Lesley Cooper (Arizona) writes:
The "doodle" conversation comes up everywhere I go, and I definitely side with Madeleine's opinion about the poodle being a complete package "as is"
My Vet asked me two weeks ago if I was aware of this new craze to breed poodle mixes as he had one in that day for spay surgery (thank goodness!) It was a labradoodle, a lady in the post office behind me on another occasion had a goldendoodle.
These mixes have been featured in local papers and owned by people who are singing their praises.
My Vet friend, Kerri, is seeing them in her practice and cannot believe that people are "bragging" that they paid $1000.00 for their very special "rare" dog, she kindly assures them that it is a mixed breed. If she is asked for an opinion about such a mix, she very definitely steers them to the local rescue organizations and Humane Society to look for a special "mix" that they are bound to find, as she herself has.
Poodles stand alone as a perfect dog, when people challenge me about the amount of grooming they require I have a few responses:
All popular dogs such as Goldens, Spaniels, Poodle Mixes, Schnauzers, PWDs and Border Terriers to name a few, all require intimate grooming, ears cleaned, coats trimmed, feet and nails regularly trimmed, debris removed from leg hair etc., a poodle is no different except that the coat does not shed and requires trimming.
The trim is a matter of choice, you can pay to have a pro do it 6 times a year, more if you wish, or you can opt to choose a closely sheared dog and learn to remove the excess hair yourself. All dogs deserve to have grooming attention, poodles are people dogs and enjoy being cleaned and groomed and it is not a major chore to make a commitment to clean them, or choose to pay to have them cleaned......YOU elect to choose where you spend your money for hobbies, treats and personal spending. I choose to pay to have my dogs scissor groomed regularly, and bathe, brush and attend to them frequently myself as I would any breed.
There are not many poodle owners amongst my friends in the agility community here, most have already aligned with their breed of choice and are loyal and well versed about their reasons for staying with their choices, however, they are constantly surprised by my poodles who are real dogs who do the same things their dogs do...lure coursing, herding, flyball, agility and obedience, are friendly, sweet cuddly and good team players, and I am considered "lucky" because my dogs don't shed!!!!!
I observe the amount of time and effort it takes to maintain, groom and train the Irish Setters and Goldens of two of my closest friends, and I have to admit they spend far more time on the tasks than I. I'll never under estimate the true fact that poodle hair needs to be cared for properly, but you will not find it spread all over the house and car, the cost of keeping a poodle groomed is a bargain when you consider the time, cost and effort of cleaning up after canines who shed their coats and slobber non-stop on the property of their people.
Large poodle mixes are going to be a nightmare for people who do not understand that a cross is not naturally a guarantee a perfect mix of both breeds. Hopefully many will be well loved mutts with good doggy traits, but I believe that we'll see many large unruly woolly, matted dogs end up in shelters. Let everyone get the word out...real poodles are they way to go!
In order to do my bit, I have two of mine trimmed mostly even coat all over, scissored head and legs and I am constantly told "Oh, I just love that "puppy cut" it makes them look like real dogs!" I can then happily make my case for enjoying the poodle for what a poodle is, not what a haircut will create. My poodle who is trimmed in a "modified Sporting Cut" gets all the "oohs and aahs" and people want to feel her coat and admire her as if she is something other than a poodle just like the other two, I again am left to explain that hair and grooming are choices and not the whole package.
I have lived with Poodles, mini and Standard, beagles, a Dalmatian, Papillion, Dachshund. My family have had wire haired terriers, Cairn terriers, Spaniels, German Shepherds, Aussies, mixed breeds and poodles all dogs I have known and loved well, but a poodle is absolutely the breed for me even though I have three now with totally different personalities and traits, they all have the core of a poodle.
Regards,
Lesley
Helen Wittner writes:
I have two poodles, a beautiful and proud Standard and a miniature, who was most likely from a puppy mill. Both are rescues as was my last Standard, who died when he was 15 yrs. old. My husband and I would not have any other breed.
When we go to the “doggie” park near my home I see a lot of these new “ breeds”. One woman proudly told me she paid about $2500.00 to a breeder in Australia. According to her, this woman is the original breeder of golden doodles and came up with the concept. In addition to the cost of her puppy this woman’s purchase also included an expensive trip to Australia.
When I asked her why she bought the dog, who looked more like a golden retriever than poodle, she said that she likes the “breed.” She also added that the dog does not shed, therefore no allergic reactions. After thinking about her comments, I asked her what would she have done if her puppy ended up having more golden rather than poodle traits – i.e., a poodle but which is long hair that sheds and causes allergies. For a moment she did not say anything, and then replied that her dog does not pose that problem.
Since I see her at the doggie park frequently I decided not to tell her that since the dog is not recognized right now as a purebred, what she has is a very expensive mutt. Rather than paying a lot of money for bragging rights, she could have gone to Petfinder.com and adopted one of the many golden- and labra-doodles listed. Not only would she saved about $10,000 (dog plus long and expensive trip even from California), she would have been saving a life and soul.
My husband and I are sticking to our high maintenance but funny, loving, beautiful and highly intelligent hounds.
Helen Wittner
