Goldendoodles

[add]

We are closing in on the process of adding a dog to our family and have been interested in goldendoodles. We had a golden retriever for 14+ years, but this time around a non-shedding dog is high on our list! Does anyone have experience with this breed and ideas/advice/recommendations as we begin our search? I know that westseattledood is a wealth of info on this (you PM’d me about this some time ago but now that function is disabled so I don’t have access to your input anymore).

Thanks in advance!

PS – we promise to keep it on-leash in all WS parks. :)

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[hammerhead]

I know westseattledood’s dog, great dog. I am just going to assume you want a hypo allergenic dog? Well they do shed. Lets just say I clean some homes with these type of dogs.

If you are wanting a “special” breed there is no talking you out of that.

Otherwise I would say a go to the shelter and just get a great dog and save a life.

I mean do disrespect but even poodles, wheaten, terriers, bichon frise, and havanese dogs shed a bit.

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[JoB]

i think everything sheds… but they dont’ all produce as much dander.

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[add]

I guess I should say “light-shedding” and the hypo-allergenic would be helpful but not necessary. We are still in the searching phase and going to the shelter is not out of the question – but as I said we are interested in goldendoodles and just wanted to learn a little more.

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[hopey]

I breed labradoodles, which are similar to goldendoodles in some ways but different in others. If you haven’t already read through this very informative website, you should: http://www.goldendoodles.com/

Be sure to look at the FAQ section for the pages about “Doodle Types” and “Goldendoodles.”

If your main concern is allergies, it is correct that you won’t have as much luck with goldendoodles than with multigenerational labradoodles.

I would be happy to answer any of your questions about either breed, and I can also refer you to reputable, ethical goldendoodle breeders in the region who perform rigorous health testing on their breeding dogs, and will stand behind their puppies with a 2- or 3-year health guarantee.

All of my contact information is on my website:

http://www.soundlabradoodles.com

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[hammerhead]

I looked at the websites. Interesting. I guess with so many dogs being killed at local shelter unless is it is truly a hypo allergenic issue, the shelter would be the best bet.

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[Kimberley]

My dog loves to play with goldendoodles! Good luck in your search, I’d talk to a few breeders, and ask for references (people who have puppies from that breeder are usually a wonderful resources and a testament to that particular breeder’s dogs). Some of the local doggie daycares who have goldendoodle clients may also be a great resource.

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[hopey]

I’d like to point out that there is a great Doodle Rescue group called IDOG. I link to them from my website, but here is the link: http://www.idog.biz/IDOGRRR.html

If the original poster doesn’t want to purchase a dog from a breeder, IDOG would be a great choice. I have met the director, Beth Line, and she is an amazingly dedicated woman as well as a talented dog trainer.

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[Traci]

Get a dog from a shelter!!! I think buying from breeders is senseless. There are so many wonderful animals out there a day away from euthanization.

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[GenHillOne]

Yep, a rescue group is a good second and definitely worth looking into, but I have to agree that breeding should go the way of the dodo. As a first step, imho, there should be exorbitant fees/taxes on breeders that go directly to local animal control. Not only would it help shelters, but it might make the process less financially tempting. Sorry, add, I know this wasn’t the intent of your original post, but I think the issue may be a hot button for many. Since you’re taking the time to research, etc., I’m confident that you’ll find the right “love match” for your family :)

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[WSMom]

Our family includes a Wheaten terrier/Poodle mix (Whoodle??) named Molly. She is an absolute joy! She is the life of the party and looks like she just stepped out of a Disney movie. We got her two years ago at the Seatttle Humane Society near Factoria. She was only 10 months old, had been pretty well trained and had already had all of her shots and was fixed. She came from Yakima with a note saying “too much dog for grandma”. We LOVE LOVE LOVE her and consider ourselves exceedingly lucky to have her in our lives. Finding the perfect dog did take a bit of effort on my part. I spent a little time each evening for several months dreaming through http://www.petfinder.com, looking for a good match for our family. The website separates the dogs by region, breed, size, cat/kid adaptiveness etc. I filled out several “resumes” for different dogs that looked appealing, but nothing materialized right away. Molly showed up on Petfinder on a Tuesday afternoon, which was perfect because the Humane Society is closed Mon & Tues for adoptions. They open Wednesday at noon and you want to get there a little early to be first in line to meet the animal you have in mind. I found the Humane Society to be very organized and easy to work with. They asked me to come back with our elderly dog Bandit and all of my children to see how we all meshed, then gave us a green light for adoption. The adoption fee was around $250 because she was a very “adoptable” dog, I think the average fee is generally lower. From my experience, if one is willing to be patient, you can find a wonderful companion from the animal shelter.

One more thought, I started looking for a pup because our old dear grandpa boy dog was really slowing down and acting his age. I didn’t think he’d be with us much longer. Molly really put a spark back into Bandit’s eyes and he is still going strong. He is so much happier with her as his companion and playmate.

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[JoB]

There are a lot of reasons to choose to add a four legged friend to your family… so it’s good there are a lot of options.

while rescue is my option of choice.. it’s not for everyone.

You can increase your chances of having a dog that fits into your lifestyle by paying attention to breed… and if you are going to pay attention to breed.. buying from a reputable breeder makes a huge amount of sense.

A good breeder pays as much attention to the expectations of owners as to bloodlines.. and are a great support system if problems do develop. You pay more, but you get a lot more as well.

As a general rule of thumb you will pay less in long term vet bills and training if you pay as much attention to the breeder and how they treat their dogs as you do to the breed.

For those who want a dog to fit into their lifestyle, contacting breed rescues about adult dogs may be the best choice. Many of the adult dogs that find their way into breed rescue programs are both well trained and well documented animals.. including full veterinary records.

If temperament really is the most important thing to you, I think you increase your chances of having a dog whose temperament fits into your family if you choose where you have more individual options… such as a breed rescue or a shelter where you can meet a wide variety of dogs and choose based on personal interaction. And.. mixed breeds are often healthier long term..

I can’t tell you how many times i have walked into the doors of a shelter looking for a particular type of dog and walked out with a new best friend that met none of the criteria i set myself:)

But for some of us, welcoming a pet into our home is a purely emotional experience… and that turns out to be the kind of home that the bulk of those that end up as rescue animals do best in…

There is no way to choose or create a worry free pet… any more than there is a way to choose or create a worry free child…

but an honest assessment of what you want from the experience will help you to choose the right place to look.

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[hopey]

You know, I try really hard to be a positive contributor to this community, but the posts slamming all dog breeders across the board really make me upset.

I am an ethical dog breeder. All of my dogs get health testing. Some are one-time tests and some tests are repeated on a yearly basis or prior to each breeding. My dogs live in my home as pets — in fact, all three of them are in the room with me right now while it pours down rain.

As JoB so nicely put it, some people want the support and commitment from a dog breeder. I am ALWAYS available to my puppy owners to assist with their concerns and questions. If life circumstances change for my dog owners, the contract we have together requires them to return the dog to me for re-homing… meaning that I take care of the dog in the interim, keeping that dog from taking up space in a shelter.

I also perform early spay/neuter on my puppies — controversial in itself, but I believe it’s the only ethical choice. I won’t send home a puppy that has not been fixed. I refuse to have my dogs be part of the stray dog problem.

I would hope that people on this forum would understand that there is something in this world for everyone. Some people are more comfortable with shelters and rescues, and some people are more comfortable with the health guarantee and lifetime support of a puppy from a breeder. None of these choices are bad, just different. If you want to advocate for shelters or rescues, that’s just fine. I recommended a rescue organization myself.

I don’t even breed Goldendoodles and I’m willing to share my knowledge to help the original poster find their perfect dog. I try to be kind and share information about dogs in general. The judgmental tone of some of these posts really puts me off from offering to help.

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[inactive]

Hey –

ADD –

feel free to contact me at westseattledood@yahoo.com. My net access and time is frustratingly limited and sporadic right now.

Well-considered POV and info being offered here though.

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[cclarue]

Dog breeders have and will continue to breed dogs. Shelters will find homes for some dogs and and not for others and some will die, which breaks my heart but it is fact. Different people choose different options. Adoption is right for some and not for others. It is our right to adopt or buy a dog from a breeder or to not have a dog or a pet at all. I want to say thank you to all of the wonderful people out there saving dogs lives that is a great thing. But if Add puts careful thought and process into aquiring a dog chances are Add is going to be a responsible dog owner. How about appreciating that!!! and not bashing his or her ideas. I will say that I know the labradoodle that is westseattledoods dog and he is a wonderful dog!! Well trained and smart as a whip. I would recommend a labradoodle any day. But sometimes we fall in love with a certain breed and cant find it on petfinder or for adoption I know I searched for months on petfinder and mastiff rescues before purchasing a dog from a breeder but at the time i had a five year old and needed to get a puppy to know exactly what i was getting as far as the dogs life experiences go. We now have a wonderful family member and wouldnt trade him for the world. But at the same time i made a promise to myself that our next dog be a rescue. And it will when that time comes.

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[charlabob]

This is a great discussion! If it weren’t raining quite so hard, I’d be lobbying for a trip to look for dogs today.

I had a wonderful pound “puppy” (a greyhound-lab “glab”) – 80 pounds of shy affection who hated the water. I got him at a shelter in Massachusetts and he became a california dog and then a seattle dog and loved it everywhere.

People who aren’t sure about shelter animals should know that shelters are often as picky as you are. They want to make sure the dog fits.

Somehow I thought the shelter would just try to talk me into taking some unadoptable sociopathic dog. They didn’t. I made sure they were a no kill shelter (and that I wouldn’t be sentencing a 14 year-old three legged dog to the gas chamber if I didn’t take her.) Then I went back for four weekends in a row until Max and I adopted each other.

Petfinder is great–some of the dogs even have videos now and if you can resist a basset hound playing with a kitten…

Just remember, dogs (and cats and kids and spouses) are a lot of work. They have bad days. They run away. They eat garbage (wait, that’s spouses…) If you want to be seen as the kind of person who has a designer dog, borrow or rent one for special occasions. In NYC you can rent an afghan for Long Island beach parties.

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[JoB]

hopey,

As the best friend of a long line of rescue dogs, i have lived with the consequences of reckless breeders…

I am living with them now :(

We made the choice to rescue our shibas and although it has been expensive and emotionally draining at times, it was the right choice for us…

but it isn’t the choice i would recommend for anyone who can’t devote substantial time and resources to their pets… which is why i recommend responsible breeders.

You are a perfect example of what people should look for in a breeder.

I applaud you for breeding companion animals and neutering… and for socializing your pups before they enter their new homes.

***

i don’t believe there is any one right way to find your life’s companion.

I have a friend whose four legged companions literally find her.. showing up on her doorstep :)

And i don’t believe that adopting a puppy and controlling it’s environment guarantees a good temperament.

My best dog experience was a 4 year old Akita who had been through several homes before we got her, had been isolated and abused and had epilepsy.

We managed the epilepsy with herbal supplements

and she spent every day she was with us letting me know how happy she was to be in a safe and loving home.

The puppy we got to keep her company wormed her way deep into our hearts, but had her issues in spite of being raised from a pup in a good home.

You roll the dice every time you let a pet into your heart…

but if they find a home there..

the odds are with you no matter how or where you find each other.

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[add]

hopey and westseattledood, thank you so much for your info and offers of help. We’re still looking … :)

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[WSB]

Nobody reported this thread but a comment drew my attention to it and I’ve deleted a post for namecalling. Evangelize adoption if you want – we do, all the time – but not by attacking people who choose to find or raise pets another way (particularly, as per our rules, people who are actually participating in the discussion). CC summed up the discussion well.

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[rdm]

We got our dog from Shar-Pei rescue. They are currently full and are looking for new homes for many dogs. They have or had a foster home here in West Seattle with about 5 dogs last I heard.

http://www.sharpeirescue.com/states/wa.htm

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[EmmyJane]

PS- I was volunteering at a shelter in Spokane and was keeping an eye out for a lab puppy to adopt. This fat, boring, Rottweiler/Pitt Bull mutt was 10 minutes overdue for her killing and I took her home. That mutt (see avatar) is the best thing that has ever happened to me, hands down (don’t tell my fiance…) We are celebrating our 5th anniversary together today!

I realize all stories don’t turn out so happy, but my point is that I ended up with a dog that was nothing like what I was looking for and she is the love of my life.

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[WSB]

OK, this thread’s done.

I appreciate those who flag us if responses to a request for recommendations go off course. (Or any other thread.) Which this has. First one in a while.

If anyone wants to start a separate discussion regarding ‘why doesn’t everybody adopt from shelters’ that should be done in open discussion, not in a recommendation request thread. There at least people will know what they are getting into.

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[Author]

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