COMMON QUESTIONS FROM NEW PUPPY PARENTS:
New puppy or rescue dog?
What does F1, F2, and F1b mean?
What’s the difference between doodle breeds? Which doodle is best for my family?
Male or female?
How do I choose the best puppy for me from a litter?
1. A NEW PUPPY OR A RESCUE DOG?
Let’s compare adopting a dog from a shelter to adopting a dog from a reputable breeder.
It’s a nice idea to give a rescue dog a home. There are dogs many in shelters that need families. But when is it a better idea to adopt a puppy from a breeder? Here are some things to consider.
A rescue dog has a history. Perhaps the owner of the dog passed away or moved into an apartment and couldn’t take the dog with them. Perhaps the dog sheds and the family was allergic to the dog’s hair. The dog would miss the old owners, but hopefully not be too traumatized at the shelter and be adopted quickly. That would be a best case scenario.
But more often than not, a dog in a shelter has been through poor treatment, a lack of proper training and was a poor fit to the family that originally owed it. It may have been picked up off the streets after the owner lost or dumped it. In other words, a shelter dog has a history.
The dog may have picked up some bad habits along the way such as barking, digging, jumping up or being aggressive due to fear, lack of training or poor treatment.
If you adopt a dog from a shelter and have the time and energy to train the dog and work through the dog’s trauma and bad habits, that’s awesome! You’ll be a hero to that dog and have a friend for life. And there will be one less dog at the shelters. But it’s a gamble.
On the other hand, if you adopt a puppy from a reputable breeder, you start from square one. You will have a puppy that has had positive experiences, has begun good habits such as not jumping up, begun potty training and socialization. The puppy training will take time, effort and consistency, just like a shelter dog, but comes with no previous trauma or bad habits. If allergies are a concern, the doodle breed puppies are non-shedding, so families with allergies can enjoy them.
If you have young children many shelters don’t allow you to adopt a shelter dog, period. They know the dogs’ previous traumas and children’s lack of boundaries and endless energy are a poor mix and can result in injuries or trauma to both and the return of the dog to the shelter.
In conclusion, the successful adoption of both a shelter dog or a new puppy will require a commitment of time and training. If you are up for a challenge, a shelter dog might be for you. But if you’d like to start with a clean slate, or have young children, or need a hypoallergenic, non-shedding dog, I highly recommended adopting a puppy from a reputable breeder and starting out fresh.
2. WHAT DOES F1, F2, OR F1b MEAN?
Doodles are a combination of a poodle and another breed of dog. Let’s use the golden retriever as an example.
F1 means a pure bred poodle was bred to a pure bred golden retriever. The puppies will be 50% poodle, 50% golden retriever, producing first generation (F1) golden doodles. Within this litter some puppies will shed, some will not. Some will have broad retriever type heads and bodies, other puppies will have narrower heads and bodies.
F1b means an F1 golden doodle was bred to a poodle. The “b” means “bred back”. These puppies will be 75% poodle, 25% golden retriever. This breeding is often done to produce non-shedding, intelligent puppies, as these characteristics are common in poodles. These puppies are most appropriate for families with allergies to dog hair.
F2 means that two F1 golden doodles were bred and produced puppies that are 50% poodle, 50% poodle. (F1 +F1=F2, or second generation.) This combination is often done if a breeder likes the characteristics (personality, non-shedding status, color, etc) of both parent dogs.
3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOODLE BREEDS? COMPARING GOLDEN DOODLES TO BERNEDOODLES.
The golden doodle is a poodle mixed with golden retriever. The bernedoodle is a poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog combination.
So what characteristics can I expect in each doodle?
Although individual puppies will vary, most have strong characteristics common to each combination.
Golden doodle F1 and F2 puppies tend to be sweet, fun and have wavy or curly hair. Some will shed, some will not. In general, the curlier the hair, the more likely to be non-shedding. The wavy haired puppies, although prone to shedding, do tend to be more like their golden retriever parent: sweet, loyal, love water and love balls.
They are social and do best as an indoor dog. These are good dogs for families and individuals.
Golden doodle F1b puppies tend to be non shedding and good for families with allergies. They are great for families or individuals. Since they are 75% poodle, they also tend to be curlier, more intelligent, and learn very quickly.
Because of their high intelligence, F1b puppies MUST go to training and have socialization as soon as possible: a highly intelligent dog with good training, exposure to lots of people early in life and well socialized, is a joy to their family and can be taken anywhere dogs are permitted. They love people and are well behaved.
Doodle puppies, especially F1b, need to be a part of the family and “have a job”. This means he/she needs to be exercised regularly, have intellectually challenging toys and be incorporated as much as possible in the family’s routine. (For example, riding with dad to the hardware store, be out in the living room enjoying guests, etc.) These puppies do not do well parked in a backyard and played with occasionally. They are very social creatures and love interacting with their humans.
4. WHICH KIND OF DOODLE IS BEST FOR MY FAMILY?
First of all, it’s important to realize all puppies are individuals and have slightly different temperaments. Keeping that in mind, here are some general characteristics of golden doodles and bernedoodles.
F1 and F2 golden doodles tend to be happy, sweet, intelligent, easy to train dogs. They give ok eye contact, which is helpful for training. Most are curly and do not shed. Some golden doodle puppies require extra exercise; perhaps two or more walks a day. Others are less active. Ask the breeder what activity level the parents have required. These puppies need brushing every other day and grooming every 3-4 months.
F1b golden doodles tend to be more intelligent than F1 or F2. Most give excellent eye contact and learn very quickly. Early socialization and training are essential for F1b golden doodles. They make great pets for a family or a couple. They and are non shedding, need brushing every other day and require grooming every 3-4 months.
Bernedoodles tend to be sweet, loyal and intelligent. They are family dogs, but can favor one person, but not to the exclusion of other family members. They have excellent eye contact, allowing them to learn quickly. They live to please you. They can be shedding or non shedding; F1b bernedoodles tend to be non shedding.
Most bernedoodles do not require as much physical activity as golden doodles, but they vary by individual.
Bernedoodle puppies love to lean on you to show their affection. You can pet a golden doodle all day, but a bernedoodles loves a big hug and frequent belly rubs. They have big beautiful eyes that reach down to your soul, and fluffy hair that makes them look like big teddy bears. They tend to be more muscular than golden doodles.
They are foodies; they love to snack, so don’t overfeed.
They require brushing every other day and grooming every 3-4 months. Bernedoodles are social dogs. They do well as indoor dogs and as a member of the family.
Just like F1b golden doodles, F1b bernedoodles MUST have training and socialization to become well adjusted dogs welcome everywhere. Because the poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog (parent dog breeds) can become nervous around new people or new situations, socialization and training at an early age is VERY important for a bernedoodle puppy.
5. WHICH IS BEST FOR MY FAMILY: MALE OR FEMALE PUPPY?
After 10 years of working with labradors, golden retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, standard poodles, and all types of doodles I have observed some gender differences in puppies and have some opinions. These are generalizations, but I think they ring true for the most part.
Boy puppies tend to be bigger, less aware and more interested in having fun than being serious. In general they make excellent puppies for families with young children or older couples who are not as active.
Girl puppies tend to be smaller, smarter and more interested in learning. They can be very serious, great learners and make excellent puppies for active couples or a family with older children.
6. WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO CHOOSE A PUPPY?
One of the most important things to do is meet the momma or sire dog. If that’s not possible, please ask the breeder to describe the parent dogs’ personality, ease of training and ask why they chose to bred that particular pair of dogs.
When you choose a puppy from a litter, their coloring may attract you, but it is not the only important factor. You will have this puppy for many years to come. Personality, ease of training, and activity levels of the puppy is key to finding a dog that will suit your family’s needs. For example, a low key puppy with good eye contact and a happy, but not pushy attitude would be great for a family with grade school children. On the other hand, a young couple may be looking for a puppy who is bright, intelligent, and has a higher energy level. Perhaps they like to hike trails or jog to keep in shape and would like the dog to join them.
The breeder should be very familiar with each puppy and his/her characteristics. She can help lead you to the best match for your situation. If she is unable to comment on their personalities, please find another breeder as this breeder has too many puppies to keep track of or hasn’t spent the time to study each puppy. Being unaware of their personalities also tells you this breeder has not spent time socializing the puppies, which should begin before eight weeks old. Go with a knowledgeable breeder who spends time with her puppies.
