New Member ~ Lucy! My 1st Labradoodle :)

[LucyWhitePaw]

I am so excited to have found this forum! I feel as though I will be able to gain a lot of insight and information on an awesome dog breed.

Anyways, I am Amy from NY and we just got our first (F1) chocolate labradoodle this past weekend. Her name is Lucy (White Paw, lol ~ she has white on the bottom of 2 paws). Her mom is a chocolate lab and her dad is a cream standard poodle. We got her at 6 1/2 weeks old, and is doing absolutely amazing. I still think she was a wee bit too young to be separated from her mother/siblings, but she is here and it is what it is.

Before Lucy, we had a black lab named Cayce (11 1/2 years old). She had to be put to sleep last month because she was really sick. It was one of the most difficult decisions I ever had to make, but know in my heart it was for the best. We planned on waiting a bit before we got a new puppy, but when all the kids went to school and my husband went to work - I was so alone at home. I just knew I couldn't wait any longer! I searched for days, hours on end. I just knew I would know when I found the right puppy, and then I found her!!! She is so lovey and playful, the exact combination anyone could hope for! I just taught her today ( she will be 7 weeks tomorrow) how to sit. She also hasn't had any accidents in the house either. I know she is still young, and anything can happen, but I am still hopeful (and very diligent, lol)!! I cannot believe how fast she picked it all up in a few days!! I am in constant awe of how intelligent she is. Believe me, she has some tough Cayce shoes to fill, and so far, she is excelling at it!

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what type of coat she has or if they have any idea of how it will be when she gets older? I was hoping for a low/non-shedding dog, but know F1 coats are a lottery. Luckily, she has won me over already and it will not matter if she sheds. Although, it would be a bonus if she didn't!! After having a black lab, I would be happy with even 1/2 the amount! Oh, and she has big paws too, more rounded than a lab's. I wonder if this means she will be a decently bigger size? Any thoughts are welcomed!!

Thanks and I can't wait to meet people and learn all I can!

[Jac]

Hi! Welcome to the forum! Lucy White Paws (cute name!) is adorable! I am so happy to read that you are very much aware of what to expect with both the puppy stage and the possibility of shedding! Lucy is a lucky girl...

I am very sorry for your loss...it is extremely hard to make the decision you had to make...

She is a typical F1, and I love F1 Doodles! She will probably shed. She seems to have a coat similar to my girls (both F1) and they shed a lot for the first year, but not so much now. Just brush her a lot and that will keep it under control. The benefit to having F1 coats is that, although they shed, they are super easyto groom! A bath once in a while, brushing and that's it! They rarely get matted, which is the bane of most Doodle owners!

She is very young to have been romoved from her litter and her mother. She is missing out on some valuable lessons that her littermates and mother will teach so you may have some issues as she ages...sometimes dogs will not learn bite inhibition and they don't know how to react with other dogs...so I would suggest that you find a really good puppy kindergarten class and as soon as she is old enough and vaccinated, get her to classes to socialize with other dogs. It isn't about the training so much as the socialization.

Also, take her out to stores and places where you can carry her...don't expose her to any place where her feet touch the ground...but she can still meet people and see other dogs and listen to sounds and such...

Best wishes and congratulations!

[LucyWhitePaw]

You are so sweet for responding to me! Thanks for all the helpful info. I forgot to mention that my cousin adopted her sister and we plan on getting the dogs together as often as possible. They have already had 1 playdate where my Lucy girl was clearly the dominate one. I was like - who is this girl?! She isn't like that at home with us, lol! Hopefully, being close with her sister will help, right?

[Jac]

Yes, that will help and yes, she wll behave in a way that will surprise you!
With my first few litters I was worried sick because they really would go after each other...and the barking! Yikes! But...funny thing is that they never have a problem with aggression at their forever homes because they learn from each other.
It gets pretty noisy here with the puppies, but I don't worry about it any more because I know that by letting the puppies discover their role in a pack and with other dogs, they will become much more well adjusted adult dogs.
Another thing that I find very interesting is that they can be really be growling and going after each other and I walk up, pick one up and the puppy just melts into my chest for loves. I think that this is a good exercise to teach them that there is a big difference between play fighting with siblings and how they respond to humans. It is an amazing reaction to see them go from serious sounding fights to gentle submission is two seconds!
This behavior is what will teach your puppy that biting hurts...that is what they are teaching each other...that it hurts and if they act that way the other puppy won't play with them. It is a good social behavior.
Now, keep in mind that I am talking about tiny puppies...although big dogs will tussle and growl and look scary sometimes, they have already learned not to behave badly and if they do, it might be cause for concern...especially with strange dogs...don't ever let a strange dog act aggressive with your puppy...they can snap at them (it is a correction) and they can reprimand them very quickly, but fighting is very different.

[MaxandMe]

HI so nice to meet YOU and LUCY is sooooooooooo cute!! now while she was young to be removed YOU can still help LUCY along
like Jacque mentioned. LOVE Patience, training and PUPPY socialization with some OB training goes a LONG ways esp/with doodles

LUCY looks like a F1 and may even have a semi curl around her shoulders and partly down her back as she matures.
Their coats keep changing and around 6 to 8mos but as late as 10mos old they blow (aka shed) their puppy coat
and believe me that is shedding
BUT
then you might have a minimal shedder like my Max and/or even if it's moderate BELIEVE ME IT IS NOTHING LIKE A LAB
in any form , YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY with the type of low to moderate shedding AFTER LUCY loses her puppy coat.
YOU get DUST BUNNIES and it doesn't stick to clothing etc. PUPPY COAT though you might want to buy a FELT LINT BRUSH
around $3.69 they last for years.

where are you in NY? I am in Rochester and WEGMANS food market has the lint brush i am talking about.

NOW LUCY is so cute i want to hug and kiss her

she'll go thru stages from calm sweet and then act like a toddler pushing buttons like jumping, maybe trying to mouth your hands
and more. TOtally normal BUT THIS IS When OB training classes that use POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT methods really go a long ways.

DOODLES are highly intelligent dogs so via training and love they get the stimulation they need ...oh yeah
we joke around : a TIRED DOODLE is a GOOD DOODLE.

LUCY should be napping alot for the next few months or so. OR at least all 3 of mine did, I FOUND when they got overwound
or too excited not calming down .....well a quick potty walk 1st and then crate trained which aided in a peaceful naptime for
resting and growing.

DOODLES are great people dogs......they are velcro dogs loving to be with you like a shadow. I say i have a daily parade following me
and watch out if you back up you one day might fall over your doodle as they can stick to your heels hahahaaaaaaaaa


CONGRATS!!!!!! and happy to hear LUCY will have her sister as a playmate
and so sorry to hear of your beloved loss , hopefully LUCY will help you as much as you are helping her develop.

[LucyWhitePaw]

That is so funny what you say about a tired doodle!
I was just saying that my favorite time is when she just wakes up from a nap. She is still groggy and just wants to cuddle. Plus she is just so cute! When she is all hyped up, she loves to try to eat toes, fingers, ect. I have been diligent by always replacing body parts with a toy and it definitely works. She seems to be the most hyped up in the morning after she has slept all night. I am amazed at her ability to go 0-60 or vise versa in seconds. She has slept in a crate (next to us) all night w/o crying or going to the bathroom every night so far. I am impressed! I just hope it continues.

And guess what? I am in BUFFALO (and I lived in Ra..cha..cha for 6 years)! My sis works at Wegmans in Bflo! Small world!!!! I definitely have to check out that lint brush. What dept. is it in? Brand?

My husband thinks I am a dork joining a doodle forum, but I am in such awe of her, I just HAD to! I figured if I felt this way, I am surely not alone. Plus, who would know better about them than other owners, right?!! Is there any way to see pics of other people's doodles? I think I saw a blog link on yours. So, I am going to go check it out now. This is such an exciting new chapter of our lives! Thanks for the awesome welcome!!

[MaxandMe]

WOW where in BUFFALO I drive out 1 to 2 times a month!!! my son goes to SUNY UB and i also go to clarence then to to orchard park
I spend half the day and then head back. OH i lived in buffalo 1st in Snyder then on Lake Erie from 1970 to 1992
used to work in Transitown plaza too ......WOW has that exploded with stores!!!

NOW in WEGMAN's it's in the cleaning section it's red , approx $3.69 and i'll get the name hhahaa if not the assistants know it

I am 1hour away as i am in Rochester about 5 min from exit 46 on 90 aka Thruway.........maybe we can meet when your puppy is
fully vaccinated and a tad older.

[MaxandMe]

know what? your hubby one day will be reading this forum........OKay don't know if this will work for you BUT for me i found this to work well

puppy doodles.....say you get up 6 or 6:30am, run out potty walk immediately, then feed, another potty walk and play ONLY AFTER they potty
if LUCY bites leash say No lightly it's normal and they'll stop in few weeks

NOW by say 10:30am or no later than 11am my doodles would appear hyper then i'd crate them and WOW they'd take a nap!
later would be lunch same as above......then another nap in mid to late afternoon and

then at nighttime a short nap and bedtime by 9:30 or 10pm and they'd sleep the night

don't know if this works........but PUPPIES LIKE babies/toddlers need NAPS

[KingstonTodd]

Welcome to the forum. Your doodle is adorable. I have two chocolate F1 doodles as well, and a black F1 and the easy wash and wear coat is great. Only one sheds, but less tham a lab, so its very manageable. I get a little light hearted teasing from my DW about sending mesages to strangers on the internet too, but its so fun to share our doodle experiences, and tell stories about these unique dogs, and we quicky get to know each other and our dogs.

[LucyWhitePaw]

@ AnnMarie ~ what a small world! I live in Williamsville. It is so exciting to meet other people with doodles, especially when they live close to us! Maybe one day we can have a puppy playdate. WHen is it safe to be around other dogs? I had a lab, but it was so long ago that she was a puppy, I honestly don't remember. I have read that some say 12, 16 or even 22 weeks?! I just want to make sure I do the best for her.

Ooh, and we had a playdate with her sister today! I am so happy that she has her to bond/socialize with. Lucy was already a bit tired from playing earlier with me, but she still managed to go non-stop with her sister for an hour! They took turns biting and chasing each other, but Lucy was always the one who would stand over her and put her in her place. It was so cool to see them interact like that. We plan on getting them together again tomorrow! They are just too cute!

@Todd ~ thanks for the warm welcome! I am a total internet girl, so I love connecting with people online (IRL too!), as I am just social like that. Do you have pics of your F1's on here or your website? Is that 2 of them in your avatar? If so, they look a lot like my Lucy. I am just so anxious to see what her coat does. I swear in the 5 days I have had her, it has already gotten a bit longer. I love it!!

[MaxandMe]

WOW WILLIAMSIVILLE......a stone throw away and my eX mother in law lived there for 20yrs+........I SENT YOU a PM so you'll have a message
click on work MESSAGE at top of page

AND I am the overprotective MOM so depending on when shots were and my doodle's personality along with the type/age etc of other dogs
i waited till 17 to 20 weeks old. BUT AT Petsmart and VETS I carried My doodle puppies inside for months as i was scared of dogs ill etc

[KingstonTodd]

Originally Posted by LucyWhitePaw

@Todd ~ thanks for the warm welcome! I am a total internet girl, so I love connecting with people online (IRL too!), as I am just social like that. Do you have pics of your F1's on here or your website? Is that 2 of them in your avatar? If so, they look a lot like my Lucy. I am just so anxious to see what her coat does. I swear in the 5 days I have had her, it has already gotten a bit longer. I love it!!

Here is a recent set of pics from Aero:

[LucyWhitePaw]

Love, love, love Aero!!! He (boy, right?) is so CUTE!!! Thanks for sharing. I love seeing what an F1 looks like more grown-up.