing into thier lives/homes. Does the particular breed fit with my lifestlye?? That is a very important ? and I think its often overlooked. Thus, leading to animals being re-homed or worse. Shelters are over crowded .. leading to unnecessary euthanizations .. its a very sad reality:-(

Thank you for your discussion! I think its a very important one!

[2m8pwebq0ydky]

Hello,I have read this with a heavy heart. I breed labradoodles in Australia, one of the things that I commit to is the life of my dogs. Any owner can contact me anytime for advice on anything, espeacially training.
Breeders need to make sure that when some one adopts one of their babies, that the new family knows what they are committing to. A dog is a dog no matter the breed. Nothing is given all is earned,Just like our children they need to be taught everything. Some children are compliant others are not. For me my dogs are better behaved then the childrenl. lol.

[Joannie]

We're currently working on the nipping part. I'm finding saying a firm no is working. He'll take my hand in his mouth now and not nip. He releases when I say no. I totally agree a well trained pup is a happy pup. I did chuckle when you mentioned your doodle pulling up climps of grass. Barney does it all the time. I've had dogs before but not seen this behaviour.

All that being said "Barney" is the perfect doodle for us!

[Sandy]

How, exactly, did you teach that biting and nipping is not acceptable? I am desperately working on that right now. My puppy is 9 weeks old, and the last couple of days have been dreadful. Mostly just nipping at me though, not my husband. And he's not aggressive - I am take things like leaves, etc. out of his mouth. I just need that one right piece of advise that will work on my dog. I've tried "no bite" and setting him down away from me, without much luck. I've tried two fingers on the hard part of his snout and gently pressing down while saying "no bite", but it seems to energize him. Help me!

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

couple of ideas (note that your dog's behavior is natural and is not due to the fact that he's being "bad" or agressive, he just wants to play and doesn't know any better yet - 9 weeks is VERY young, and he will need to be taught some manners over time, this takes a lot of patience and repetition and positive reinforcement of good behavior, but he WILL get it eventually)

1. yelp like a dog; a high-pitched loud and short EECHHH or similar. This is how the momma dog teaches her pups not to bite hard
2. when your puppy bites,turn your back to him and ignore him completely - he will then learn that when he bites, he looses his play time and gets no attention for a little while

Do not yell at him, or punish him physically; this will create fear and will negatively impact your relationship and make training harder in the long run. Good luck!!!

[Adina P]

Some dogs don't even take physical reprimands seriously at this age...Rosco didn't. He just thought "wooohooo I got Mom into a wrestling match...let's WRESTLE!" I agree with her suggestions. Just make sure you yelp like he ripped your leg off! Then LEAVE sending him the message "Woah little buddy..when you put your teeth on mom...you LOSE her entirely...NO more company or fun at all! She's a sensitive little human...be nice!"

And give it time. His attention span (like all pups) is SUPER short and he'll forget so you'll have to replay this scenario over and over and over. Believe me I've been there. Raising JAWS to be a therapy dog. Cried more than once...felt like giving up MANY times...complained, whined, and begged for help from trainers online, from doodle forums.

It takes time....you'll probably end up with a WONDERFUL dog because of the trials he's putting you through and how much you'll grow and work with him to make him wonderful.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I find that substitution helps a lot with nipping/mouthing/chewing issues. Substitute an acceptable object instead your hand (or whatever part of you he is grabbing) immediately after the "no bite" correction and if he accepts the toy, chew stick, whatever, praise him immediately.
This helps him make the connection between what is and is not okay to put his mouth on.
And I agree that 9 weeks is very, very young and his behavior is perfectly normal. Dogs need lots & lots of repetition before they catch onto what you are trying to teach them.