Labradoodle, schnoodles and goldendoodles

suki1964

minimacka wrote: »

Thank you all for your comments and believe me they are all being carefully though through. There are 2 reasons for wanting to get a dog at christmas time one is for my sons birthday (xmas eve) and the other is that as a family we are off from work for 2 weeks and thought that it would be a good time to introduce a pet into the family. I appreciate all your concerns about crossbreeding and will think carefully about buying one. I had not realised that other pure breeds eg the bichon frise was non shedding so i will look into that. I was going to interact with the dogs before buying this is why we are thinking about this quite far in advance but didnt think about christmas time for the breeders being a difficult time. If need be then if we can get a dog before christmas then we will do.

Keep you advice and comments coming they are being taken onboard, and I do appreciate them all.

If you are looking at getting a pure breed or one of those designer doodles from anywhere other then a rescue - then I hate to say but you haven't left enough time between now and Christmas.

Any good breeder will have had litters booked up in advance, And you have to yet do your homework on what breed and then go do homework to find a really good breeder. As its been shown, buying a dog is a huge investment and if you want to invest that sort of money then you want to make sure you are getting the best - and not paying top dollar to a back street breeder or puppy farmer.

If you are deciding on a pup from a breeder - i think you need to be looking at Easter. Most breeders aim for a litter for this time as its easier for the new owners for toilet training and socialising - coming into the longer warmer evenings

Raksha

Benny24 wrote: »

Please don't consider supporting the cross breeding of animals. It can cause no end of problems for them. Also should you consider buying any type of dog, please buy one from a reputable breeder, who tests their dogs for medical conditions such as eye problems, hip/knee problems etc.

You should consider a long list of questions for the breeder and they should be asking you a long list too. The puppy should also come with full support of the breeder, and the option to return the dog at anypoint in it's life.

I have a bichon frise. Non molting etc, however they can still cause allergies. There is no such thing as a 'dog for allergy sufferes' Please consider obtaining some fur from the breed you are considering purchasing, and see if it triggers any reaction.

Should you want to know more about this subject please PM me for more info.

It's not the cross breeding that causes the problems, it's the breeding for profit and profit alone that causes the problems - I'm thinking particularly of dogs bred so tightly the KC standard that they can't reproduce without human assistance or are so deformed they have medical problems for the rest of their lives - and these are 'pure bred' breeds, not cross breeds.

Also the OP will need more than 2 weeks at home to settle a puppy in and get the house training sorted - a 10 week old pup won't be able to 'hold it' for more than an hour or so, and leaving a pup at this stage for more than an hour will undo any training you've managed to get done in 2 weeks. Most 8 week old pups will be having at least 4 meals a day, and maybe dropping one of those at around 12 weeks, then another at around 5-6 months. You will also need to think about actually training the pup to be alone for short periods if you want to avoid having a dog that barks the place down when left alone. Most family dogs find the period when the children go back to school quite unsettling and this is when new unwanted behaviours like chewing can start up, so you need to be aware of this too.

minimacka

Once again thanks for all your advice, I have read through the posts and taken onboard all that has been said. I have spoken to my partner and he agrees that maybe we need to get the dog before christmas. If we do get a puppy he will not be left alone for long periods of time i leave for work at 8.45 and have my lunch at 12.30 (yes im lucky enought to live only 5 mins away) then my oh is usually done work for 2.00-2.30, so I dont think that this is too long to leave a puppy. Many familys incorporate a puppy into there work life as my bil did when they bought a puppy about 1 year ago. He is a jack russell and is quite boisterous (sp) but has settled into the family very well, despite being left for more than a couple of hours a day.

Keep the advise coming as I am listening to it all.

pamelab21

Could an alternative be a Tibetan Terrier, they do not shed like the Lhasa Apso but they are like a larger version of the Lhasa Apso? I am sure they also have nice natures like the Lhasas?

http://tibetanterrierrescue.net/

Jules22

please avoid any place that is selling numerous breeds of pups and offer delivery.
this is normally a puppy farm. (hateful places)

a doodle dog is a mongrel, dont pay huge amounts for one. rescues have plenty looking for homes at a fraction of the cost.

go and spend time with dogs of your choice before you decide, and be prepared for some hard work. having a pup is like having another baby in the house for at least the first 5 months.
dont let your heart rule your head(easier said than done, i know).

good luck with your reasearch.

minimacka

People keep telling me that rescue centres have plenty of these dogs but in my area there arnt any smallish dogs or puppies if anyone can fine me some that I can look at I would be very greatful. I live in Scarborough and would be willing to travel 2-3 hours away.

Thanks again.

foreign_correspondent

minimacka wrote: »

People keep telling me that rescue centres have plenty of these dogs but in my area there arnt any smallish dogs or puppies if anyone can fine me some that I can look at I would be very greatful. I live in Scarborough and would be willing to travel 2-3 hours away.

Thanks again.

It may be worth joining dogpages and posting in 'homes offered' as you have quite specific requirements in terms of allergies etc... lots of peple on there are involved in rescue and fostering and would be keen to try and link you up with the right dog.

I know someone who was on here (MSE) looking for a cavalier king charles in scotland did post on dogpages and has been contacted by several people who may be able to help
here's the link http://www.dogpages.org.uk/ - and go to 'homes offered'

It may also be useful to read the 'puppy advice' thread here - there is some useful advice, but also some examples of what can (sadly) go wrong when pups are bught without enough forethought (ie. butterflylady and the collie pup - I wonder if she has now got rid of him? I hope he is ok) I can see you are researching carefully here though, so it is worth a look ...
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1087145

ANGELABY

I am glad this subject has come up because I am finding it increasingly worrying that unscrupulous people are getting on this bandwagon of breeding dogs which are effectively crossbreeds and charging vast amounts of money for the puppies.

There are enough breeds of dogs out there as previously mentioned without all these first crosses. The guide dogs for the blind developed the labradoodle so that blind people with allergies could still have a guide dog.

What you have to remember is that a lot of these breeds eg cockerpoos have hereditary diseases which occur in both breed eg Progressive retinal atrophy and hereditary cataracts so this is my advise.

Ask the "breeder" if both parents have eye certificates. Make sure you see the puppies with their mother. Don't have a pup delivered to you.

Good luck!

foreign_correspondent

ANGELABY wrote: »

There are enough breeds of dogs out there as previously mentioned without all these first crosses. The guide dogs for the blind developed the labradoodle so that blind people with allergies could still have a guide dog.

I believe these weren't sucessful as guide dogs they were a bit pig-headed and not easy to train in general? I have only met a few but they do seem a bit bonkers!:rotfl:

Anyway, the OP hs now decided that these are likely to be too big for her family and is now looking for a smaller dog that will not aggrevate her allergies.

Ooh here is a list of dogs less likely to trigger allergies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds- I never knew that the yorkshire terrier was one - these are often available via rescues, as are some of the others - I love bedlington terriers personally!

minimacka

I have just been into town and a lovely couple with 2 schauzers were there so i stopped them to have a chat, the dogs were lovely and so i had a stroke of them and so far have not had any reaction to them, the owners have told me of a lady that I know actually has a schauzer dog so i think that i might go and have a chat with her, hope fully i might be able to visit her in her house and see if my alergies kick off. They also gave me some phone numbers of breeders they know that might have some older dogs aswell as puppies for sale.

Thanks for your advice Angelaby these are the things that having had no experiance of dogs are extremely helpful to me.

Keep em coming folks.