Looking to get a Goldendoodle in Boston

[Lan]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are looking to become first time dog owners.  My wife is all about golden retrievers but I'm super concerned about the shedding (we visited a breeder and left with my jeans caked in dog hair).  I'm trying to make a push for getting a goldendoodle instead but am having some trouble locating good breeders in the New England area.  Wanted to see if I could get help with the following:

1. Any recommendations for good breeders within driving distance of Boston?  I think I saw that the forum rules don't allow for breeder referrals publicly, but let me know if you know a breeder and I'll direct message you.

2. My wife is very particular about the look of the dog.  If we're trying to go for the classic "teddy bear" look, is getting an F1 our best bet or would F1B be better?

3. In general, how was the behavior of your doodle as a puppy and how easy/hard was it train him/her?  Letting you guys in on a little secret, I'm actually afraid of dogs (was bitten by one as a boy) and am nervous about puppy mouthiness.  Any of you have experience with a spouse who was nervous about getting a dog but then came around (or not)?

Thanks for all your help and look forward to hopefully joining the doodle owner community!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Goldendoodles are great dogs, and I think F1Bs are even better.  Get exactly what you want.  There are lots of breeders out there and it is easy to see the puppies on line.  I know it is not recommended getting your dog on line, but most breeders will even send the puppy by air if you are not inclined to drive.  Wait until cooler weather, however, and good luck.  Doodles are very easy to train in my opinion and I have had several.  Goldens are also wonderful dogs, but yes, there is a definite shedding problem.  Once you get started with doodles, you will not want any other type of dog.  Take a look at my photos and you can meet my dogs.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

"Goldendoodles are great dogs, and I think F1Bs are even better."

You mean a Mini Goldendoodle ?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Frank, F1, F1B, etc are generations and have nothing to do with the size of the dog. I know your breeder does it one certain way, but that's not the only way or even the norm. An F1B is a pup who has one doodle parent and one purebred Poodle parent. They can be any size. There are standard F1Bs, mini F1Bs, etc. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Lan, welcome to DK. 

Some time ago, the members of this site put together an article for new members such as yourself, to answer some of these common questions. You and your wife should read it, it's very informative and helpful: http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/considering-a-doodle-crowd...

As you will see in the article, there are no guarantees about looks or shedding when it comes to doodles, no matter what generation you get. If those things are very important to you, you should probably not consider a mixed breed like a goldendoodle, and only consider purebreds, where you can know with absolutely certainty what your dog will look like as an adult, and what kind of cost he will have. 

Also, if you have not yet read our article on What to Look for in a Breeder, please do and take it to heart. 

I'm glad you have joined us and are doing your research before getting a dog, any dog. This is a 12+ year commitment you will be making, so please take your time. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, and an F1 is more likely to shed than an F1B. The curlier the coat, (as opposed to shaggy) the less shedding, in general. 

But again, no guarantees either way. 

[Lan]

Thanks for the responses, everyone.  And thanks for alerting me to the "Considering a Doodle" article, Karen - it was super helpful and informative.

Just one additional question regarding temperament.  I feel like I keep hearing about how hyperactive and energetic doodles can be, especially as puppies.  Does anyone know if they tend to be even more active than golden puppies?  I know with a mix breed, there's more unpredictability, but I would think that it would still have to fall somewhere in between a golden and a poodle, right?  Or could the mixing actually produce a dog that is harder to control than either of the parent breeds?

And again, if anyone knows of any good breeders near Boston, please do let me know.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Beware the pitfall of thinking along the lines of "somewhere in between a golden and a poodle", because genetics just don't work that way. You're not mixing paint, lol. And that applies to size, color, temperament, you name it. You can get doodles who are considerably larger than either parent, a different color than either parent, and you can get doodles who are much more hyper than either parent, too. It's completely a crap shoot.

The majority of doodle puppies are very, very active. Most puppies are, but doodles are definitely on the higher side of the scale. Go to our "Puppy Madness" Group and read through some of the discussions. Nipping and jumping are two of the major topics you'll read about. :) In fact, there is a featured discussion about mouthing/nipping/biting there.  

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Lan, I have two Labradoodles who were active puppies, but not unbelievably so. Both were totally manageable. On the other hand, I have two good friends (two separate families) with Golden Retriever puppies (actually, they are both one-year-old now) and both of those Goldens were WAY more active as puppies and are still extremely energetic. Puppies are puppies, and you really can't predict the energy level of the one who ends up joining your family. Also, my sister was bitten by German Shepards two times as a kid, and she has absolutely no fear of my two doodles, who are both very gentle and affectionate. You will be fine!

[Lan]

Thanks for the reassurance, I sure hope so!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Welcome to DK. I was a first time dog owner when we got Sedona back in 2009. My husband had just retired and our adult daughter proclaimed that Dad needed a dog. I went along with it but was not too enthusiastic. I was mildly excited at the puppy meet 'n greet, when we selected puppy#2 as our top choice. By the time we picked her up two weeks later, I was fully excited and total enthusiasm came within days of having her at our house. Yes, raising a puppy is hard work, but if you put in the effort, the rewards are great.

Sedona died at the age of six - we were heartbroken. But now we have two fantastic labradoodles, just seven months apart, both under two. It's crazy at times but I love my dogs and can't imagine my life without them.

Good luck!!!

[Lan]

Thanks, Deanna.  I'm pretty hopeful that whichever puppy we end up getting, I'll come around to him quickly.  Definitely excited about the challenge!

[Ginny Nightingale]

No  one has yet mentioned that we are not allowed to recommend breeders on the forum--but I can give you information if you accept my friend request.