Looking for advice on labradoodle breed/new puppy

[Clare]

Hi -

We just recently lost our 10 year old english bulldog. He was the sweetest dog in the world, but I have to tell you that breed is just not a healthy one and unfortunately, he had every health problem known to dog-kind. He was a rescue and we are pretty sure he was a puppy mill dog in his previous life. We will be getting a new puppy soon (from a reputable breeder - we haven't decided yet, but we will go visit a few and ask LOTS of questions). We really like labradoodles, but I am looking for input on the following:

1. Are they good family dogs and do they get along with cats? We have 2 boys, another old dog and 2 cats at this point.

2. Are they fairly healthy overall? I know that individual dogs can vary -but with bulldogs, almost every one has health issues. We really cannot go through what we went through with the bulldog again.

Thanks for any help or advice!

Clare

[lindamarie]

Our Springer Spaniel had health issues all his life.

Bogart is now 3 and not only gets along with everyone, loves kids.......but is a healthy little guy!
We have no cats, but some people on here do and some don't. I would imagine if they met when your doodle is a pup, things should go well.
I will never have anything but a DOODLE!

[Nikkiey]

All puppies have a chance of catching something because their immune systems aren't fully developed, but with that being said, look into your breeder. Ensure they have a health garentee, make sure the parents are healthy and have been health tested. Do your research, don't just take the breeders word that they are healthy, find out what all the certification things mean.
It's easy enough for the breeder to ramble off all the health testing that the dog has gone through, but for all you know, they could be telling you they are in the bottom 50 percentile!

As for the cat thing, we personally don't have any cats so Juneau has never been exposed to them, however, we did go to our friends house last weekend (who have a cat) and Juneau tried to chase her, got swatted and hissed at once and then was quite uninterested after that. I'm sure if we bring him over again, they'd be fine together.

[Riverkatie]

Our first doodle lived to be 15. During his life he went to the vet to be neutered, and to have a grass seed removed from his ear. In his last year he developed some suspicious 'bumps'. We chose not to have them biopsied (he was 15! What were we going to do about them?!) and during that last year he became a little slower, then slower again.....

He went for regular walks up to the age of 14 or so, and at 13 was still swimming in the sea.

We have a new doodle now...11 weeks old

[Riverkatie]

Oh sorry...cats

With Barney we bred cats, he was great with all cats and kittens. He was fine with all animals...except rabbits....(Oh how kind, you've caught it for me and popped it in a lunchbox! BARNEY! NO! Leave the rabbit hutch ALONE!) We re-homed the rabbits

Our new doodle shares a house with 3 cats. The dog is the bottom of the pile. One cat shows its contempt by sleeping in the puppy's crate!

[Clare]

Well - we will find out soon. We went to see the puppies and put a deposit on one this weekend! I am in hopes that bringing the puppy in at 8 weeks will alleviate any problems with the cats (one of the cats will be sure to put it in its place if not and the other cat thinks it is a dog anyway). The breeder has been breeding nothing but labradoodles & goldendoodles for 10 years or so, the puppy has a 2 year health guarantee (you aren't required to return the dog, but they will give you another puppy in the unlikely event there is a problem), the parents have been health tested and we met both parents. We are very excited. Now we have 1 month to get ready! It will be like having a baby again - but at least we won't have to pay for college.

Thanks all,
Clare

[M&Tdoodles]

Labradoodles are great with all animals...this is a photo taken of Ella, one of our Kelsey Kozmo pups that was 8 weeks old when this was taken...
Hopefully yours will be as good as Ella was...
Good luck with your new puppy..

[deepnite10]

Originally Posted by Clare

It will be like having a baby again - but at least we won't have to pay for college.

Thanks all,
Clare

Hi Clare,

Please do put them thru college..They re smart..REAL SMART..and they soak up all the training you can throw their their way..

Puppy Class s, Beginner, Intermediate, Advance..they ll go thru it all loving every moment..the wife say s Toby is the second smartest in the family, only cuz the daughter graduated from med school..

You could say that the Advance class s would be your college for doggies..but, there after you ll be looking for a grad school..

[Tryshesq]

Well it may not be 'college'... puppy classes are an investment that will pay off for a lifetime! Many puppy contracts require buyers to take a class. It really is the gift that keeps giving...lol

Trysh

[Riverkatie]

Ruff is a star at puppy class!

Congratulations on choosing your new puppy.

There is a wonderful FREE download called 'before you get your puppy' that I found so helpful. It has a companion called 'after you get your puppy' also free.

Link...before
http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/BE...ur%20Puppy.pdf

Link ....after
http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/AF...ur%20Puppy.pdf

Dog star daily is also worth a visit.

And it is no secret I dislike Cesar Milan's methods of training! I really don't think an 8 week puppy is trying to take over the planet when it jumps up or chews on your arm. It just hasn't been taught not to yet!

Have fun preparing for your pup.

[deepnite10]

each of us have our own special doodle..they mature and learn at different rates..but, again there pretty much grow with a certain rate..

puppy s learn from an early age within a certain frame work of time and age..their place in the pact..after their 8th week they re pretty much matured to having enough confidence to adapt to new surroundings..

this does nt mean they re ready to take on complex commands..but, they can continue to learn to new kinds of play with people..they play to continually learn their place in a new pact..play time is learning time with pups..their molded into growing dogs to live within a new enviorment..

remembering they re dogs..it s easy to begin treating them like human babies when they come home..they are dogs and they ll learn faster and be happier being treated as dogs..

do a little research..observe on Youtube how pups interact with their mothers and siblings..this will give you some idea what they ll need in play, learning and correction..i read somewhere * when we begin to treat our dogs as humans..they ll begin to treat us as dogs*

[georgina_]

hello i am wondering whether to get a miniature labradoodle puppy and just wondered are labradoodles loud dogs who bark alot. I know all dogs bark and it is a natural thing they do, but does the miniature labradoodle excessiveley bark like some other small dogs or are they fairly quiet. Also my mum works as a teaching assistence 3 out of 7 days a week at a primary school. we will be able to be with the puppy 24/7 for the first 2 1/2 weeks but after that my mum and dad will be at work and i will be at school my mum will leave for her work at 8.45 but can come home at 12.20 for an hour and a half for lunch and can play with the puppy. she will then be at work for another hour and a half after. is this ok or is this to long to leave the pupppy alone.

[deepnite10]

i would nt be leaving any young pup alone for extended periods of time..

human babies cry..so do pups..we talk and dogs bark..its the nature of the beast..

early on pups will cry or bark because they re unconfortable with being alone..depending on the age of the pup..its best to get the pup used to being alone for short periods of time..then extending the time slowly..

they need to know and be confident you ll be coming back to them..dogs are pact animals..just like us, they need companionship..as a pup its important for them to have confidence in you as ..by providing food, shelter and protection..they ll just about do anything for you..

[maximo]

Max is now 3 months old. When I first brought him home he fell in love with my 2 older cats who are 6 years old. Awhile ago before I got Max, I watched my my mom's Maltese for a week and my cats had a melt down. Literally throwing up several times a day. When I brought Max home there were no issues. They touched noses and hung out in the same room. Now Max wants to play with them but my cats will hiss or swat him on the nose if he starts jumping around and barking. Other than that, they get along great! Max will groom my one cat which is hysterical. Max was very nonthreatening in the first meeting. Just very calm and chill. I know some of the owners from Max's litter also had cats and they too had no problems. These are really great dogs. I am very happy with my him.

[LabradoodleFL]

My Labradoodle gets along with everyone and everything! She gets along with our other dogs, cats, and even our pig!