[Maureen]

Originally Posted by ncmommanc

Hi there.

HELLO! And Welcome!!!
I'm going to try to reply to your initial post the way I would, if it was an email to me. (I hope it works)

We're wanting a labradoodle for a family pet and prefer 30-40 pounds.

I've been reading TONS online and while very helpful also a bit overwhelming. I've also not seen a labradoodle in person. I realize there is a ton of variety but I am excited to hopefully meet a local 14 week old F1B soon.

Where are you located? IF you are in the West and can come our way I would love for you to meet our dogs! Or I could tell you about a statewide Doodle Romp coming to Vail, CO in a few weeks!

I would say that size range would involve a Miniature or Moyen Poodle, and yes, I do recommend and prefer F1b's myself. We use a medium (18") F1 female with a Miniature Poodle. And our puppies look like they are going to be in the 25-35lb range.

COAT ?s
We don't have allergies, however from a housekeeping perspective less shedding would be great. I don't really want to have to professionally groom. Regular brushing and bathing is fine but not interested in the extra expense, etc. Though since in the South might cut during summers once a year.

I came across a picture yesterday that we took from our last litter - there's one little scruffy guy and a bunch of other F1b puppies around him and look how clearly the coats differ from him, to his siblings, and the other F1b puppies:

Again only seen pictures (really want to touch the coats too) but visually I lean towards the F1 "Benji" appearance. Not sure I want a very "poodlish" coat.

There is a reality of making choices, on coats, looks, size and of course, cost. The non-shedding coats have grooming, but no shedding. The scruffy, "Benji" look has (typically) some shedding and you really can't predict the level of shedding you'll get. Our F1 girl Copper sheds every bit as much as any Labrador we've ever had. Once I placed an f2 Doodle who looked like a full-bred Lab, and yet he hardly sheds at all because of the poodle genes, I suppose. So who knows? Likewise, the soft silky coated puppies have grooming needs. BUt you really have to make a choice on the look of the scruffy puppy, or the shedding vs. grooming. And in the picture above, every puppy in that picture is an F1b, but obviously the one who is looking right at the camera has the scruffy coat with more resemblance to the Lab than the poodle. Personally I don't find the grooming to be a large demand on us. We clip our Poodle Sheba about 3 times a year, and it's really up to you how much you want to brush your Doodle(s) and how much you want to clip them. There's no right or wrong answer. Our first f3 Doodle, Truffle went her first year with no clipping. I wouldn't do it again, but it was fun to see her totally fluff out and then clip her.

Ok, I love this picture - one day my hubby came home and just laid down with our 2 litters of F1b doodle puppies and I caught the photo from the sliding door. But again, check out the coats! Oh, and that's Truffle before she was clipped, looking on.


For the record, the gold/honey-colored puppies are Miniatures and the others in cream, chocolate and black are Standards but all are F1b's. And the little guy under my hubby's elbow is the same guy who was cheesing for the camera in the other picture.

TEMPERMENT - MOST IMPORTANT
I have 3 kids - 1, 7 and 10. I realize with a pup I will have 2 toddlers and I am prepared for that. I want a dog that will be a companion for the kids - to play but also cuddle.

We had a bad experience (not towards us but others with a rescue) so having a kid friendly do is critical.

I'm really sorry you had a bad experience with a rescued dog. People always have the best intentions but there are 100 ways it can go bad, I'm afraid. I got an adult dog for breeding and she had had some tough experiences and it was like she was a rescued dog. We lived with her for 3 yrs but she barked at (yelled at, literally) my husband; he was a champ about it, but it hurt his feelings, and disrupted everything. Getting an adult dog or a rescued dog can be a big challenge and frankly doesn't always work out. Working with a breeder you should have a sense that you have a person who wants you to have the best possible experience, and a well-raised, happy ready-to-love puppy. Seems worth it to me, but of course I'm a breeder!

I have talked to a few wonderful breeders and 2 of them commented that F1Bs "mature faster". I'd like other opinions here. I also had one strongly suggest an F1 given my kids.

I have never heard of F1b's maturing faster. But Poodles are different than Labs in their temperment and there is a degree of kinetic energy that is missing and frankly it might seem like a Poodle is just more settled than a Retriever, at any age. There's a reason they are called non-working dogs: they don't need to do any job, or anything, for that matter. lol. I love our lay-around dogs!

I don't think the generation makes as much different as the bloodlines. I do prefer and breed F1b's and I have specifically stayed away from the hunting/pointing bloodlines because those Retrievers have a very high instinct, drive or energy level. Our doodle babies are noted for their calmness. But I'm not the only one so I'm sure you can find calm, secure Doodles too.

Thanks in advance for your advice and please feel free to send other links to help me navigate the labroodle web!

Hey! not a problem! Email me directly if I can help anymore.