'Doodles are dogs for cat people'

[CorvusCorax]

Posted with tongue firmly in cheek

Bearded Retrievers is definitely a new one on me!!

https://www.wsj.com/articles/doodle-dogs-poodle-labradoodle-hybrids-backlash-11649948543?mod=e2fb

 

[Blanche]

I can’t read the article as I’m not willing to pay but as a cat person I would not have one, ever. I would rather have a Golden Retriever and I can’t stand them! GR are just too jolly, easy and submissive, drives me mad!

 

[honetpot]

I have a labdoodle, I didn't want one, I wanted a medium sized smooth coated dog, for not much over £500, unless it was free. I ended up with a medium sized slightly rough coated, with a beard, lab/poodle and he is a jolly little dog, likes mud, the muck heap and lying or standing in water.
I can understand why breeders want to keep breed types, but if you look at the history of any breed, they started off as one thing, and the modern descendants look very different, and the type has been adjusted to suit modern eyes. The shaggy coat is not for me, and it just increases the costs of keeping them, unless you are going to do a DIY clip, and I chose my pup over his litter mate who was a cute ball of fluff mud collector

 

[poiuytrewq]

The local feed store I use has two lab x poodles
I didn’t know that’s what they were until I asked. These two are lovely dogs.

 

[AmyMay]

I think the frequent disparaging comments about ‘doodles’ on the forum is becoming rather boring and tedious…… ??

 

[PapaverFollis]

Henry is a "poo". He likes to sit on the windowsill and watch birds. Is that what they mean?

 

[Clodagh]

I don’t think I’ve met any more neurotic and badly behaved ‘poos’ than any other dog nowadays tbh.
Haven’t read article and yes breeding a dog because it has ‘poo’ as a name option possibly a dodgy reason.
I would say though that going by current trends in urban areas ‘poos’ will be the only dog available in 5 years time.

 

[ArklePig]

I only know two Doodles and both are absolute bellends, but I assume that's because of their owners, who are also absolute bellends. Lovely looking dogs but I really don't understand why you wouldn't just get a lab or a poodle, but horses for courses and all that. On the other hand I know two cockerpoos which I always thought were bought by the same kind of people but they're actually lovely and have changed my perception. I did laugh at my colleague who bought a cocker poo and decried how much energy he has 'for all the size of him'. However, she's a decent owner so has stepped up.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I can’t read the article as I’m not willing to pay but as a cat person I would not have one, ever. I would rather have a Golden Retriever and I can’t stand them! GR are just too jolly, easy and submissive, drives me mad!

Unless you're at your free article limit, you can just 'x' that pop-up.

 

[DressageCob]

I don't think there is anything wrong with poos and doodles. I don't think they are good looking dogs as a whole, although I do have a soft spot for the rough coated ones. I will never understand paying 4 figures for a mixed breed with no health checks, bred by someone who thinks every bitch deserves to be a mum, irrespective of health and temperament, but again, that's not the dogs' fault. It's also a rant for another time ?

My problem is with the type of people who buy these dogs. Not all of them, but so many people buy them because they think they are cute easy dogs, don't realise the grooming obligation, let them get matted then cry when the groomer has to shave them to the skin, don't bother training them and don't properly socialise them.

 

[Blanche]

Unless you're at your free article limit, you can just 'x' that pop-up.

What?! Please explain in words of one syllable what that means, please. I have no idea.?‍?‍?

 

[oldie48]

I know several "poo" type dogs and they are just fine. My neighbour and niece have cavapoos, they are both novice owners with small children and their dogs are lovely, I've have either of them in a heartbeat. In my rural area everyone has labs, working cockers or springers with the odd border collie for good measure, so I don't see this "everyone has poos" thing cos they don't here. We have border terriers and there's a few JRTs around, some nice and some very naughty tbh I think a lot depends on the owner

 

[SOS]

My cats would be very offended to be compared to a dog! Dogs are much smellier, sillier and lack the class of a cat

 

[dottylottie]

whilst i have nothing against any “poo” mixes because i believe the stereotype they have stems from people buying them because they want a designer dog, not an animal that needs training, it grinds my gears when i’m constantly asked if my miniature poodle is a cockerpoo or a cavapoo, once got “aww, is he a cavapoochon?!”

baffles me that people think of mixed breeds before a bog standard poodle! he’s also very “poodley”, far curlier than most mixes and i think he’s got a very poodley face too? in his almost year of life i’ve only had 1 person guess right and i nearly cried happy tears lmao.

saying that, the poodle mixes i’ve met have always seemed well behaved, but i’ve mostly met them working in a pub so they *tend* to be less unruly that those you wouldn’t attempt to sit and have a quiet pint with?

 

[ester]

Unless you're at your free article limit, you can just 'x' that pop-up.

What?! Please explain in words of one syllable what that means, please. I have no idea.?‍?‍?

I don't get an x to close the pop up if I follow your link, but if I google the title (‘I Hate Doodle Dogs’: Endless Poodle Hybrids Spark Backlash) and go in that way then you can close the pop up.

 

[P3LH]

I have quite strong views on certain types of the poos and doodles - mainly because I personally find them too much and struggle to see how experienced let alone first time/novice owners would cope with such a high energy/high functioning dog - cocker x poodle, springer x poodle, golden retriever x poodle. I don’t see why people would want them or what breeders are really striving for. I find many of them so highly strung that they struggle to cope in day to day life.

There are some however which I find delightful and if I wanted a small type of dog then I’d be tempted - cavalier x poodle, shitzu x poodle, Jack Russell x poodle, yorkie x Maltese. And are all quite consistent in their personality if nothing else. I can also get my hound round the idea of some of these crosses at least.

Everyone I know with a poo or doodle went for one for a similar sort of reason - the bottom line is many people just want a small to medium, fairly straightforward, friendly, sociable, cute looking dog that’s fairly healthy, hopefully long lived, anatomically ‘just doggy’, keen to learn, playful, not too driven, doesn’t want to hunt or kill everything and yes, in some cases, low or no moulting. Of course there are many existing breeds that would be suitable for this role - but half of these breeds are unknown to the public. In some of the rarer breeds cases im quite vocal to those with them that I feel breed clubs operate on too much of a mafia type basis - if you have the breed or know the right people you can get one, if you don’t then it’s like trying to purchase a dodo egg.

I think it also does come down to the fact that for many people, in many versions of this modern life, there aren’t still the places for certain breeds and their demands. Although nobody wants to admit that, I really do think it’s true. There are many I would love but would be grossly unsuitable yet ironically one of the Poos or doodles would probably suit. I don’t like grooming anymore so can’t really see that aspect ever working for me, which is why I’ve discredited having another of one of my breeds again - rough collies.

And then of course there are numpties who follow the herd and fashion, buy one and remain clueless and never train the bloody thing. Although you find these in all breeds and types I do think the novelty factor of the poos and doodles seems to attract them a bit more readily.

 

[Thundering]

I do not have anything against the dogs themselves. Makes me angry that people breed them and ask ridiculous prices for what is a cross bred. Often no health checks. Sometimes stupid mixes of breeds. Breed by people simply to make money and sold to people who know no better.

 

[ycbm]

No dog will ever cut it for a cat person, what a suggestion ?.
.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I think in a lot of ways the opposite to the title is true . A lot of doodles need to be owned by people who understand dogs and are capable of training them, as they are ofte not easy dogs. I'm currently going to training classes with my GSD pup, and the trainer, who has been training for many years , says she sees no end of doodles , poos etc with problems. There was a 7 month old cockerpoo in the class with me that was snapping at its owner every time they tried to take a toy off it and owner said she had always done that. Luckily the trainer spotted it and was quick to offer advice.

 

[HashRouge]

No dog will ever cut it for a cat person, what a suggestion ?.
.

Haha I was going to post the same thing! Especially a very high energy dog...no thanks!

That said, I don't really get all the "doodle" hate. My friend has two and they seem as nice as any other dog. They're very friendly and cheerful.

 

[Cortez]

The only doodle dog I know well is a trained assistant dog who is wonderful at her job, and an absolute goofball when she's out of her harness. Lovely dog, but I'd never have one as a pet, just not my sort of dog at all.

 

[Fjord]

The ones I have met seem very cute and friendly, not sure my cats would agree though! I do think paying thousands of pounds for unregistered crossbreeds from backyard breeders without health checks is a bit stupid though.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Daisy was easy to train and is a very cheerful, friendly, easy going dog. She is high energy and playful but I like that about her. She does look a bit like a bearded retriever too!

 

[scats]

Doodles pay my way so I can’t complain about them ?
If people just treated them like any other crossbreed, I don’t think they would have this stigma attached to them. But cross anything with a poodle and everyone loses their mind.
Some of the nicest dogs I groom are Cockapoos and labradoodles. Some of the worst behaved are purebreds!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Daisy was easy to train and is a very cheerful, friendly, easy going dog. She is high energy and playful but I like that about her. She does look a bit like a bearded retriever too!

Oh I love her! She’s very different to the two I know, she looks more wild lab!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

She's first generation with lab dad and poodle mum. I think they look more like the wooly curly ones when you mix labradoodles with other labradoodles. No-one ever guesses Daisy's breed.
She is 10 now and a very healthy, happy dog.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

My cousin bought a goldendoodle after lots of research. Her boss has a relative who is the school dog. The breeder does lots of health tests. He’s amazing with the children but horrified my two when we met up, kept barging/knocking them over. They were appalled and my OH very quickly stopped his nonsense. The dog is ‘lively’. Round here, it’s poo crosses and cockers wall to wall. Not my type but each to his own. I’m very fixed on my breed, obviously the best!

I object to the bandwagon breeders who make a living from breeding popular cross breeds and don’t take into account temperament and health, but it’s odd how people rave about a horse that isn’t a pure bred, it’s rare to see people whinging about those.

 

[honetpot]

I only know two Doodles and both are absolute bellends, but I assume that's because of their owners, who are also absolute bellends. Lovely looking dogs but I really don't understand why you wouldn't just get a lab or a poodle, but horses for courses and all that. On the other hand I know two cockerpoos which I always thought were bought by the same kind of people but they're actually lovely and have changed my perception. I did laugh at my colleague who bought a cocker poo and decried how much energy he has 'for all the size of him'. However, she's a decent owner so has stepped up.

I looked for months, and when you have criteria that you hope the dog will fit at least some of, the choice unless you pay for a pure breed, choice last year was not that great. I didn't want a poodle, and a full lab would have been too big. We are getting older and need to down size, but I am not keen on terriers. So I have ended up with what looks like a downsized lab, most of the time it behaves like a lab, the poodle only comes out when it barks, and as they are also dog alarms for the house, that not really a bad thing.
In lock down people bought dogs with no knowledge, and I think few people realised how crucial that first few weeks of training are. I have a dachshund that is obviously a lock down puppy, that has not been trained at all, it doesn't even know its name, has separation anxiety, entire and is not house trained. I think it has spent most of its time in a kennel. Its a dilute, so bred because it's a pretty colour and would have been an expensive dog. The sad thing is, that he has no malice, just uneducated, you can not blame a dog for human failings.

 

[ArklePig]

Your dogs sound nice @honetpot
Sorry if I caused offence, I do realise that two dogs is a terrible sample size! Definitely owner failing in those cases.

My dog has separation anxiety too, I feel your pain. She came to us 3 months ago as a 1 year old and I don't think anyone loved her before so she doesn't cope being left by us. She also barely knew how to even sit. I can only assume she was someone's covid hobby before we got her.

 

[MagicMelon]

I think the frequent disparaging comments about ‘doodles’ on the forum is becoming rather boring and tedious…… ??

Yup. I have a labradoodle (and Im a cat person, this is my first dog). She's an absolute joy. She is a lovely girl who is amazing round my kids, isnt insane at all, sleeps most of the time. A very intelligent dog when we used to do agility with her. Shes got such an amazing temperament. I really dont understand why some people bash them as a mixed breed. I also dont understand the weird snobby obsession some people on here have that dogs should ONLY be pure breds. Well we have a huge amount of mixes in the horse world and theyre not looked down upon are they?!

We chose the labradoodle due to her coat (we also have a Bengal cat for same reason), my OH is allergic and he has very minimal issues with her. We also just wanted an all round nice family dog which she absolutely is.