Looking for advice regarding a new doodle

[UggaMugga]

I'm a new poster here. Our family is consider a Goldendoodle (f1b). We have tentative plans to visit the puppies 1/31. We have 3 children who are 11, 9 and 2.5. We have chosen a goldendoodle as we have some allergy concerns. We have been very upfront with the breeder who suggested the t shirt test.
Our story: We all lived with a lovely lab until she passed in September at 13 years old. We miss her dearly. We were planning to get another lab until the allergies came. December 1st we visit a tree farm to cut a tree down. The 2.5 year (who has a peanut allergy) old gets licked in the face by a mixed breed dog. Quickly developed hives and eye swelling. We assume the dog had nuts on her. They reported feeding her a treat and hickory nuts prior to us getting there. We give administer the epipen as a precaution. Never thought it could be the dog!
I decide to expose her to another lab. Hives on her face sometimes with saliva (2-3 hives). I also get hives on my arms. We both test positive for dog allergies. She is negative for cats. Naturally we are advised to not get a dog.
Since then I have exposed her to a lab 3-4 days a week, a golden retriever and a F1 goldendoodle. She only has reacted with vigorous contact with the lab. We didn't get vigorous with the other dogs but she played in their homes. Crawled on the floor.
Am I crazy to be considering getting a dog? I would appreciate any thoughts.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here is a good article for you to read: 

http://www.doodletrust.com/education/doodle-alergy-myth

From the article:

"You may also be ok with a Doodle puppy as tiny puppies don’t shed, but when the coat changes in adulthood, he could cause a life-threatening allergic reaction. Obviously, this would be tragic for you and tragic for the puppy you now love, who will need a new home.

We cannot stress strongly enough that allergy testing with puppies is futile."

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The protein that causes dog allergy symptoms is called KNF1, and it is present in varying levels in different dogs. Those dogs that are considered "allergy-friendly", such as purebred Poodles, consistently have very low levels of the KNF1 protein. With a mixed breed, you can never know, especially with puppies.

There's also the problem with dogs bringing other air-borne allergens such as pollen into your home on their coats. Very few people are allergic to only one thing, and many people who have dog allergies also have pollen allergies; a dog will exacerbate both. 

 I personally would not risk it, but if you must get a dog, it's far safer to stick with those breeds known to consistently be allergy friendly, such as purebred Poodles and Schnauzers. Both are fabulous pets. 

[UggaMugga]

Thank you. The article was very helpful. I did hear that about the puppy coat. Its one of the reasons I keep experimenting with various dogs. Do you think there would be a benefit to doing the tshirt test with the parent dogs? I actually wanted to see how she did with a full golden retriever. She seemed fine but of course there is no crystal ball of what the future holds. The most promising thing I think I have going for us is she lived with dog for over 2 years and was symptom free but then again new dog and new dander. I had considered a standard poodle. My husband somewhat didn't care for the idea.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Has your husband ever met a Standard Poodle? Many people who think of them as "foo-foo" dogs have never met one and are going on stereotypes. Does he know that you don't have to shave their faces, or any other part of them, and that kept "natural", they look just like doodles? 

After all, all Doodles are at least 50% Poodle and the F1Bs are 75% Poodle, so if someone doesn't like Poodles, a Doodle isn;t a great choice for them, either.  I dislike Pugs, and I sure wouldn;t want a dog that was half Pug, no matter what the other half was, lol. 

If you or your husband is thinking that a Goldendoodle has "the personality and temperament of a Golden Retriever with the non-shedding coat of the Poodle" like it says on many breeders' websites, you're mistaken. Genetics don;t work that way. Many of our dogs take after the Poodle side of their natures more than the Retriever side. 

And after all, if it's a masculine thing, "Goldendoodle" doesn't exactly sound like "Rottweiler", either. lol

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Show these pictures to your husband and ask him if these dogs are doodles or Poodles:

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's a hint, only one of them is a doodle. Two are purebred Standard Poodles.

[UggaMugga]

First 2 standard poodles? Last a doodle?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nope. The first picture is a Labradoodle with a shaved face. The other two are purebred Standard Poodles. You see my point; it's important not to get hung up on the haircuts, because you don;t have to shave a Poodle's face, and a doodle with a shaved face looks just like a Poodle. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's one more: Doodle or Poodle?

[Kimberly Park]

At the end please let us know which is the poodle.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is also a Doodle with a shaved face. 

[UggaMugga]

Poodle based on the hair cut. Honestly, we were going to table the whole thing for a few years but then New Years Day she was burrying her face in the fleece coat of a friends Australian labradoodle. It got us thinking maybe she isn't super allergic. Dog even got a lick or so in. This hypoallergenic thing is all new to us. Our last dog was bathed less than 2-3 times a year and never went to the groomer except for a couple pedicures. We are learning.