labradoodle

[poodlesmom]

Hmmm, a standard poodle can't be protective?

Let's see.......I never lock the doors to my house, my oil delivery man is afraid to deliver oil because he is afraid Farley is going to break through the sliding glass door & devour him, no one has ever been able to sneak into the house, an acquaintance almost got attacked by both of mine because she was rough housing with my grandsons & they started screaming although both dogs stopped immediately when I yelled NO and were instantly accepting of her afterwards.

Yeah, I didn't train them to be protective and never expected them to be. The only time they actually showed protectiveness was that incident with my grandsons. With the other situations, a dog with a deep bark who is jumping like a Mexican jumping bean on the other side of the sliding door is very intimidating looking and I really feel would make someone with bad intentions definitely reconsider the course they intially intended.

But saying that I do think if they were brave enough to go that further step they would probably be brought a toy so the game of fetch could commence.

[bigdoglover]

Well, I see many folks are saying the Giant Schnauzer is low shedding (hypo-allergenic) and protective. Kinda and yes.

Here is the breakdown:

There are 2 types of Giant Schnauzers....American Coated and German Coated. The American Coat is what you see in the show ring. Long, flowing, beautiful black hair. The German Coated is more coarse, more dense, and shorter. It doesn't get long and flowy...(less maintenance). What I am getting at is the German Coated shed, but not nearly as much. They don't require the daily brushing, which in turn doesn't stir up the dander. And in all reality, that's what folks are allergic too. So that being said, if you wanted a "low allergy" dog, yes the German Coated GS is good.

And for protection?????? That is a given. They were bred to be guardians, cart pullers, herders, etc. They are naturally protective, and a good GS will be confident without being pushy. Meaning, they won't "show off" around other dogs or people. They are patient and only get "rowdy" when they absolutely have to. My Elite would never start a fight, but I have no doubt she could finish one.(should that situation come to pass)

I apologize if this post sounds harsh, I by no means want it to. I tend to get "factual" to the point of being rude, so please don't take it that way! So, I'm a bit biased when it comes to the GS...especially German ones. I guess you could say I have to be since I breed them!! lol I just know what a well bred GS is supposed to look like and do. As I'm sure GSD would know about German Shepherd Dogs and their breeding.

Keep in mind I love you guys and don't mean to sound rude!!

[linnie]

Hey Cas I didnt know that.. But isnt that like us aussies to keep something good a secret :P

[Cassiepeia]

Originally Posted by linnie

Hey Cas I didnt know that.. But isnt that like us aussies to keep something good a secret :P

Yup, it sure is.

Here's a link to a page about them. Murray River CCR

Cass.

[sammy]

I have mixed feelins about the issue.
I totally understand the desire to own a lab or golden but not want to deal with the huge quantities of hair. I think the popularity of these "doodles" (gag) shows that there is a demand for them. I know two personally that are not only super cute but also seem very sweet, quite smart and easy going too. Both owners say the dogs shed- but not much. Both are lovely families and both are very happy with their purchase.
I would never buy one because I think most of the people breeding these dogs are doing it to make a quick buck off of ignorant people and aren't reputable in any way. I just wish there was a way for responsible, knowledgable breeders to create a new beed without the dogs losing out.
I don't think it's fair to say - 'just get a standard poodle' as if that solves the problem. If it did standard poodles would be booming in popularity. It's obviously not what people are looking for. There are qualities about a lab or golden that aren't in poodles.
My personal fav breed, the aussie is a relatively new breed and a totally american creation.
The thing I really can't understand is the pug X beagles etc etc. There was a woman on Regis and Kelly promoting "designer hybrids" She listed several and explained how they are worth so much money and they are all the rage etc etc I wanted to strangle her through the screen.

[elegy]

yes, there are qualities in a lab or a golden that aren't in a poodle, but there's no guarantee they're going to be in a doodle-mix either. what if you get a personality that's all poodle?

[sammy]

Well that's a good point. There is no guarantee.
I don't know. I'm just not a big fan of poodles. I can't stand the way they look-even with a normal hair cut-- no offense to poodle owners at all- it's just a personal preference thing.
I can understand the desire to create a golden or lab without the copious amounts of shedding. If you get a well bred one- which is hard to find around here they are wonderful pets.
When we were doing breed research years ago, I remember thinking "there really isn't a perfect breed that isn't either super high energy, plagued with health problems, a heavy shedder or with a tendency towards dog-dog aggression. Obviously other people have felt the same way.
I also don't think there's a guarantee about *any* dog you get. It's always a bit of a gamble. You always need to do your homework and then put time and energy in to working with what you get.

Personally, I'm committed to rescue and my dogs (although carefully chosen) will always come from some form of rescue.
But I also have no real issue with shedding- I have two hairy dogs and a cat and don't find vacuuming up (or pulling the occasional dog hair out of my dinner) that big of a deal.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by sammy

When we were doing breed research years ago, I remember thinking "there really isn't a perfect breed that isn't either super high energy, plagued with health problems, a heavy shedder or with a tendency towards dog-dog aggression.

Sure there are! I know of lots. But then, it also depends on what "super high energy" is, heavy shedding is, and dog aggression is.
Health problems can be almost avoided if you go to a responsible breeder.
And besides, who wants a "perfect dog" anyway? Where would be the fun? And the "bad traits" in dogs are what make them unique! I mean, what is a Mastiff without drool? What is a Husky without the shedding? What is a Border Collie without the energy?
Some dogs might be prone to dog aggression, but they can learn to live with other dogs. I would never take PitBull and let it run loose at a Dog park, but even though a Rottie might be prone to dog aggression, I know of lots who aren't!

You guys might find this link of some interest: Click Here!

[Carrie]

My brother in law has a tendency toward allergies. When I visited with Lyric, his allergies got bad. He had to use his inhalor. And yet, they have a Sheltie. He doesn't bother him at all. It's not the hair. It's the dander and it can be an individual thing. Our body's immune systems are very individual. What bothers one person might not bother another. It's our immune system getting all worked up about nothing, over reacting to a harmless substance.

As far as a protection dog, a Lab is not known for very high protection drives. (trust me on that. My Lab only showed that one time.) A Poodle, whether or not they do have a strong protective drive, is not, IMO set up structually to do anything about it. As it was said, they were both bred to retrieve.

As far as I'm concerend, (my biased opinion only) a Doberman is the premier protection dog. They weren't bred to protect sheep or anything else. They were bred to protect their master and family. That's it. They're strong and agile and aggressive enough to take down a big man. Of course, there are individuals and some are protective and some just aren't very. But that is the basic, general description.

This picture is quite old. He's gotten bigger and filled out more since this photo.


They have short hair. It does shed a little bit and of course they have dander. I think all dogs shed dead skin. That's a natural body function. So, I don't get it where they get the idea that there is a dog who is not a potential allergen.

However, a Doberman is not a breed for everyone. They're a ton of work at first. But then, neither is any of the working group dogs I don't think. GS are probably a bit of a handful too when young. (?)

I totally agree that if someone wants real protection in the home and that's what they're setting out to get, get an electronic alarm system. I don't rely on my Doberman. I am also armed. Plus, that's not the main reason to get a dog. A dog is soooooo much more than it's use. Or should be.

Sorry about having to stick Lyric's picture everywhere on these threads. I'm just so enthralled with him. You know how you have to drop a new boyfriend's name into every conversation....well, I am always compelled to do the same with my lovely boy, Lyric. Sorry if it's obnoxious.

[PitBullGrrl]

There is no need to mix dogs when there are already shelters FULL of mixes. Besides, who knows what health probs or what you're going to be getting. It's best not to mess around with two breeds trying to create another one.

[PitBullGrrl]

Beautiful pic, Carrie. Dobes have always been one of my faves.

[Carrie]

Thanks Pitbullgrrl. They are a lot of dog. There, I'm testing him out in a big crowd to see if he'll stay (as told) when I give a little tug on the leash. We walked around all through those people and he was not nervous, just wasn't sure how to fit through them all. LOL.

I agree with you. The shelters are full with mixed breeds and there are reputable breeders for those who want a little more assurance of what they're getting.

The reason these Labradoodles are so inconsisant in their traits....some with this kind of coat, some with that, some looking more Poodle, some looking more Lab is that there have been no good breeders. No one has "fixed" a type yet. And until the genotyping or phenotyping is consistant (I think that's what it is...something like that) you still have a mutt and not a purebred. So these traits that they're after haven't been nailed down to date.

There are hundreds and hundreds of purebreds and mixed breeds already and it's unbelievable to me that there isn't one out of all those that would suit someone. If someone has severe allergies, maybe they should skip having a dog. Or use some good antihistamine.

[StephanieandTeddy]

With my dog-walking business, I come across labradoodles and Goldendoodles from time to time...They are nice enough dogs...but no better than any half-breed sitting in a shelter waiting for a loving home...
The Standard Poodle, although not very "intimidating," is one of the best watchdogs around...having a dog that is able to alert you is much more important than an actual "protection dog." A dog cannot protect you(or himself)from a gun...and would you really WANT him to??I wouldn't want my dog injured at any cost...!!
If you don't like the "look" of a Standard poodle...keep in mind there are many different ways of keeping the coat. A poodle's coat can also be "corded" (like a Puli)...a lot of work...but they look magnificent.

I am in the Pet Care business and I also have allergies to cats and some dogs...I take a pill for it...and enjoy my life with these wonderful animals.

[Cassiepeia]

If you want the look of a 'labradoodle' go for a 'Lagotto Romagnolo' they look just like them and are an established breed. So no guessing games as to how they'll look etc..

---->Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Great Britian<----
(yes they're all over the world, but that was the best site I could find )

EDIT: Found a couple more http://lagotto.romagnolo.tripod.com/ & http://www.lagotto.net/lagrom2.htm

Cass.

[BellFounder]

The initial reasoning behind labradoodles was to create a hypoallergenic guide dog - which IS something i can get behind its a good and important cause. However i think that the way this "doodle" craze has taken off is ridiculous - if you want a hypoallergenic dog as a pet just get a poodle.