Is there any hope for less shedding?

[Michelle Klohe]

Hi All!  We recently became the forever family to Bristol an F1B Goldendoodle (mom F1 Goldendoodle/ dad standard poodle) we went with the breed in hope of having a lower shedding dog due to our sons allergies.  Well we have exactly the opposite.  At this point our guy who is now 15 weeks old and is shedding horribly.

 At this point he has lost all of his puppy fur along the tail to the back of the head and the only furry stuff is on his legs and underbody but those are starting to fill in with this wavy wiry coat as well.  Our groomer and vet were concerned about this coat change so early (he started it at 10 weeks) and at how fast it is happening.  Did anyone else have their puppy lose so much so fast? I can literally get about a tennis ball size of fur out of him daily.  We have had labs in the past and have friends that have goldens and frankly none of us have had a shedding puppy who 1) shed so much so early and 2) who is continuing to shed that much on a daily basis. Has anyone had a puppy who has shed this much as a puppy and have it taper down as an adult.  Our kiddo was off allegory meds for over a year and is now back on them due to this shedding and I am at a loss as to what to do.  I have emailed the breeder several times and she says this a normal amount to be shedding?  This is our first doodle so I have no idea what is normal. We have a friend with an F1B who is 11 days younger and she doesn't shed one bit.  

I would also love some good fur remover tools that are gentle on a puppy. We used a shedding loop once but I was afraid it was too harsh so we have switched to a curry brush and it works ok but there is always more even right we brush him.  We have to keep the fur at bay or our indoor puppy will soon become an outdoor one with the shedding.  Thanks so much and cross your fingers that we will hopefully outgrow some of this.

I have added some pics to help better explain the shedding.coat change.

 

**I am in no way considering putting my doodle outside.  It was just me venting my frustration.**

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Brushing wouldn't make a dog shed more. You can brush a Poodle all day, every day, and barely get any hair in the brush. 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Good to know. She had a lab and said you could brush it too much and cause bald spots. I hadn't had a dog that needed brushed every day back then.

[Michelle Klohe]

We really don't have a choice. I try to do it 3-4 times a week but with the amount he is shedding it isn't cutting it for the kiddo. The vet has okayed it as we have been seeing her regularly and she is keeping an eye on him as well. That is why we switched to the gentler curry comb.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I don't think it is going to get better.  We had an Australian Shepherd/lab mix who shed tons from puppyhood on. We could have brushed him every day and filled a small bucket. Because of his 'look' we kept him really short (basically shaved every 8 weeks), however no one got allergies.  We adopted a rescue doodle (i.e. no history) when he was two years old.  He shed some then, but as he has aged, it has increased and increased. He most definitely is not allergy-friendly.  I really think you should consider returning/rehoming the pup with the DRC, and trying a purebred dog like a poodle from a reputable breeder who lets your son be around the dogs - let them lick him etc. to check for reactions.

[Soon]

I feel so bad I have to agree with Nancy, because we have the same issue going on with my dog. But we worked it out. My son has allergies, but not from this dog for some reason. I learned a lot about mixed breeds this time. I regretted our choice a little bit at first, not anymore, because she's family member now. Families work together, but if it doesn't work with another family member's healthy issue, we might want to consider working a different way, instead of keeping him outside. I am sorry. I attaching my puppy's pic, and yes she's sheddin too

[Michelle Klohe]

Thanks.  And we are not putting the dog outside.  Just me venting my frustration.  Our dogs look very similar!  We keep hoping it will lessen in time.

[Soon]

Oh good! Yes, they look like brother and sister! Just hang in there. I always had a poodle , so don't know much about snow balls in the house. For some reason my younger son is ok. it doesn't seems to bother him, so maybe it's not the hair causing the allergy.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Not that it would probably help with the allergy part, but it might help with your sanity as far as the shedding, but I find with my little shedder that it helps when I cut her a little shorter.  I never shave, and never even really take her that short, but I do notice that if I just cut it down a little it helps.  I love the shaggy look and would tolerate the shedding rather than shave her down, but just cutting a little seems to help.  

[Michelle Klohe]

Can I cut an already short coat?  We have no shagginess at all.  Just a wiry, sort of wavy coat about the length of a lab.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I agree with Lucy and Annabelle's Mom.  He's adorable but he sure looks like an F1 or a first generation golden doodle to golden doodle cross where you can get retriever-like or poodle-like pups, not an F1B which usually have curlier poodle type coats.  Sadly, I too think he will be a life-long shedder.  My friend has a wiry coated doodle and even though his coat is naturally pretty short he sheds a lot.  How irresponsible of the breeder not to have alerted you. Keeping him outside will break his heart although I know you were't serious.  IMO the breeder should be willing to take the little boy back and refund your money. Not a happy situation for anyone.  Standard poodles are awesome and might be a better choice for you, if your son isn't allergic to saliva.  If you haven't already, I'd have him tested.  So sorry.

[Michelle Klohe]

I have seemed to have hit a wall with the breeder.  We have emailed back and forth since we had him for less than a week and I noticed the shedding. She keeps saying it is a normal amount for him to be shedding and that his adult coat won't be complete until around a year old.  We do have another dog, a yorkie/maltese (yes, both are naturally non shedding breeds so he doesn't shed at all) and we have no issues with him and our son.  My son's allergies flared up about night three with this little guy, who is now 14 weeks old.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Well, it doesn't sound as if she's going to be much help.  I would think a responsible breeder would want to take a pup back rather than see it go to an unknown home.  I had to sign an agreement with my breeder that in the event I couldn't keep Finn for any reason, he would be returned to her.  She had a pup there who had been returned at a year old because he was too active for his owner who lived in an apartment, and she was retraining the doodle before she searched out a new home for him.  Just fyi - Finn is a multigenerational Australian Labradoodle.  He doesn't shed. Never shed as a pup except for a brief period during the coat change at 6-8 months.  He didn't really shed then but clumps of baby hair came out.  As soon as the adult coat came in, that stopped.  It sounds as if you have a hard decision to make, one only you and your family can make.  If you decide that this situation won't work for you and the breeder is unwilling to find him another home, consider contacting the DRC.  My heart hurts for you but good luck.