Buying a dog

stevieboy11

Guys, thanks....all your comments are great

I'll investigate the shelters, but i think the options might be limited as I reckon I'm going to be limited to the breed

Can anyone recommend where I might get a labradoodle?

Thanks again

kidshorsesdogs

If you want a labradoodle just look for a standard poodle, the big poodle, they are the real thing not a cross breed that you will pay stupid money for and no guarantee they will be wool not hair!! As a cross breed you get either a poodle 'type' or a labrador 'type' which means one will be less hypoallergetic than the other. We have had poodles for years from toy to standard and while they don't cast the same, have a more wool than hair coat we had one friend who is still allergic to them. Poodles and Bichons are the best for most allergies sufferers, some terrier breeds will come close such as Kerry Blues and Fox Terriers, then a few other breeds would be fine for some people such as Schnauzers and Shih Tzu.

Remember that dogs which cause fewer allergic reactions will require professional grooming at least 4 - 6 times a year, costing at least £25 a time depending on size of dog, possible rising to nearly double that for a big dog.

Since the allergic reaction to a breed will be a major factor in owning a dog you will need to make contact with these breeds and definatley don't rely on cross breeds with silly designer names as fitting the bill. Stay clear of any ads on any sites or newspapers advertising such breeds as allergty free as this is often not the case and too late once you have bought the pup!! As for good breeders again don't look on Gumtree, attend a KC dog show and speak to breeders.

Good luck in your search and hope you find your puppy and you will be happy and allergy free..

dazb75

kidshorsesdogs wrote: »

If you want a labradoodle just look for a standard poodle, the big poodle, they are the real thing not a cross breed that you will pay stupid money for and no guarantee they will be wool not hair!! As a cross breed you get either a poodle 'type' or a labrador 'type' which means one will be less hypoallergetic than the other. We have had poodles for years from toy to standard and while they don't cast the same, have a more wool than hair coat we had one friend who is still allergic to them. Poodles and Bichons are the best for most allergies sufferers, some terrier breeds will come close such as Kerry Blues and Fox Terriers, then a few other breeds would be fine for some people such as Schnauzers and Shih Tzu.

Remember that dogs which cause fewer allergic reactions will require professional grooming at least 4 - 6 times a year, costing at least £25 a time depending on size of dog, possible rising to nearly double that for a big dog.

Since the allergic reaction to a breed will be a major factor in owning a dog you will need to make contact with these breeds and definatley don't rely on cross breeds with silly designer names as fitting the bill. Stay clear of any ads on any sites or newspapers advertising such breeds as allergty free as this is often not the case and too late once you have bought the pup!! As for good breeders again don't look on Gumtree, attend a KC dog show and speak to breeders.

Good luck in your search and hope you find your puppy and you will be happy and allergy free..

I 2nd this advice.

I have very severe asthma, and we did consider getting a poodle cross, but because you can't guarantee what coat they will have, we decided against it.

The following list can be hypoallergenic, but you don't have any guarantees.

Some dogs that are Hypoallergenic

• American Hairless Terrier Airedale Terrier
• Basenji
• Bedlington Terrier
• Bergamasco
• Bichon Fris!
• Bichon/Yorkie
• Bolognese
• Border Terrier
• Cairn Terrier
• Cavachon
• Chacy Ranior
• Chinese Crested (powder puff and hairless)
• Cockapoo
• Coton De Tulear
• Doodleman Pinscher
• Giant Schnouzer
• Hairless Khala
• Havanese
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• Labradoodle
• Lagotto Romagnolo
• Lowchen
• Maltese
• Malti-Poo
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Native American Indian Dog
• Peruvian Inca Orchid
• Poodle
• Poos
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Puli
• Schnoodle
• Shepadoodle
• Shichon
• Shih-Tzu
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
• Spanish Water Dog
• Standard Poodle
• Standard Schnauzer
• Tibetan Terrier
• Toy Poodle
• West Highland White Terrier
• Wirehaired Fox Terrier
• Xoloitzcuintle
• Yorkshire Terrier

I you do want one of the rarer breeds on the list, prepare to pay between £700 and £1000.

Another problem is that a good breeder will not plan to breed a litter between now and Xmas. This is prevent a cute little puppy being sold as a Santa present for the youngsters.

Good luck and choose wisely.

foreign_correspondent

only about 2/3 of labradoodles are non shedding, and there is no way of predicting which will be which till the adult coat comes in (about ten months old), which may mean you become attached to a dog, and it to you, and then have to try and rehome it when it reaches adulthood and starts shedding....

Also, it may well be the dander (skin flakes) or saliva you are allergic to, not the hair, so even a non shedding dog may be problematic - as if course all dogs have dander and saliva. You realy need to spend some time (hours, not minutes) with some adult dogs of the breeds you are interested in, to see if they affect you.

Some good information on dogs and allergies here: http://www.labradoodletrust.com/allergy_info.html (also intformation here on how to check if you are allergic to a specific breed)

No decent breeder will be turning out litters around christmas time - both because they are concerned about dogs being sold as christmas presents, and because you really need to introduce a pup to the home at a quiet time, when you can focus on the dog 24/7 and work on getting it settled in and housetraining it, not getting one at a time of year when the house will be full of visitors, distractions, and potential hazards. I have a pup here I am training (rescue) and I am having to watch her all the time she is awake - she will chew anything she can find (including electrical cables), eats anything, and will wee as soon as your back is turned. This is not idea with a house full of decorations, presents, chocolates and all the rest!

Remember as well, that the transition from being with mum, to being in a house with strangers is often distressing to a pup, and it is not kind to do this at a busy and unsettled time. You also need to be prepared to take the pup outside every 30 minutes, and a couple of times overnight, which may not be what you want to be doing over christmas. A pup is very hard work for the first few months, so do think about the timing. The pup I have here is about five months old, and she can now hold her bladder for about three hours, but no longer.

When you have found the breed that suits you, either look for a rescue dog, or a decent breeder - ask the breed club for recommendations - look into the health checks that should be carried out on both parents - these are breed specific, and aim to reduce the likelihood of you getting a pup with an inherited health condition, which could be distressing for your family and the dog, and expensive.

Please do not but a dog from a pet shop - most of the pups come from welsh puppy farms, where the parents are often kept in pens in darkened sheds for the entirity of their lives. many of the pups are very unhealthy, and its not unusual for them to be very ill, or die. Likewise, some pups sold through the classifieds etc are from very unethical sources - these only exist because people keep the trade going by buying from them, so please don't. If you want to know more about the problem of puppy farmed dogs, and how to avoud buying one, look here: http://www.dogs-r-us.org/

If you go to look at a litter, there are some useful pointers here about what to look for: http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/p/puppyfarming/default.aspx

You may also want to read up on puppies and training in preparation - The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey is highly recommended.

elsien

Have a read of this earlier thread re dogs and allergies -some of the info should still be relevant.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1158407