Labradoodle Forums - View Single Post - Might be getting a Labradoodle and need info

BSCK · 05-23-2008, 09:07 AM

I've had Golden Retrievers, and my experience was that the first 24 months of their lives was just insane! I loved them both dearly, but they were really a handful and had to be watched every single second or else they were destroying the house. One ate our deck... literally. They also shed like crazy things - not their fault, but it made for a lot of work both in grooming and in house cleaning.

So when we adopted Daisy as a 1-year-old, I was braced for another endless puppyhood kind of experience like we had with the Goldens. It didn't happen! She is infinitely calmer than either Golden was at that age. She has never ONCE chewed anything that doesn't "belong" to her, and somehow even knows the difference between her stuffed toys and my daughter's stuffed animals. She is playful and exuberant and energetic, but she seems to get that there are times when she just has to calm down and snooze at our feet. She is, without a doubt, the smartest dog I've ever had and wants nothing so much as to please us.

Her coat is also wonderful. Very low-shedding, even when it's long, and when it gets hard to groom, I just take her and have it clipped. I think she looks adorable either way, but it is easier when it's short.

I think if you're looking for a companion for a young Golden, you could hardly do better than a Doodle. You'll get the size and the energy that are a good match for a Golden Retriever, but you likely won't be doubling your shedding, and - at least in my experience - the doodles mature and calm down a little sooner, which will be good for everyone. Of course, every dog is different, and doodles are no exception!

As for the baby, I didn't have my doodle when my kids were babies, but I had a Golden and a lab mix, and even though they were wonderfully sweet and accepting of my babies, they did spend more time outside when the kids started crawling and toddling. My kids were taught from the beginning to respect the dogs - not to pull their hair or treat them roughly - and we never really had any problems in that regard. And only once did one of the dogs hurt the baby: Once, the Golden was galumphing around - as she was apt to do - and knocked my 1-year-old daughter down some steps. She had a huge bump on her head that scared me to death, and we wound up rushing her to the doctor. She was fine, but it reminded me that it's MY job to be vigilant when babies are around big dogs. In many ways, however, I think it's better to have two dogs than one when you are also raising babies. Babies necessarily take a lot of time and attention, and my dogs were good companions for one another during those years when I had two little people who commanded most of my time and energy. They still do, but now, at 9 and 10, my kids are old enough to participate in pet care and training, and they're wonderful with our dogs.

Sheesh - didn't mean to write a book! Hope something here was helpful, and congratulations on your new baby

.

Best,

S.

05-23-2008, 09:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
BSCK Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 24	I've had Golden Retrievers, and my experience was that the first 24 months of their lives was just insane! I loved them both dearly, but they were really a handful and had to be watched every single second or else they were destroying the house. One ate our deck... literally. They also shed like crazy things - not their fault, but it made for a lot of work both in grooming and in house cleaning. So when we adopted Daisy as a 1-year-old, I was braced for another endless puppyhood kind of experience like we had with the Goldens. It didn't happen! She is infinitely calmer than either Golden was at that age. She has never ONCE chewed anything that doesn't "belong" to her, and somehow even knows the difference between her stuffed toys and my daughter's stuffed animals. She is playful and exuberant and energetic, but she seems to get that there are times when she just has to calm down and snooze at our feet. She is, without a doubt, the smartest dog I've ever had and wants nothing so much as to please us. Her coat is also wonderful. Very low-shedding, even when it's long, and when it gets hard to groom, I just take her and have it clipped. I think she looks adorable either way, but it is easier when it's short. I think if you're looking for a companion for a young Golden, you could hardly do better than a Doodle. You'll get the size and the energy that are a good match for a Golden Retriever, but you likely won't be doubling your shedding, and - at least in my experience - the doodles mature and calm down a little sooner, which will be good for everyone. Of course, every dog is different, and doodles are no exception! As for the baby, I didn't have my doodle when my kids were babies, but I had a Golden and a lab mix, and even though they were wonderfully sweet and accepting of my babies, they did spend more time outside when the kids started crawling and toddling. My kids were taught from the beginning to respect the dogs - not to pull their hair or treat them roughly - and we never really had any problems in that regard. And only once did one of the dogs hurt the baby: Once, the Golden was galumphing around - as she was apt to do - and knocked my 1-year-old daughter down some steps. She had a huge bump on her head that scared me to death, and we wound up rushing her to the doctor. She was fine, but it reminded me that it's MY job to be vigilant when babies are around big dogs. In many ways, however, I think it's better to have two dogs than one when you are also raising babies. Babies necessarily take a lot of time and attention, and my dogs were good companions for one another during those years when I had two little people who commanded most of my time and energy. They still do, but now, at 9 and 10, my kids are old enough to participate in pet care and training, and they're wonderful with our dogs. Sheesh - didn't mean to write a book! Hope something here was helpful, and congratulations on your new baby . Best, S.