[Constancia]

we have two rescue labradoodles. They are great. if you are older i WOULD suggest a smaller labradoodle, because the big ones (80 pounds) can PULL you down the block if they are not trained to walk with you. That is the issue with our larger one. But he is such a sweetie and so much fun! Our smaller one we can manage a lot easier (she is around 44 pounds), but she is so energetic she can romp and play with no fear of being hurt with our other dog. So, i would plan on doing some training, but they DO seem to really want to please. (we have both of ours in training right now and they are doing great!) But my larger one can be kind or ornery, so if i am not consistent with him, he won't listen as easily. But overall, they are such a great pair! I do recommend the labradoodle if you plan on being home most of the day. They just want to be WITH you, whether you go out or stay at home. If not, i am sure they could be destructive, as can be most high energy dogs. They need an outlet for their funny antics and romping.

[lmtoth2]

I have so say as much as we love Dexter and his big goofy self...I think Kirby is the perfect size...he's somewhere around 45 lbs. I can still pick him up if needed (comes in handy for things he hates like going into the tub). But he's still big enough to play with much larger dogs...he holds his own with 80-90 lb dogs. Dex is only 60 lbs, but those 10 lbs makes him seem so much bigger!
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Leslie M

[Sara Davenport]

Cissy -

Gunner is my first dog ever, and we adopted him at 16 months of age. But, I think my comments will be helpful.

Gunner came from a home with 4 kids and constant chaos. Even though we was 16 months old, he ran around all day like a maniac. I also checked out this formum before adopting Gunner and having seen him in action and reading on this forum about them being high energy, I was nervous too about his energy level. (Only the fact that I have trained my quarter horse for 15 years gave me the confidence to believe that I would be able to help Gunner settle down.)

Now, only three weeks after adopting him, he is much calmer. But, as everyone has said, EXERCISE IS THE KEY! I was AMAZED at how fast he settled down once he started getting regular exercise.

We walk first thing every morning (before work) for 1.5 miles. I work on some training issues at the same time. Many weekdays either I or my husband are home, so Gunner spends additional time walking or playing outside. In the event that we are both working all day, his schedule is as follows: morning walk, breakfast, crate from 8:30 - 12 with toys. More long walking at lunch time. Crate again until 4:00. Then after work more walking and lots of play and training. Weekends we spend as much time as possible exercising and playing with him.

I recommend reading Cesar Millans' "Be the pack Leader" book. He does an excellent job of explaining the hierarchy in which you need to think of your dog: his an animal first, dog second, labradoodle third and Gunner fourth. All animals need exercise. The horse term for a horse that has been shut up in his stall and could not go out to pasture for whatever reason is that he will be "Fresh." Also, even within a particular breed, some dogs have higher energy levels than others.

Plus, Cesear explains that there is a big difference between walking your dog and playing with you dog. Playing generates excitement; walking with your dog as pack leader gives the dog a job (physical and psychological challenge) and really does drain the dog's energy.

I was very surprised that it took a lot less walking than I had imagined it would to drain Gunner's energy. Evening he is ready to lay with his head on my feet or lap, and if I ask him if he wants to walk one more time before bed, he looks at me like he is saying, "What, again!!"

Good luck with you choice and be sure to post pictures!
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Sara and Gunner (the doodle doggie)

[Constancia]

yeah, lexi was very wild when we got her, but then again she was in a cage at the humane association for 2 weeks. She has really calmed down a lot. I hardly walk the dogs, but we are out in the yard with them a lot. And that IS where 2 dogs come in handy if they like each other and have similar temperaments. They run around and exercise each other. I do take them up to a dog park up the road where they swim and chase each other for half an hour. I probably do this 2 or 3 times a week. They both go to sleep and sleep all night, and seem pretty tired when it is evening. A neighbor dog (lab) would come over every now and again and play with Wally before we got lexi, but Wally would tire of her easily because she is kind of fat and not as energetic. Anyway, not to suggest you DO go out and get two dogs, but it does help unless you want to be walking them a lot or playing in the yard a LOT!

[Tink]

I have 2 LD pups that are 9.5 weeks old and a lab pup that's 11 weeks old. The lab has far more energy than either of the LD's and will wear them both out and still be rearing to go. I think it depends on how much of the Lab influence each individual pups gets. My experience with standard poodles is that they're much more laid back than the labs. Of course it's harder when you're getting a rescue, but if you're going to a breeder, they should be able to tell you which pups are more active and energetic and which have more couch potato potential. I try to pick Labs that aren't as franticly active for breeding too, which also helps.
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www.tinkerdoodle.net
Hickory, Ava, Hana, Misty, and Chip (happy master of his Harem)

[cissy k]

All great info!! We should have NO problems exercising our dog. Walking and playing will be easy.

Thanks!!

[ellabee]

[LuBer]

I would agree with everyones responses.I would add,that to really decide if a puppy is right for you,or if an older dog would suit your life and lifestyle better.
The puppy stage is a challenging stage,with ups and downs,everyday,regardless of the breed.

We just adore Max,some days he shows signs of how mellow he'll be when he gets older,and some days we shake our heads,what did we get ourselfves into.
The positives outweight the negatives.Patients of each stage is key,consistency and training is essential from the very beggining.

we got Max,as a second dog, we had a very mellow,calm ,dog,we were use to that personality,she was a pound dog,older.we had no idea and were clueless to what a puppy was,the work involved,and all the rest,and how much stress if would ad to our family life.
Max is our daugthers best friend,and i must say he's incredible with her,gentle and watchfull a great playmate.
Max has some of the funniest quirks.He crawls under the bed and lays there,and tries to get your feet as you walk by.He loves watching TV,especially dog shows,cartoons.He allways has something in his mouth,especially if he wants to play,he'll get something he knows he's not allowed,come right up to you and show you ,and then run away.Very Smart dog..Zgot to love the doodle.
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Lucille,Claire & Max

Quote:

I do doodle.

Buffy: What is this?
Willow: A doodle. I do doodle. You too. You do doodle, too.

[DoodleLeeDoo]

Bigsby was quite a challenge for us for the first year. The chewing, the nipping, the jumping, the racing around the house. We did the training (a few hundred dollars - still expensive but not thousands), bought an e-collar, walked every day, but there were times when I really wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. There were a few tears, believe me. It just took time, and maturing, and experience - and being CONSISTENT, CONSISTENT, CONSISTENT. We had to learn not to leave things where he would be able to steal and eat them. We had to learn how to effectively use the e-collar. We learned to never let him go out the door in front of us, to always have him sit before being fed and before being petted, and I had to finally accept that crates were good things. At almost 18 months now, I feel like we are emerging from the puppy stage. Bigsby is amazingly calm now (except when we have a visitor ). We are fairly lazy owners and I must admit, we don't walk every day, but his behavior is fine even when he doesn't get the exercise he should have. He spends the day mainly sleeping, watching squirrels & people through the windows (but he's not a barker), chewing on nylabones (we can't give him any soft toys), and asking for tummy rubs or trying to get in my lap. He's quite happy in his crate at night and when we go out. He's far less hyper than our previous dog, a lab, even though I thought a year ago he would be more so. He is simply the most adorable creature I've ever seen. And, as everyone else has said, the smartest dog we've ever had. He's 40 lbs., about half the size of our lab - perfect for us - not too big, not too small!