What'd you guys think of poodle/golden crosses?

[Puppy-Raiser]

First off, I'm thinking of my next puppy-in-training to be one. Mind you, it's not that I think that "goldendoodles" are the latest in fashion or anything, but I think they're so darn cute, and all the ones I have met have been huge sweethearts. I am (as I'm sure most of you are) against the actual breeder breeding them, but seeing as they are guide dogs, I have nothing against them.

I know alot about golden retrievers, but am not experienced at ALL with standard poodles. I've never even met one! Lol. But, I have researched them and they seem like I would really enjoy having one. But sadly, Guide Dogs of America doesn't breed purebred poodles anymore, but they still like the goldendoodles/labradoodles. (And I really don't think that I would like a pure poodle...At least not yet.) Anyway, I've got Blitz for another year, so it's not like I'm in a hurry!! I'm just thinking of the possibilities. If I don't raise a goldendoodle, I will raise a German Shepherd.

 

[jess2416]

We just had a thread about this not too long ago...

Well similar to it anyway

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55387&highlight=service+dogs

 

[otch1]

Hi puppy-raiser! How is your puppy in training doing, Blitz? Both Goldens and Poodles are wonderful breeds, both possessing the qualities to perform successfully as a service dog. Are these crosses currently being used in GDA?

 

[Maxy24]

Did we ever figure out why they were breeding golden doodles instead of just goldens? If there is a reason that make golden doodles a better guide dog then fine, if not I don't see the purpose but either way the dog would be born it's just a matter of breed. So I don't think it's a big deal whether it's a litter of goldens or a litter of golden doodles in that case.

 

[Fran27]

I think they are unnecessary.

 

[Laurelin]

I know a puppy raiser with a labradoodle named Levi and he was a wonderful dog and just finished up his training to become a guide dog. Not that that helps much at all, lol.

I think there's a big difference between people cranking out mixed breeds because they're the 'it' thing and a well established, selective breeding program that's goal is to create the best dog for a specific purpose.

 

[bubbatd]

There are oodles of doodles both at the HS and in Petfinder . Go for it !! Just don't support a " breeder " .

 

[Charliesmommy]

opcorn: opcorn: opcorn:

 

[squirtsmom]

ditto Charlie's mommy.

 

[Zoom]

I think they are cute, but for the most part it is nigh impossible to find a breeder in the US that is breeding beyond the FI (poodle to golden) and therein lies the problem for trying to get a service dog out of them. You have no coat guarantee. Now, if the dog was going to someone who just needed a guide dog, a seizure alert dog or a hearing dog and didn't have any allergies, then ok, fine, though find a breeder is still nigh impossible. Look at shelters. But if the goldendoo was for someone who needed the hypo-allergenic dog, then it gets a little more tricky.

 

[Boemy]

There are oodles of doodles both at the HS and in Petfinder . Go for it !! Just don't support a " breeder " .

Agreed.

 

[Puppy-Raiser]

If I get one, it won't be from a breeder OR a shelter. Guide Dogs of America has it's own breeding program, and I think it's perfectly fine to breed them for guide work. A guide dog would NEVER EVER EVER end up in a shelter.

The reason they breed them for guide dogs is because blind people have allergies too! Lol. I know that some people are allergic to the doodles as well, but definately not all. I think I would really enjoy one. They don't breed as many doodles as they do the purebreds though, so the wait would be longer, but I can get on the waiting list at any time, so I could get on it when Blitz is fourteen months, and that'd give me four whole months to wait.

Anyway, I guess what I SHOULD be asking about is the poodle side of them. I know about the golden, but don't know anything about poodles. So, how 'bout it?

 

[Zoom]

Disclaimer: These are my personal experiences, those who have owned them will have other things to say.

Ok, IME, poodles can be very friendly and very smart, easy to train. Most tend to love pampering, probably because they have to get used to being thoroughly groomed at an early age. I've met goldendoodles with this side of the temperment and they are joys to be around. On the flip side, I have met more than a fair share of very skittish, nervous and snappy poodles. I've met GD's with this side of the temperment as well and it's not pretty in either poodle or GD. How much of it was breeding and how much of it inherent genetics, I don't know. But it's very off-putting when the number of the latter outweighs the former in terms of how many I have met of each type.

One thing you are going to have to know and be responsible for is that if you do get a GD puppy, you will be directly influencing someone's decision to go buy one of these dogs. They're already a fad, seeing one in guide dog training will tell these people that these dogs can do no wrong. These are also the type of people who will run to the nearest petstore or paper ad to buy their dog with no forethought. Be very prepared to talk a lot of people out of buying a mistake.

 

[Puppy-Raiser]

Okay, what I HAVE seen (Which is barely anything...I've only met goldendoodles. No pure poodles.)is what you just described. Very happy and go lucky, but can be skittish. But that's alright with me, I'm up for the challenge. And then again, I COULD get a doodle that's more golden than poodle. Either way, I think that I DO want this. I DO think that I'm up to the challenge. I'll try to do a puppy swap for a doodle sometime in the next year, just so I can sort of have a "test-drive." (We do swaps to get the puppies used to other handlers and such...I guess I'll need one to get the human used to other breeds!!) I handled one goldendoodle for about five minutes at one of the puppy meetings. He was older, so fairly obedient, but he was very dog distracted. Then again, there are labs who are dog distracted, and labs who couldn't care less. I guess it just depends on what you get.

 

[Zoom]

If the GDA has a decent breeding program, I should hope that they have better dogs than the average BYB.

ETA: The GDA does not use goldendoodles in it's program. It says so on it's website.

 

[Herschel]

Okay, what I HAVE seen (Which is barely anything...I've only met goldendoodles. No pure poodles.)is what you just described. Very happy and go lucky, but can be skittish. But that's alright with me, I'm up for the challenge. And then again, I COULD get a doodle that's more golden than poodle. Either way, I think that I DO want this. I DO think that I'm up to the challenge. I'll try to do a puppy swap for a doodle sometime in the next year, just so I can sort of have a "test-drive." (We do swaps to get the puppies used to other handlers and such...I guess I'll need one to get the human used to other breeds!!) I handled one goldendoodle for about five minutes at one of the puppy meetings. He was older, so fairly obedient, but he was very dog distracted. Then again, there are labs who are dog distracted, and labs who couldn't care less. I guess it just depends on what you get.

Did you read this?

One thing you are going to have to know and be responsible for is that if you do get a GD puppy, you will be directly influencing someone's decision to go buy one of these dogs. They're already a fad, seeing one in guide dog training will tell these people that these dogs can do no wrong. These are also the type of people who will run to the nearest petstore or paper ad to buy their dog with no forethought. Be very prepared to talk a lot of people out of buying a mistake.

 

[Boemy]

If the GDA has a decent breeding program, I should hope that they have better dogs than the average BYB.

ETA: The GDA does not use goldendoodles in it's program. It says so on it's website.

Zoom's right, they don't use goldendoodles.

BREEDS USED: We use 70% Labrador Retrievers, 15% Golden Retrievers, and 15% German Shepherds. The Labrador Retrievers make up the majority of our dogs because we have found them to be the most successful breed used for guide dogs. In fact, the Labrador Retriever is the dog most often used for guide dog programs throughout the world.

Q. Do you use crossbred dogs?
A. At this time G.D.A. does not crossbreed any dogs. All dogs used in our program are purebred. With purebred dogs we are able to consistently produce dogs that are physically and temperamentally sound and properly suited for our needs.

The Seeing Eye organization uses all purebreds except golden retriever / lab mixes.

1. What breeds are available for adoption?
German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, Lab/Golden crosses, and occasionally Boxers.

But also, I'm not sure where you live, Puppy Raiser, but they don't adopt out to all states.

11. I do not live in New Jersey, can I adopt?
Because adoptive families are responsible for meeting their dogs in Morristown, New Jersey, and transporting them home, we restrict adoptions to eastern states.

 

[Puppy-Raiser]

GDA DOES use doodles. That website is SO old, and hasn't been updated for years. They had two litters of pure poodles a couple years back, but only one (out of about fourteen) of them made it to be a guide. But we've had a ton of success with the doodles.

I see what you're saying, about the public seeing a doodle and thinking they're alright to get. But the truth is, they are great for GDA's program, so they are going to be raised whether I take one or not. If I do get one, I will try and educate people to the fact that it is NOT a purebred. I'll never refer to it as a goldendoodle, but as a poodle/golden mix.

Boemy, I think you might have misunderstood. I am not thinking of adopting one, but of raising one.

And Zoom, these dogs are MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the average BYB. The purebreds are WAY better than even the most responsible breeder I've met.

 

[Puppy-Raiser]

ETA: Guide Dogs of America does update their home page, but that's about it.

 

[protodog]

I've met a good many doodles, both golden and lab, and they have all had the hyperactivity of the retriever, while being lighter boned and more agile. They're kinda retrievers in PF Flyers: they run faster and jump higher.

If you like retrievers, you'll probably enjoy raising a doodle. If you prefer GSDs to retrievers, a doodle will probably drive you crazy.