04/16/2023
I’m fortunate that the few doodles I groom are well behaved but I’ve also worked hard to be selective about the ones I groom.
We would like to preface this post with the fact the IAPEG and it's members love dogs. All dogs. Big dogs and small dogs. Fluffy dogs and sleek ones. We love pure breeds and we love mixed breeds.
The 'doodle craze' began after a breeder attempted a litter of mixed breed pups that were smart and hypoallergenic. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, but that's another discussion. He was in no way trying to create a new breed. News traveled quickly and before you know it, they were all the rage as pets. Very expensive pets. They became something of a status symbol as they wear price tags in the thousands and cost more than a sound, well developed, carefully chosen pure breed.
As professional groomers, we see the fallout with many of these pets and there are a few things you need to know:
1. Doodles are not a breed. They are (insert breed here) mixed with poodle. Golden doodle, labradoodle, maltipoo, pomapoo, yorkie poo, no matter the title, doodles are in fact mixed breed dogs. Being a pure breed of dog mean predictability...size, colors, skull shapes, temperament...any and all genetics are predictable for that specific breed. This is not possible with doodles.
2. There is a misconception that if you mix another breed with a poodle, you get the best of both breeds. This is simply not true. The truth is you have no idea what you will get. You are not getting the best of the breeds because responsible, ethical breeders do not allow their dogs to participate in mixed breeding.
3. As professional groomers, we hear misnomers from pet owners whose pup is a year old and has never been groomed. This is a nightmare for both the dog and the groomer. The truth is, any doodle will need professional grooming. They should start as early as possible just like any other dog. This seems to be a selling point for doodle breeders telling buyers they are low maintenance. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
4. Doodles often have very difficult coats to work with. Doodles with these coats will be more expensive. With most doodles you have a fur bearing breed (Labrador Retriever) mixed with a hair bearing breed (Poodle). This causes many doodles coats to be difficult with a mixture of the two. Some have fur as guard coat and hair as undercoat and some have hair as a guard coat with fur as the undercoat. Either way, more work and time means your professional groomer must be properly compensated or it will lead to number five.
5. There are many professional groomers who are simply not accepting doodles as clients anymore. Misinformed owners are price shocked when they've been lied to by a breeder. Your professional groomer is tired of arguing and explaining just to be properly compensated when there are so many other clients who know what to expect and respect our professional practices.
Because doodles are not the best representatives of their breeds they are often not the most well behaved pets either. Many are high strung, a bit neurotic, and/or have some type of behavior problem.
If you do in fact choose to own a doodle, speak with your professional groomer beforehand so you'll know what to expect. And please respect your professional groomers advice. Their job is to keep your pet on a regular schedule. Depending on the coat...remember these are mixed breed dogs and therefore not predictable before birth...most will need a schedule of 4-6 weeks.
