Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online puppy training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour. Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!

As a purebred poodle owner with a wonderful toy poodle I say, JUST GET A POODLE. As someone who’s first dog I trained was a cross between a cockerpoo and a mini-schnauzer I get it. I was fourteen, it was 1981 and that was the first dog I ever trained and he was one of the smartest dogs I ever had. I think a big part of his sucsess was I had just turned 14 in August and I had nearly a month to train him and all the free time aworking class latchkey kid in 1981 had. I literally rode my Schwinn Varsity over a mile to a horse farm where I did slave labor for an $8 a half-hour riding lesson. He was a pup and he stayed in that bike basket for a newly turned 14 yo kid. My mom helped and she was a decent amatuer dog trainer but Chester was still the best trained dog I’ve ever had. My other dogs have been breeds that practically trained themselves. Working-class NSD Aussies in the early 90s before they were AKC recongnized and *very* well-bred Great Danes in my older years (aka right now). They mostly trained themselves it felt like. I feel like some instinct comes into it. But since I’ve had a mini-poodle and two toy poodles I just feel like if you want the charactarkstics of a poodle just get w poodle. They are wonderfull

If everyone had someone like Stonie in their life the world would be a better place.

The grooming requirements are maximum and most people don’t understand

Exactly my thoughts, Stonnie. I think a lot of people miss that a "doodle" is called that because it's got poodle in the genetics, and poodles are working class dogs. In the last video a lot of folks commented about how great their doodles are, and I can believe it! A working dog can really make being a handler rewarding, but it's work and you have to at least have a plan and some level of activity to keep that dog well adjusted and happy. I think Stonnie-watchers are more likely, as a population, to be good homes for that kind of dog. A family with a 'does not shed' priority for their future four-legged family member generally isn't even aware of what their part in raising a working dog entails, thus we see doodles acting up so often. "Responsible" would be for doodle breeders to be up-front with potential clients that they can't expect them to be like labs. But then, I'm certain many probably are and people may not listen because they've got puppies on the brain. I think the truth is, though, that after doodles, there will be another breed/breed-mix that becomes more popular and trendy, and then we'll see that dog show up as the 'generally problematic breed,' just because of the people-aspect of this equation, rather than the dogs themselves.

We got our Goldendoodle @ 18 months old from a no-kill shelter & we’ve had him for 3 years. They said 9 other families looked at him but we were the only ones that qualified to adopt him & it made me feel special. After we had him a couple of weeks I started to think we were the only ones dumb enough to take him. He’d been kept tied to a tree & was leash reactive & fear aggressive. It took over a year to leash train him & many different collars, he’d choke himself & didn’t care & he gator rolled the 1st gentle leader & broke it. He walks real well now, I can take him past lawn mowers, cats, kids & other dogs. He notices them but doesn’t loose his mind & we can have a nice walk. It’s been such an improvement that neighbors driving by will ask if he’s the same dog. If I were to get another doodle I’d want it to be a puppy.

As a trainer I’ve had 6 doodles in 2024 alone. One Brittany doodle and the others were Labradoodles. All of them except 1 had an unexpected behavioral change that was expressed quite violently and without warning. The one exception was a persistent humper and jumped on people but otherwise did not have this Jekyll/Hyde syndrome. 4/6 were active people who did some basic obedience with their dogs and took them on park outings, played fetch and were generally active. The other 2 were with folks who lived a more work focused very busy people life but not very dog centric. Those two dogs both had very bad separation anxiety and quite “headstrong” disrespectful personalities which I equate to lack of boundaries and generally more love than leadership. At least they ALL sought help! The approaches were different with each dog because what worked with one might not have worked with the others. *Ethics to me is the breeder screens for temperament and does behavioral assessments and environmental exposure during the first 8-10 weeks of the puppies life. Also, recommends the appropriate pup for the living situation and skill level of owner and desired traits. *Ethics is truth and transparency with the studs/bitches. Allowing the prospective owners to meet/see the dogs and facilities. Not overstating or selling on trendy buzzwords and gimmicks. *Ethics is genetic testing so as not to breed deaf dogs (achieving some certain coat and eye colors) and to greatly reduce serious health and physical defects. *Ethics is also taking the pup back if there is an unforeseen issue that is going to be especially hard for the owners to resolve. Genetic roulette is real and sometimes you get an outlier, it’s important for the breeder to know of these things and perhaps that will adjust their future breedings. Many of these will end up at the shelter instead because the owner will feel like they failed or the dog so just a bad dog and investment. I applaud owners who seek professional training and or veterinary behaviorist help because that is also ETHICAL❤

Most doodle breeders market them as 'accessories '... low maintenance, clean, friendly.. This lures a lot of amateur owners

"People that are really worried about dogs that shed alot, they don't go outside and do a lot." This was such a great observation. They want the dog they want (aussie, lab, golden, berner, etc.) that doesn't shed. For most big city folks, that is pretty much always what it comes down to when picking a doodle.

I am a professional dog groomer with 32 years experience in my community. Personally I don’t blame the dogs, I blame the people breeding and buying them. Breeders are telling their buyers not to get them professionally groomed until their adult coat comes in at 18 months. At 18 months you have a 60-120# bucking bronco teenager who would rather die than participate in this new terrifying experience. They thrash, they bite, they injure the groomer and themselves. The breeder sets the owner against the groomer by telling them groomers are lazy, shady and untrustworthy. Owners buy puppies because they want a statement dog. Or a shed free dog. Then they don’t train or socialize them at all. Big surprise when they aren’t welcome out in the community and are banned from every groom shop and daycare for 50 miles. This isn’t a problem so much with the individual dog, it’s about people being greedy for big money and buying dogs for the wrong reasons and doing zero actual research and putting in no work on the dog as it grows. I have two clients who purposely bought (off of Craigslist) standard poodles and golden retrievers just so they could breed 4 litters a year because they heard they could sell the puppies for $5000 a head and make $100,000 a year. Easy peasy, right? Except they wound up practically giving the puppies away in the Walmart parking lot and giving the adults away in rehoming FB groups, after confiding in me that the dogs bit multiple family members!!😮 We don’t hate the dogs themselves so much as the awful humans who operate with deception and greed and the buyers who see their dog as an accessory like a watch or a coffee table. Lay down and look pretty, darn it. The dogs are the victims in this situation. They are created by people, purchased and then neglected by people. Humans are the bad guys here.

❤ Wise words as always. As a groomer we saw A LOT of doodles and the ones that were treated as a substitute child were very often the more difficult ones. My sister has a doodle, she lives in central London and a cottage in the country and that dog could be riding a London bus one day and walking through a field of sheep the next and she’s absolutely great. I have a poodle and a field lab, you ask a poodle to jump, they ask “how high?” You ask a lab to jump they say “OK”.

What I do not understand is if a person wants a dog that is hypoallergenic and does not shed, why they do not just buy a poodle? Breeding dogs for looks without taking into account temperament, biddability, desire to please, need to work, etc. is not that I personally approve of.

As an avid outdoors person who especially loves to go on long, mostly solo, canoe trips in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but, who is also mildly allergic to shedding breeds, I'm definitely an exception to your "doodle owners typically buy doodles to be house accessories" statement. I'm on my 3rd schnauzer/poodle (schnoodle) mix now. The first was really my wife's dog and was acquired (taken off a friend's hands) far too late for us to do any early training but was still a great dog. Most of the time, he stayed home with my wife while I went out on my canoe adventures but, there came a time that my wife was out of town and I "had" to take him along with me. What an eye-opener that trip was! Even though he had no specific training for such an adventure and only weighed about 15lbs, he did great and was a great joy to have along. Over his 11 year life span, I only had a chance to take him on 3 or 4 trips but I sure enjoyed his company! He certainly did not like rain/thunder though and also did not like to swim (which isn't all bad when you want your dog to stay in the canoe!). When he passed, we decided to get 2 dogs -- another schnoodle for me and a shi-poo for my wife (yes, the latter was more as a house accessory). This time, we purchased from a "breeder". The schnoodle (Sam) was 5 months old with very minimal training but I couldn't have asked for a sweeter, more easy-going dog. I started getting him used to the canoe right away but waited a year before introducing him to camping and canoe tripping. As I said, he was very easy going, loved everyone he met but was very respectful of everyone too. We often thought he would make a great therapy dog but never followed up on that. In his all too short 13 years on this earth, he accompanied me on 28 overnight canoe adventures, many, just the 2 of us, and including a few 2 week long trips. He weighed about 25 lbs so was a very good fit in the canoe. He was a bit more tolerant of rain than our first one, didn't mind thunder one bit but still didn't like to swim... although he'd wade in up to his chest when it got hot. He was always the first one in and out of the canoe! After we lost Sam, we looked for another schnoodle -- this time, I thought 30 lbs would maybe be a better fit. The only ones we could find from breeders were all smaller... 10-15 lbs. And, expensive as well. We finally found a rescue, Ruby. Ruby weighs in just under 30 lbs, was about 2 y.o. when we rescued her last July. Being a rescue, she's had very minimal training although, she did know "sit" when we got her. She loves people but gets way to enthusiastic, jumping up at their faces to lick them. She's terrible with kids... doesn't know to tone it down a bit when she greets them so bowls them over. Always want to play with all the dogs she meets -- again, very energetically. She's a sweet girl, just too excitable! I've taken her canoeing and camping which she has enjoyed and has been fine on. Even took her on a 3 day canoe trip last fall... to an area I knew we wouldn't encounter many, if any, people. I've been trying to control her reactivity, have made some progress but still have a long way to go. At the moment, my biggest concern about taking her with me is the way she'll greet other people and dogs she'll meet on the portage trail... knowing that not all travelers are going to be very happy about a dog zooming towards them and jumping at them. From my experience, there's definitely a lot to be said for the nurture part of the equation as far as behavior goes. Again, my tendency towards doodles isn't because I want a dog that doesn't shed in the house (although that's good too) so much as it is that I want a dog who won't shed in my tent and make my allergies kick in. I just wish I could figure out how to rein Ruby in a bit.

Thank you for this video!! I get so tired of hearing all of the doodle bashing. It seems people have moved on from bully breeds to doodles. I guess there always has to be that one type of dog that people love to hate. We rescued our Aussiedoodle when he was 9weeks old. My husband swore he'd never own a poodle or poodle mix :-). And within the first week of having him we were taking him out in public (in our shih tzu's stroller) to get him used to people, other animals, sites and sounds of traffic/stores. His first professional groom was when he was 5 months old, but at home I bathed him and would use a high velocity dryer on him to get him used to that. He went through 4 training classes, got his CGC, and just recently passed his therapy dog evaluation. He LOVES everyone and hasn't met a stranger yet. I know he's a mutt, but my AKC German Shepherd Dog's lineage were mutts in Germany until they weren't.

I love this so much! I am picking up my 9 week old doodle on Monday. I truly believe his breeder is ethical. I met both parents who were picked for their temperament, clean genetic testing, health testing (eyes, heart, and hips) and physical appearance. The breeder raises the puppies right in the main room of the house with her family (including children) and does ENS, ESI, and lots of socializing of the puppies- sounds, objects, new people, car rides, etc. They are all vet checked and have their first shots. She starts to kennel train them ( very gently) at 4 weeks, and housebreaking begins at the same time. Some people believe that if the end result is a doodle, it is unethical breeding. I also take my role as a dog owner seriously and I will continue to socialize this puppy and play with him and brush him and train him!!! I am so excited! ☺️

Love this video. Great job and I agree with your logic. Extremely well said. I have a 95% chocolate lab rescue and a golden doodle. I get really tired of all the hate I see on golden doodles. He is such an amazing dog. Absolutely amazing and they get trashed so much.

Mr. Dennis is a fountain of wisdom, I love this channel! Thank you Stonnie and company!!❤

My favorite dog of all time was an akc registered Labrador retriever who had a lanky field type build. I took her to the vet, and the vet without having been told, knew who the breeder was and the dog's parental lineage and knew the the health concerns associated with that line. She was brilliant in a lot of ways including fetching and athleticism in terms of keeping up with us on snow machines and hikes in Alaska. The health concerns did manifest. Was that breeder irresponsible? She gave us so much joy over her 13 year lifetime, and that's what mattered to us in the long run.

I have owned black labs, great danes, collie/shepard mixes and currently own a F1b labradoodle (¾ poodle, ¼ black lab). I specifically chose a labradoodle because I wanted the intelligence of a poodle and the loyalty, calmness, people-loving, and retrieve drive of a lab. I specifically chose the breeder because they were veterinarians, own a farm, provide health certificates, and temperament test the parents and the puppies. I did not care whether the dog sheds (she doesn't). I took Stonnie's online puppy training course only because COVID made flying to his Kentucky kennel difficult. From 8 weeks of age, I have taken her on outside adventures multiples times per day and in many different environments, including riding a chairlift at a ski resort. At 4 years old, she runs off leash beside my bicycle (sprinting 13 mph), runs/jumps her heart out off leash at the beach, and loves retrieving balls on the beach , in the forest, at a public park. I can and do take her everywhere, she loves everyone and everyone loves her. She is the center of attention at the park where other people comment on how athletic she is. My point for all of this, is that it is all about training and adventures. Using Stonnie's method, you can have the perfect dog. And mine is a doodle.

My family has two doodles (my parents got them)… they are amazing dogs, very well behaved, easily potty trained, chill, laid back great dogs!

That golden is so great! Wants to be in the fun and is so willing to just follow along!

Glad you mentioned breeders (of smush faced dogs who can’t breathe ) not caring about dog health

So glad you’re addressing these topics! I wish more people paid attention to channels like this before they buy. I’ve owned a lot of different breeds over the decades, mostly dumped in my lap and now I have a doodle, but they’re all raised the same because I’m a believer in nurture vs nature when it comes to temperament and so far it’s worked out. I learned everything I know from wolves but that’s another story and I’m an Irish granny so I’ll stop myself now lol. However you can miss me with the low coat maintenance non shedding doodle lol I’ve never had more work with any dog and I’ve owned lots of long coats but this girl requires daily combing out which she hates but tolerates and there’s not a single groomer with 100kms of me that will touch a doodle other than to shave it down, which I did to her once and she went into a deep depression and dog therapists are costly lol and yes you’re right, even with long time dog owners these dogs become froofroo puppies from the start. So spoiled I’m ashamed. So we go through a lot of detangling product and combs lol My biggest concern with breeding right now is the number of mixed gsd’s there are for sale and how cheap they are. I can only imagine the issues and glad I don’t fix messed up dogs anymore. When I used to train unruly dogs I used the buy and sell papers to watch the trends so that I’d know what breed my next wave of clients would be 😁 Thanks for listening to me drone on. Take care and keep making videos you’re a valuable channel, I’ve learned a great deal from you. Cheers!

Our standard poodle breeder that we got our youngest from is an RN and is extremely careful with her breeding and does not breed cousins. I have her papers and she has 6 generations to see who’s been bred to her. Thank you for a wonderful video and being so amazing !!!

Love your channel and all the info you give. You are spot on about doodles. Love labs, great family dog. I have a mini doodle who is incredible. Born on a Mennonite farm and last to go as she had an underbite. She grew up with a ton of little kids, which by the way they were sad to see her go, other dogs and farm animals. She was not quite 15 weeks. So she was socialized up the whazo. It was fabulous to have a social dog. She naturally walked great on a leash, good with kids and people. She is my perfect camping buddy and shopper. Loves to swim which I do and lucky for me I am a 10 minute walk to a Conservative area where we do a lot of swimming. I wanted a dog that could come everywhere with me and have fun, so that is why I got a doodle, plus the no shedding helps. Had a Great Pyrenees who was a rescue that lived to 14, but did not like the water or a good shopper. But she loved our walks in the conservation area and was great with my kids growing up. Like you have said in previous videos, get a dog that suits your life style. Now my mini doodle Dolly is very laid back, which is lucky for a doodle, but good training and understanding you get a great dog. Just have to put in the effort and time. So Dolly is off the lead trained, doesn’t run out the door when opened (waits for me to go first), fully house trained the day we brought her home (used the bell system and still do, hasn’t gone in the house except for the day we got her. And remember this was a farm dog who could go anywhere), great on a leash, best camping partner ( will not bark or go after other dogs, just sits in her own chair), best swimming bud. Each day is a gift with her and she is so much fun. Thanks again for sharing great information and I look forward to more. From Cambridge, Ontario.

At nearly 70 years old, I chose a Lab because I felt he was “trainable” at my level of ability. I took a deployed sailor’s year old bernedoodle for 18 months and realized he was more difficult to train into our lifestyle. He didn’t learn from a mentor dog relationship, making it really difficult for me. After our time together the Berne was incrementally better behavior wise, but still had moments where he just “lost his mind” , things I couldn’t figure out that no one, including multiple emails to stonnie, could give me an answer to. So the less fur “benefit” had very little bearing when it came to the adoption of a ten month old field bred lab. His lack of socialization was something I could work with, at an almost predictable outcome. The mentor dog relationship was an immediate hook up, to the point where he wants to please the mentor dog as much as me. The outcome is clear after a year in multiple locations, farm and field, and city downtowns. In most situations we tend to purchase things based upon how they look, but with a dog, for me at my age, that has very little bearing on my decisions now. After 26 adoptive dogs, these might be my last two, that’s okay as Harry Callahan said, “A man has got to know his limitations”.

I have two Aussiedootle littermates that are 8 months old. Thanks to your videos they are becoming great hikers, campers, and adventurers. They go with us to restaurants when we travel and get better each time. We are working on manners and have our school work everyday. 😊Thank you for your work and love of animals. ❤

Stonnie - This is so on the money. I have a working line Bouvier de Flanders, another dog which tends not to leave hair all over the place, but that is also a minimum 2.5 hr./day commitment between mental and physical exercise and obedience training. Also not an animal for someone unprepared to invest significant amounts of time and money into a trainer experienced with livestock guardian/herding breeds or their own time teaching the dog new things every day. It’s a lifetime commitment. When my dog exhibits leash reactivity, 8 of 10 times it’s a reaction to untrained doodles barking or growling. Half the time the owners are on the phone ignoring their dog’s behavior. In fact, they concern me far more than the bull and terrier breeds. I view it as a welcome training opportunity, she gets better every day at ignoring the yappy furballs. I figure it’s better than her getting close, having some Doodle act aggressively and having her decide to neutralize any perceived threat, which would result in a dead doodle in under a minute. Interestingly, the issue I’ve heard about with respect to doodles isn’t really that they’re inherently bad dogs that adhere to no consistent lineage. That’s a matter of perspective. It’s more the argument from some canine biologists and vet groups regarding the financial incentives to pull Golden and Lab breeders away, shrinking the gene pool and compounding health issues for dogs that can already be subject to extensive line breeding. Ironically, the meanest dogs around here tend to be Golden Retrievers. Of 5 in our neighborhood, just one is friendly to other dogs. 1 of the 4 owners of the animals of concern is at fault for not exercising or socializing their dog, but the others have all had Goldens for years. They are all baffled by the aggression of their latest pups (all are under 3). Anyway, keep up the great work!!

EDIT: Regarding doodle breeders I see very little ethical breeding going on. My search for a breeder was made so much more difficult because of that. Backyard breeding is rampant and puppy mills get shut down regularly here in Florida. The poodle rescues here are over run with and forced to take poodle mixes. Let me also comment that even tho I consider my breeder a good one, all the health testing etc. is proper, they breed way too many litters. I currently have a standard Australian Labradoodle bred by a responsible breeder and he is confident with a good amount of drive. As an older female I also had him properly trained with a trainer who has an amazing resume. He is chill, pattern cognizant and a lovely dog. My best dog EVER in my life was an oops Golden Retriever & English Yellow Lab cross. He basically required no training at all although we did quite a bit of leash work because of his 90 plus pound size. Hardly necessary because he wouldn’t run off. Next, and entirely because of this amazing retriever/lab cross I adopted a 6 month old (who turned out to be a field bred) Yellow Lab. VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. All of the balls and frisbees and walks plus bike rides, scooter and roller jogs were never enough to complete take the edge off this dog. He lived all of his life with us but if too much drive is a thing he had it.

I have a groodle. Yes I got her for the lack of shedding after having Jack Russels and a Lab. However, she is very well socialised. There are 4 adults in our house and every one of them fights to take her out with them. She is great at cafes etc, does not bark unless at the right time and was not destructive as a puppy. Yes she has a few things that are a work in progress. When she gets excited, she forgets people are around and can bump into them and has knocked people over, I still have problems in stopping her off leash chasing kangaroos for 2-3 min and when we are ready to go home from an outing she will sit down and not move (I get lots of laughs from passers by). Her breeder, I chose the breeder as they had genetic tests done.

My standard poodle is an old soul. He was completely calm on his 3 hour hour drive home from the breeder at 8 weeks, and he still has that same temperament. Don’t get me wrong. He is also wild and fun and has lots of energy, but he rolls with the punches and nothing really fazes him. He’s the perfect counterpoint to our lovable but reactive boxer/Weimaraner rescue girl.

We didnt go looking for a Doodle, or any dog really. But there was a sheepadoodle that needed a home and it turned out to be ours. She is one of the very best dogs we have ever had. Eager to please and hands-down the smartest dog we've ever had - she trains like a dream, she's rock solid in new situations, and everywhere we take her people want to pet the huge, fluffy dog with the cute nose. And after our Aussie, I have to say that the non-shedding thing is waaaay more appealing than I ever thought it would be. But...to your point on ethical breeding....whoever "bred" her clearly did not prioritize health. At 2 she already has moderate hip displasia. To me, if they're not doing genetic testing on their dogs and doing everything they can to ensure long healthy lives for the puppies they sell - then they are not an ethical breeder.

Got my F1 goldendoodle at about 16 weeks old (He was the last one available of the litter) and started training as soon as we got home. He's now almost 9 months and is well behaved for the most part (still a few puppy tendencies). He's great with my kids, did well when I boarded him with a friend who had a much bigger lab for a few days, and understands all basic obedience so far.

I have a Miniature Poodle Labrador retriever first cross. We trained in Good Citizen Puppy training classes for 18 months and then did training and competing. I would say that she has medium energy levels, so she loves a long walk or day out but then settles well in the home. Shedding is minimal and as she doesn't have a curly coat she doesn't get clipped at all. All in all, she's a fantastic dog, takes well to training and loves nothing more than to be by my side. Totally safe with children, she is very adept at reading other dogs and will happily play with other well socialised dogs . If there are dogs that she is unsure about, she will just give them a wide berth and not interact with them. For my money, she has the best of the Labrador Retriever traits combined with the size of a smallish poodle. I put this down to being a first cross and good socialisation.

I did a lot of research & spoke to a lot of KC registered breeders before getting a GSD puppy, my family’s tenth GSD. I’ve grown up with the breed & I love them however, there are many issues that come with poor breeding & especially UK Show Lines. I found an exceptional breeder of KC registered Working Line GSDs. They put in a lot of research, work & effort into producing excellent puppies of top UK & European Working Lines. I continued training & this progressed to more advanced levels were we competed in Working Trials. When out & about I get many compliments on my GSD but, I always advise that they don’t come preprogrammed. GSDs are a Working Breed that you have to keep physically & mentally stimulated, plus they shed once a year & it lasts 365 days! My issue is people get a dog without having a serious discussion about who they are getting the puppy from, why they want a dog & what the next decade of their life with a dog will be like. We come across many dogs that are badly behaved & have obviously had little training or issues that have not been addressed correctly. Some have even attacked my dog, when mine is on its lead calmly walking with me. I would say the advantage of breeding lines is that you can see the temperament & health of the parents breed lines. One of my dog trainers advised that some dog breeds should never be crossed due to the strong outcome of guarding & aggression. Also nervous & anxious or aggressive dogs should never be breed from. A responsible dog breeder should raise the puppies in a family home so they experience the environment they will live in. A new owner should always continue with the socialisation & training until the dog is an adult & beyond. I still ‘train’ my dog even though she is nearly 8. I always praise & talk to her when we are out & about. Sadly many people are too busy on their phones & don’t interact with their dog.

I originally found your channel when doing research on Lagottos. We decided it was the right breed for us, and ours turns 2 this week and is a pretty good dog from our neighbors’ perspective. About half of the dogs she plays with are Doodles- a majority of which have maintained the positive qualities of the Labs/Goldens in a smaller package without the shedding.

Don’t know why but would really appreciate a parenting video from you Stonnie mate you just seem to have an amazing understanding on things

I have a 30 lb doodle (Australian Labradoodle) and unfortunately I got her right before lockdown in 2020 so although my intention was to have her in puppy classes and play groups she ended up staying at home with my other dogs while I worked 12 hr days. I'm in healthcare. BUT she still turned out easy. I got chickens in 2022 and she's good with them. I fostered a litter of kittens this past Spring and she was great with them. Just have to remind her to slow down and be gentle. No formal training needed. Maybe I was lucky but I think my doodle is great. She is reserved when meeting new people but that works for me because my lab and golden are typically already drooling on the new people. She has helped my undersocialized shepherd rescue learn to play and be goofy. Love her sooo much. I keep her hair short. We like adventures.

💥👍👏💥👏👍💥 What a WONDERFUL example of being a positive part of society in general AND an even better example of logical thinking and interaction within the dog owners' community!

As someone who works with dogs I 100% agree with everything you said and wish more people understood it

The thing that gets me with the doodles is so many owners and breeders refuse to acknowledge that a lot of doodles are double coated dogs who shed and shouldn’t be shaved. So many times I’ve seen a shaved double coated doodle and people trying to convince me it’s fine because it’s not a golden or a lab but a doodle. Some still end up with double coats! You can’t micromanage the genetics like that and there is no such thing as mix between double and single coats- it’s always either or. Next issue is matting. I believe few owners understand and few breeders inform how much and how to properly care for any type of coat and the importance of doing it often and early.

I think doodles are adorable but have spent a ot of time in vet waiting rooms lately and have encountered so many doodles that seem psychotic. I have no idea what the deal is, but it has been eye opening. Whatever training these poor dogs need they aren't getting.

I keep commenting about our adopted bernadoodle puppies. We got them from the rescue after fostering and deciding to make them part of our family. They certainly were not from a responsible breeder but from a puppy mill. Thanks to this channel and our concerted effort to learn puppy training they have had so many puppy sized adventures and we are well on our way to well behaved and adjusted dogs. We just got back from a family vacation and brought them along. They swam in the lake for the first time and it was hilarious!

I have a family member who has 2 Labradoodles. Their first dog is an absolute nerve bag, he cannot be around any strangers & is afraid of anything & everything! Their 2nd Labradoodle is an awesome dog!! Very confident & social, with the perfect amount of socialization & obedience & imo is a very good looking dog & a very stable temperament. Here’s the kicker, t dog #1 was a rescue & clearly had zero training or socialization. Dog #2 was purchased from a very well known breeder & cost an arm & leg! I’ve owned & bred German Imported Rottweilers & Dogue De Bordeaux so Im Not oblivious to spending 2,000$-3,500$ for a good puppy with a health guarantee. But they paid much more than that 3,500$ price point. Our father has bred Field Trial & Pointer Labradors for 40+ years. I’ve recently purchased a Chocolate Lab who is super super high drive, & working with him daily. Both my Chocolate Lab & her Chocolate Labradoodle have that fearless temperament & high gear most other dogs don’t have. So the Doodles I’ve seen are 2 ends of the spectrum. I’d be interested to see these breeds in 10-20 years Edit:: I just heard you say what is an ethical breeder? Then saying for people to explain/describe their list or description of what’s ethical? If we ALL have to agree on one definition, that’s never going to happen. I’ll bite & give my definition. Health Tested & Passed OFA Hips, Elbows, Hearts, & CERF Eyes. Pass some type of Breed Suitability Test from that breeds Breed Club. Have a minimum of a basic working title for the “work” that breed was designed to do. Also maybe some type of Temperament Test to make sure the dog is clear enough in the head to function in society & its job or to make sure it’s nots so nervy that even with socializing & training it still potentially a fear biter.

Awesome video as usual. I have a smaller mixed breed terrier/havanese/poodle. She is my first dog as an adult. Before I got her I was watching Stonnie videos and other good resources. I made a little course for her in my small yard and worked with her every day. When we would walk in my suburban neighborhood I was always looking for different surfaces and small adventures for her. Lucky for her, my yard is a front yard with fence and right away anytime someone was walking by with their dog I would invite them in to meet her. She loved it and even though now she is 4 and does bark more than she used to, she is the best girl. I do think her breeder was very conscientious. She had a ranch with horses and chickens and big dogs that the puppies were exposed to. I do think there are people like me who are a bit older, want a smaller dog they can pick up if they need to, and live in homes with not huge yards.

Well said. having spent time volunteering at my local shelters, my idea of an ethical breeders are those that breed for confident, affable temperament. Those dogs are much less likely to end up in shelter, and much easier to rehome if they do.

Love Stonnie's broad perspectives. A real cool dude.

Im glad you are making this video. I have a much loved Bernadoodle-my first dog that wasn’t a rescue. I’ve questioned the process ever since I got her. She is not like any dog I’ve been around. I got her from a “famous”breeder from S. Carolina who is not what they presented themselves to be. She is like a cheerleader/line backer personality wise. But i live in a forest and she is a great forest dog!

I agree with you, Stonnie. My doodle is one of the sweetest and smartest dogs I've ever met. He is 7/8'ths poodle and 1/8'th golden. His breeder does all the testing of parents and donates at least one puppy from every litter to be trained as service dogs. Out of a litter of 11 pups, our dog and 3 others went on to become service dogs and/or therapy dogs. When we go out to eat, he tucks under the table and doesn't make a sound. He will allow any child to pet him, but if an adult tries to pet him while he is on duty, he backs away and looks back at his vest. We also have 2 full, AKC standard poodles (and a Chihuahua). All three -oodles are very intelligent, but the doodle is far more intelligent than either of the poodles. Dogs can vary in temperament - even if from the same litter. Our male poodle is very loyal, but is very timid around strangers. We got him at 6 months from a re-homing situation where another dog had tried to kill him. Our female poodle was also a rehome at 8 months. She is the sweetest! BUT she is a nervous nelly who needs to always be with her people. Last week, we had 19 family members in. Included were our 4 dogs, a husky, an Aussie, a lab mix, and a Malinois. They all got along just fine.

I’ve been in horse and dog world for a long time and it fascinates me how different the breeder responsibility is. In the horse world it’s 100% caveat emptor. You have to pay for a vet exam, blood work, X-rays if you want them and usually it runs around 700-1000$. If the horse fails, money gone. Next buyer comes along and repeats. Some buyers can’t afford this take a chance and if horse is lame later, was drugged at time of tryout they don’t really have a recourse. Happens all the time. I’ve always thought its great when dog breeders offer health certs, guarantees, image hips in vulnerable breeds, think through genetic traits. You don’t see that in horse breeding. The last horse I purchased, I did 9 vet checks on failed horses with problems- joint issues, OCDs in the joints that would affect soundness were found in all of them.

I work with a non profit that trains service dogs for Veterans, retired police, fire fighters, EMT, 911 operators etc. The doodles at the kennel are always a little more on the high strung side compared to the other working breeds we use. A bit more wary of new people opening the kennel doors, a little more trouble controlling themselves when someone they know is opening the kennel; that sort of stuff. The way our program works, the candidate for a service dog has to spend about 3 months at the kennel to figure out which dog they're going to bond with; and close to a year of bonding, training, and socialization from there. What I've noticed is that the high strung candidates with PTSD related issues gravitate towards the doodles. There's something about the underlying anxiety doodles seem to harbor that they identify with and it's really cool to see how the candidate has a bit of extra underlying patience and understanding. I think it helps them work through their own issues a bit as they see a reflection of themselves in the dog, and start to see how the dogs learn to control that part of their personality with training. Not my breed of dog, but there is definitely value there.

An Australian dog trainer suggests the poodle be rebranded to a German water retriever because people get doodles for all the characteristics of a poodle without being called a poodle.

Wow, so refreshing. Thank you for this video.

I have Standard Poddles (2) and we go on great adventures together, bird hunts, boating/fishing, camping, all the stuff; but they are mostly house dogs really. I got Poodles for all the reasons that other people want Doodles, less shedding, good temperment, working dogs who have drive (but not too much!). Obedience and socialization was started young, by me, and continues to this day. Having said that, I've never met a Doodle that I didn't like! Ethical and responsible to me is the care of the dog, not in the breeding (breed of dog) or the reason for the breeding (money, etc.). For me it's how they are treated, neglect and abuse are unethical and unresponsible and people who neglect and don't care for their dogs shouldn't have them or breed them.

Love you Stonie! I was going to buy a doodle, lost my deposit because I watched my friends doodle for a few weeks and changed my mind. It was the sweetest dog but VERY needy. I’m used to dogs that will follow me from room to room just so they can be in my presence and watch over me. This dog was always up in my business needing attention. Wound up adopting a young dog who I think is a mix of white lab and great pyr and I am so very happy. I think a doodle is great for retired people or people with young kids who can give them a lot of attention…..definitely not for working people IMHO.

I like standard poodles and I like retrievers, Bernese etc, so I’m not opposed to crossing them. However, I have yet to find a doodle breeder that performs the same genetic health tests (skeletal, eyes, etc etc) that a good purebred AKC breeder does. Maybe they exist, but the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of America) states that doodles have higher incidences of hip dysplasia than their pure bred relatives. Genetic diversity is fantastic, but if you breed a poodle with health issues to a Lab with health issues, you still get a puppy with problems. This is a call for ALL breeders to step up, please health and temperament test your breeding stock. The dogs deserve it.

I bought a doodle after my previous rescue doodle died. She was incredibly well behaved. Her only quirk was she did not tolerate rude behaviour from other dogs and would give a reprimanding bark. My new pup will be trained because if you’ve got a combination of two working dogs you better be prepared to keep that brain occupied. He’s joyful , loves to please and would train for longer than I let him because he thinks it’s fun. I just call him a retriever cross since he currently looks like a retriever pup. I met both his parents - nice dogs who just needed some training to be great but from what I’ve seen many owners of slipper dogs (small fluffy ones) and poodle mixes think cute looks means they don’t have to train. I’m very intolerant of people who think a dogs going to do the training themselves and then launch a crazed dog on society. The key isn’t the “breed” it’s the commitment to your dog and training.

As someone with a doodle, in communities of people with doodles, I do overwhelmingly see a lot of owners that haven't done research into training, or enrichment, who don't even know how to toilet train, etc. They love their dogs, but are repeatedly baffled when they come across problems - everything from regular teething or adolescence in a dog that's never been redirected in its life - to 'I didn't groom my puppy for 6 months and now it hates grooming help' etc. - to straight up Separation Anxiety and intense reactivity. And it's kind of disheartening how many of those dogs would be doing great (maybe with some challenges, who knows), if they just got regular exercise - even a short sniffy walk - feeding enrichment, and some trick training and obedience training to work their minds. There *are* some sports minded folks in the doodle groups. I'm not one of them! I enjoy the training side of things, so we keep our boy active with exercise, routine, enrichment, training, but I'm never going to be a runner / hiker etc. We didn't get him because he won't shed on the furniture but because I have unpredictable allergies with dogs (even ones that don't shed) and after allergy testing about 20 litters, this combo provoked the smallest response. He's not my preference, and he's not the kind of dog I'd get if I had no dog allergies! We have cats that shed all over the furniture instead ;) Makes the house feel lived in. It does seem to be at least in some of the Australian doodle communities a split between people who care a great deal about force free training, enrichment, exercise, etc. and the ones who just get a 'pretty teddy' dog who are shocked that it has a personality and needs and desires. The ones who care a great deal are usually the ones organising meets at enclosed dog parks, who are the first to suggest actual techniques etc., and are also pretty quiet in some of the mixed dog groups because they know how they can be treated for having poodle mixes. And then you have the folks who just...don't want to train, don't care for training, and then just get repeatedly shocked that their dog is impossible to handle, doesn't stop barking, is unmanageable etc. Our boy isn't perfect by any means. He does have Separation Anxiety, and despite a lot of ongoing socialisation and puppy preschool and obedience, he has some dog friendliness issues. We mostly work on controlled exposure and desensitisation. We know those techniques work. Using them for grooming means he now 'asks' to be groomed in the same way he asks for dinner. He loves both. Wellness vet visits means he can enjoy aspects of being at the vet. Door is a Bore exercises and Absence training means his window of tolerance for us leaving gets longer and longer with ever month. But...maybe it would be callous of me to say that I sadly think many doodle owners would just not care about these things. They'd leave the house and let the dog bark incessantly in a panicked way all day. They'd have their dog shaking and terrified and muzzled at the vet. They'd rip a comb through them and be like 'oh our boy hates grooming so much!' And sometimes it's really just lack of education and not knowing you can change these things, but I sadly think some of it is also just inertia. I've met people in this category who own all kinds of dogs, not just poodle mixes. But I do think because poodle minds are sharp and they're quite active overall, their general temperament is less forgiving to lacking early socialisation and obedience training. I just don't think it's the fault of poodle mixes. I don't even think it's the fault of many breeders (there are ethical ones out there, just like there are unfortunately puppy mills). I *do* think it's the responsibility of many owners who just go 'that's a cute teddy bear, what colours does it come in, and will it mess up my house.' :/ That's a people problem. Not a poodle x problem.

I agree with you about the general idea of those who buy less shedding dogs. Of course not all who buy them are that way, I buy non shedding because I have to for certain reasons. I think you are on to something and you make perfect sense!

I can only speak for myself, but...😅 I went from a gsd person to a standard poodle person because i love a smart, active dog and love not having all that hair all over my everything!!! If i could get a doodle that had the "lazy demeanor" of that precious lab mixed with a standard poodle, that would be great...i feel like the best of the best breeders use dogs that not only fullfill their physical breed descriptions and attributes but their temperment as well. I bought a gordon setter when i was young, i loved the beauty of them, i had property, zero intention on hunting that dog.. that boy wouldn't have had a good life had he not been allowed to hunt! Had i bought a gordon from a comformation line it would've been an entirely different story...A little research goes a long way! - i have seen Doodles out there, that are Standard Poodles in disguise....😂 Love this channel! Thank you

That is a beautiful English cream golden retriever. My favorite dogs!

I got a F1 standard Bernedoodle. Simply put I think they are adorable. Also the temperament is the best dog I have had. He’s awesome with my grand babies. I wanted a Bernese Mountain but was not happy with their life span being so short, by adding the poodle they have a longer life span.

Sorry. Size, intelligence/training, and non-shedding? All that fits the description of POODLES. They also come in variety of colors in addition to having a predictable temperament and coat texture. There's no benefit a doodle has over a poodle. If people wanna pay more $ to play russian roulette, they can just say that. Doodles are mutts, bred left and right without any regard to a specific standard. Doodles also have a coat that is more difficult to keep up with and tends to get matted more easily. You are correct about one thing, they are usually purchased by people who don't know how to be an actual owner (same with Frenchies) Show me an established doodle breeder who does OFA elbow and hip testing (or equivalent), has max of 1 litter/yr, have contracts for all puppies, feed dog food that follows guidelines by WSAVA, vaccinate their dogs, and does genetic health screenings. Those are /some/ of the highest quality standards a breeder can be held to. I'll wait.

My first dog was a pound puppy literally. A city pound was out of room and getting ready to put down many that had been there for too long. They had a litter of labs included in the kill list. I went to see if one was for me, I ended up with one but unfortunately not one of them. Someone had just brought in a younger male black lab mix, that the whole neighborhood had been caring for thinking it belonged to “a neighbor”. Instant connection between us. He most likely had been stolen from his home and for some reason dropped off in this neighborhood. He was well cared for, potty trained, basic obedience had been started. I felt sorry for whoever he belonged to before me, but he made me a lab lover. Currently on my third lab, a yellow female trained as my mobility/stability dog and diabetic alert dog. My second lab and first full blooded one, had no interest in anything but field training and hiking. For the first 13 years together we were found outside together, then my cancer diagnosis came and my ability to do what we had done together was no longer. We spent the next three years doing what I was able to. My vet couldn’t believe he made it to 16, big ol’ block head that he was.

There are good and bad breeders and owners of every breed and type of dog. In the UK , cockapoos and labradoodles seem to dominate and the problem ones are almost always sold as lazy, low maintenance companion animals when they are from intelligent athletic parents so need managing as such. Be a shame to lose the poodle as a breed, but if we as owners are not advocating for them and telling the world how awesome they are it's not doodle peoples fault.

Stonnie, thank you for your channel. It is always very informative! I learn so much!!! In my mind an ethical and responsible breeder is someone who breeds trying to stay pure to the attributes of the breed, health, well being, delivering happy pups that are well socialized. I'm curious as to why the lab is your favorite over the golden retriever. Don't get me wrong both are great dogs. Which would you recommend to a first time dog owner - and why? I personally don't care for the poodle. I find them to be a bit high strung. They're smart, but I prefer the more mellow natures of the golden retriever and labrador retriever. Most people that I know that bought a poodle mix did it for the "shedding" aspect which I don't think is a good reason. But again, just my opinion.

along with everything you said, I also like a breeder who is always willing to keep in touch, and will take a dog back if something horrible happens and the person who bought the dog can not take care of the dog any longer. I don't like when dogs end up in rescue.

He’s a very cute dog. I love the way he very carefully navigates the obstacles and watches all his footsteps down things, like the stairs… smart little doodle dog!

The only problem I have with the whole doodle thing, is that it just seems a bit chaotic. It doesn't seem like anybody is trying to establish one or two solid official breeds. That said, I think any kind of breeder can be irresponsible, and lots of times the worst ones are the people scolding everybody else. I know breeders that will talk a good talk about caring about the dogs, but at the end of the day, they only care about one thing... Creating pretty dogs that can win shows. They'll breed together individuals who should absolutely not have their genes passed on, because they're loaded with problems. But they do anyway. Then the breeder will appease their guilt by denying their dogs have any issues. They'll blame the owners and say they're just doing something wrong, even when the individual clearly has huge genetic behavior issues from birth.

As the owner of a mini goldendoodle I am qualified to speak on this. She is a highly intelligent athlete that has extreme endurance! Of course she has been on a very healthy diet since 8 weeks old. She loves going on adventures and has probably experienced more than most dogs. She was chosen because I don’t want a dog that sheds! She is extremely intelligent and loving. She protects her home and doesn’t cower in fear like many large breeds. These are amazing, gorgeous dogs! There is too much ignorance in those who don’t own one! This girl is loved by all who are around her, contrary to what is implied in this video! Grooming is an investment and labor of love. We would never trust a stranger to possibly damage her gorgeous hair, we have a grooming station at home. She has the stubbornness of a poodle but I adore this dog! Like I stated before, there is much ignorance concerning doodles. There are also many breeders claiming to have doodles so they can make the money. We have neighbors with loud, unhealthy dogs that are mean spirited. These negative behaviors and qualities have little to do with the dog breed as much as the irresponsible dog owners. I am very happy as a doodle owner! It may be the popular thing to attempt to speak negatively about these gorgeous dogs but anyone who does has some issues they need to deal with. Back in the day it used to be popular to bash pit bulls. 🤡

Personally I think the reason doodles get a bad name is because they are marketed as great first time pets and family pets, and so either a lot of inexperienced dog owners end up with them, or people who don't have the time for them. Most of the ones I have met have been friendly but also naughty and very hyper. People forget that poodles are working dogs, and one of the most popular doodles is cockapoos which is another high energy dog in the mix, and some have rage syndrome to boot. Aleo due to inexperience and lack of time, many doodles end up matted and are not well behaved for grooming because they haven't been taught from a young age or they just don't have any boundaries at home. I think doodle breeders can be ethical, personallly just because someone is kc registered doesn't make them automatically bad to me, I don't always agree with how the kennel club do things, it depends though. The problem is that they are so popular, and of course the awful breeders and puppy mills will capitalise off of that, making the market for doodles super large and hard to find the more genuine breeders who actually care for their dogs as well as future owners. Doodles are not automatically bad dogs, again most of the ones I've met are lovely, just a little rude, but they can be a bit of a genetic mess if the breeder didn't care, and a lot of their owners just are not experienced and don't give them the enrichment they need. I think they get too much hate but I can also understand why people dislike them and the stigma around them. I don't hate them but I get a bit sick of seeing so many, they are too popular for how high maintenance and energetic they are, because most owners will simply not be able to meet their full needs

I have had all different breeds of dogs and some mixes. I have thought all of them were great dogs. I couldn't pick a favorite breed. I love them all. I also was a dog trainer, and all the dogs i worked with were very smart, and i truly enjoyed working with them. I love watching your videos!!

I just see a lot of people buying Doodles because they're looking for a trendy non-shedding muppet that will match their interior colour space and look really cute on an Instagram feed. Most are completely unaware of how demanding the grooming and coat maintenance will be, including those ongoing professional grooming costs. And most also don't really take into account what the poodles are being crossed with and the demands of those breeds. High drive dogs like poodles that get crossed with high energy dogs like Aussies are going to give you a very athletic dog that needs tons of exercise. Every type of breed cross has its own different energy/personality/sociability mix - whether its poodles with terriers or poodles with lazier Bernese mountain dogs. To each his own, as long as they've done their research. I've had 3 English style Goldens and am just happy with their outgoing, relaxed vibe, moderate energy levels and easy wash and wear coats.

As a groomer my problem with doodles...clients wait until they missed window for grooming training then expect me to keep them fluffy at a point when it is pelted.

I have a 3 year old Labradoodle 50% Lab & 50% Poodle a F1 he is 70 lb. And the best dog and so so smart!!!! We go hiking off leach, he loves to swim, And loves mud puddles!!!! We take him everywhere with us that we can, he is just so good everyone loves him because he is so good. We take him in stores restaurants the worst thing about him is when we are out for walks he will sniff out mud puddles and lay down for a rest

I love my doodles. My one is a giant Schnauzer Poodle mix. He is my angel. I put time into training him and socializing him, his breeder was a veterinary technician who health tested her dogs and put a lot of work into them, he is literally the perfect dog. Then there is Hopper. He is a schnoodle mutt because I have no idea what is in him. He came from a poor backyard breeder and was neglected, skin and bone when I got him at one year old for dirt cheap. I got him because I saw he was sick and couldn't leave him behind. He has problems. He hates people and larger dogs, and eats everything compulsively because he was almost starved to death. Bad quality doodles exist because of bad breeders and lazy people buying them thinking they'll be easy, but I think it's important to remember that that doesn't make the dogs life any more valuable and deserving of love, they just got delt a bad hand in life.

I absolutely agree with you Stonnie! I think one of the biggest problems with doodles is that they are the popular dogs of the moment so you get a lot of people who don't know much about dogs and don't want to devote a lot of time (or any time) to their care buying them

I have master in biology and we always say it's about 20% genetics and 80% environment in most cases..

I still stand firmly that people need to do plenty more research before they keep getting dogs that they're unprepared for... It'll never happen... But It's just how I feel the world would be bettered

You are right on, Stonnie. I've seen this so many times with people who own poodle crosses or so-called "designer" breeds.

Here is what responsible breeding is: 1. you take you dog and health test for all the breed specific tests as well as any other extras you feel like (it's never too much). 2. then you sign your dog up for conformation as soon as possible and start showing. AKC, UKC and/or both. This will test the dog's conformation. Proper gate when walking, proper nose length, proper back length, etc. All fitting the breed standard that has breed set by the official breed club. Sure, the club could like a standard that you personally don't or your dog doesn't fit. But the majority wins, and they are the ones that put in the work to get the standard recognized and work hard on breeding dogs that fit it. 3. You take your dog and sign them up in AKC/UKC sports. Such as Agility, Obedience, Rally, Barn Hunt and others. Specially what your dog's breed was bred for but as many as your dog enjoys in order to prove their behavior, intelligence, natural instinct, etc. 4. Once and only if your dog has passed all health tests, titled and proved itself in the conformation ring as well as earned sport titles to prove their brain, then can you start talking breeding. 5. Said breeding comes with the understanding and commitment of staying in touch with all the families you placed puppies with, the promise that you'll take dogs back if they need rehoming, making sure below average individuals get removed from the breeding pool by spaying/neutering, etc. We know what responsible breeding is. There is an actual standard for it. Sadly it's done by older people that aren't good at "marketing it" and it gets overlooks, written off as snobby, etc. (The fact that most dog people are snobby doesn't help, but they are responsible breeders nonetheless). Doodling is breeding for fashion not for function. If you want a dog that doesn't shed get one of the bazillion breeds that don't but chose one whose temperament is fit for your family. Do extensive research into the breed's needs. Join some breed specific groups to see what life is like with them. Because with well bred dogs the margin of error is small, you will most likely know what to expect from them. No hate to doodles, the dogs. No child is to blame for their parent's actions. The ones to blame are the awful doodle breeders. If you want a non shedding dog breed look into this post provided by the AKC: www.akc.org/dog-breeds/hypoallergenic-dogs/page/3/ Also any harsh coated terrier is a non shedding breed if properly hand stripped. Know that all non shedding breeds have very high grooming needs, may it be weekly hand stripping or weekly brushing and combing, having to desensitize your dogs to being groomed at an early age. All of this is a downside to a non shedding dog. If you're not able to put in the time and do the research, maybe a dog is too much for your household. Please don't buy doodles. You are supporting non ethical breeders, your dogs could come up with genetical health and behavioral problems, you will need to exchange sweep time for grooming time or have them professionally groomed, which is very expensive and for their well being they simply can't go without. If you've gotten to the end, thanks and I hope this helped.

Great points to reflect on and to consider! I think a lot of it comes down to a lack of education for potential dog owners (and subsequently, breeders who are just fulfilling whatever that uneducated market force is asking for). Before getting a dog, I thought that I wanted a doodle. There's been this idea with lay people that they're the "best of both worlds". However, I was dissuaded pretty quickly when others started questioning me on why I wouldn't just get a poodle. I think there can be this strange anti-poodle bias that's common among the general population. That poodles are "frou-frou" dog with elaborate hair cuts. However, poodles are highly intelligent and versatile. They can be service dogs, duck retrieving dogs, agility dogs, companion dogs. A lot of "downfalls" that an owner might run into with poodles (expensive grooming, hair prone to matting, dog getting into trouble if not given enough stimulation or work or training, etc.), are also going to be present with any "doodle" or poodle mix too. Labs are incredible dogs. Poodles are incredible dogs. Crossing the two doesn't just magically give you the "best of both worlds". I think it'd be great to get more education out to the general population about picking a breed that matchings your needs and lifestyle, how to pick a great breeder that does health testing, what temperament testing is and how it's helpful, and how vital training and socialization (doesn't mean playing with every dog or person) is during puppyhood and the fear periods/ sensitive periods. Another area of undereducation/miseducation with potential dog owners is about health in breeding. There's a strange myth that cross-bred dogs have more genetic diversity than purebred dogs. However, there's no truth to that. What actually matters is that dog breeders are testing for health issues that can pop up in that particular breed. Why don't dog buyers know more about CHIC? Additionally, I do think it's unethical to breed purebreds (even to the purebred standard) if that standard is likely to increase the risk of detrimental health effects to the dog. A lot of veterinarians are speaking out against current breeding practices of brachycephalic breeds (English Bulldog, pug, French Bulldog, etc.) who are very likely to develop Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BOAS) with a life of torturous breathing and difficulty with daily functioning (plus a decreased life expectancy).

Love your video, excited to watch more!

I have been pleasantly surprised by our doodle "Sundae." I would not have gotten a doodle on purpose, but we rescued an "accidental doodle" when she was around 8 weeks old. She is 50% purebred poodle, 25% American Bully, 12.5% Aussie shepherd, and 12.5% Rottweiler. (We did her DNA.) She is absolutely fabulous at 11 months old: confident, athletic, friendly, happy. She had our German Shepherd (purebred) wrapped around her doggie paws from the beginning, and they play so well together. She is a bit naughty (I've been told that's the poodle in her) and has taught the GSD things like how to find bags of hot dog buns on the counter, etc. She's done basic obedience and has started agility. We have an acre of land, and she and her big brother get to race around and play on grass, across our little decorative bridges, etc. She has a great life for a doggie. We have started combing her out several times a day because she's never met a patch of sticker burrs that she didn't need to flop in and roll around in. She does require maintenance and training. Honestly, I haven't thought much about the lack of shedding because the GSD (longhair) sheds enough for about five dogs. She is not a high maintenance dog like the GSD but she lives a fairly active life with lots of stimulation. She is full of fun, joy, and naughtiness, but she really does bring joy to everyone in our family. She will mature and learn and be a super dog as long as we keep up our end of the bargain and keep her mind and body engaged. I appreciate your balanced approach to this topic.

I’ve got a standard doodle. She’s been professionally groomed since she was 3 months old. She’s great. Happy to slop around the house. Great with my other, non doodle, dogs. Happy in the off leash park. All around a good dog.

I have a cockapoo. We bought him because of his personality. He's smarter than I am. He's 5 and I'm sure he knows more obedience than we have ever taught him.

Excellent video. I really appreciate your perspective on this.

I know that yellow lab! He is doing so well!

My daughter got a lab doodle because his family couldn't handle him at 1 year. This guy is very tall, she'd walk into her dining room and he'd be standing on her table. He wasn't "misbehaving ", he just didn't have a strong person in charge of him. Within 6 months he was the best behaved boy ever, such a smart guy. And very emotionally attuned, he knows if anyone is having a rough day and just quietly sits close and is comforting. I always heard that they were given up a lot because they are crazy but don't believe it if you've heard that too. My daughter isn't a trainer but she has had a couple of difficult breeds in her past and she read a lot about everything and is consistent. I honestly can't say enough about Henry, he's the only grandchild I'm ever going to get out of my girl 😊

Thank you. I completely agree with your video. We selected a goldendoodle as a service dog prospect for our daughter from a breeder who had a history of placing working dogs. We needed a non-shedding low allergy dog between 25-40 pounds for specific reasons. When we got him at eight weeks he already had early socialization (ENS) and some basic training. For the first 8 months we focused on basic obedience, socialization and bonding with his person. During the first year we had to work on not being outsmarted by the dog. He needed jobs, activities, and things to do. By two years old he passed all three CGC exams, and the IAADP exam. We committed to extensive training, including a service dog board and train program with his handler. He's an excellent service dog and has surpassed our expectations. The biggest challenge he has is that he's a bit too social, and loves other people. And he's so cute people are drawn to him. We wouldn't trade him for the world. This specific dog was what we needed to meet the needs in our household. However, knowing how smart he is, and how motivated he is, without training this dog would have been a handful. They need as much training as a GSD or doberman. It's people who give doodles a bad name, not the dogs.

Thank you for your very reasonable take on this topic. A few of us are working to breed a non shedding version of a retriever with the same temperament as an "English" lab. Breeding is a complicated topic and you're very right that breeding purebreds has some downsides.

The main thing people argue, though, is that everything you get in a doodle, you can just get in a regular poodle - the hair, the size (toy, mini, standard), the intelligence and temperament, hell even the looks if you let a poodles coat grow out and you can ensure you're going to get a more genetically solid dog than you would a backyard bred mutt doodle that has a frankenstein genetic pool with all sorts of issues.

I grew up with golden retrievers and, rather like you talked about the labs, they were very easy - they would chill in the house or take long walks. they were never dog-aggressive. They were affectionate. Last time my husband and I were ready for a dog, he wanted a pair of dogs. We ended up visiting 2 pairs. one was actually a doodle breeder who wanted to retire 2 of her mother dogs. One was a golden and one was a . . i forget like second gen golden doodle. The golden was older, she was a great breeder. The doodle was only like 3 and she said it was just too hard to predict what kind of puppies she was going to have. The doodle was very skinny and somewhat stand-off-ish and the golden was extremely clingy. They spent a lot of their time in kennels, but she had an older trailer home that she used for grooming, and she brought them in there to visit with us, so they were house broken - but they'd never seen cats and we had 1 older cat The other were a pair of sisters at a shelter. They claimed they were lab mixes and had passed their cat test and walked well on a leash. They were beautiful, a coloring called seal i think. They were sleek and brown with a slight black mask and a vaguely black back. they didnt bark at all. We took them because of the cat test. Well, the shelter apparently didnt do a very good cat test. we had to keep the dogs downstairs and the cat upstairs until the cat passed. The dogs turned out to be mostly rottweiler and pitt bull. they apparently had spent their lives in bark collars. they were completely unsocialized and barely trained, definitely not leash trained, 65/75 lb of muscle. When my husband saw other people coming, he could brace himself and control them, but it only took one time of him not seeing someone. we dont have them any more. I think that was more about training, not breeding. I tried working on training them and got them pretty good with sit/stay/ somewhat extended stay / come, but only in the house and only if the beagle next door wasnt baying. We are on a dog break, but I suspect our next dog will either be a puppy or a lab/golden/gsd - something i know i can train and not stronger than we are.

I completely agree that poodle mixes can be good dogs, it’s the people who buy them who are not always well informed enough. A lot of people see cavapoos, maltipoos, golden doodles, and labradoodles, as a first dog, they ignore the fact that poodles can incredibly high maintenance both mentally and physically. A poodle mix has such a difficult coat to maintain that I personally wouldn’t say that the average person should get it without understanding their basic grooming requirements. Some doodles do have great temperaments for families but just like every dog they need training, unfortunately not everyone puts the effort in and it gives doodles a bad rep.

My family has had two doodles. A large Goldendoodle, wonderful boy whose formative yrs were spent with a Border Collie. Butters was a fabulous pup. He was rescued from the Humane Society, and yes, tufts were over the house. He was smart oodles of silliness and smart as a whip. Sweet with all critters, kids elderly, anybody. We now have a mini Goldendoodle x minibernadoodle.Dash is a lovely dog, very sweet but a hell of a shedder. Two dbl coated dogs can trump the poodle genes. He's smart, sweet to people, and dogs, but he can get a little too playful with the cats. I've had to patch his nose up on occasion. I've found training pups, it's not the dogs it's the owners. I've think most people who get doodles don't realize poodles were and are hunting dogs. Or they see a well-behaved doodle and want that or think they dont shed-they do. People wrongly buy pets, or a certain breed for an idea, not a reality.

If they were educated about dogs they wouldve bought a standard poodle and just left them in a shaggy cut similar to how doodles look, but less dander. Goldens are a good breed separately. The maker of golden doodles regrets it.

My only complaint about the doodles I've encountered is that they always hog the tennis balls, haha. They just grab as many as they can and hold onto them, sometimes up to three! Other than that, they're fine animals.

9.55pm AEST Australia Due to certain allergies, I have chosen to own initially poodles and, most recently, a labradoodle in the last thirty years. I chose a labradoodle on this occasion for his heavier bone structure compared to the bone structure of the miniature poodles. However this labradoodle does require exercising twice a day for a minimum of hour and half a day and then additional ball throwing to keep him from becoming restive. He also appears to have doubled up on intelligence, and this means more work to keep him from getting bored.This is more than I was required to do for my miniature poodles. The low-key Labrador non aggressive attitude towards other dogs is also apparent and makes it easy for him to socialise. The cross breeding does seem to manifest some health issues, i.e., food sensitivities and prone to lymphomas. So to answer your question, it would be very difficult to breed a healthy doodle with no genetic throwbacks as a large robust gene pool does not yet exist in Australia.

You are so right. She requires what all dogs need. It's what dogs need! They have dog needs!!!!!

We have two maltipoo boys from one litter. They will be one year old at the end of this month. They are the cutest, best natured dogs we had in our entire life. We are in our senior years now and needed small but playful dogs to brighten up our days and to make use of our big lush garden. One of the brothers leans more to the poodle side of the family the other has more of the maltese looks. The first one has about 5 kilos the other one only a little over 3 kilos. The bigger, more poodlelike one is more intelligent and compassionate, but the smaller one is more confident and cool - so he is the boss. The latter also was the first born of the litter and through their childhood always has been the biggest of the 4 siblings. Both have a never ending will to please❤. Both don't shed, but require lots of daily care. But I am retired, so I got plenty of time for that. Since they were 10 weeks old they are used to daily brushings and they love it. They seem to consider it some kind of quality time and can't get enough of it😅. They are so sweet and loving, so full of life and such fountains of joy in our golden years and every day we are aware that these 2 boys are the last puppies of our life. We are so thankful for having them. After them we will only have senior rescue dogs from the shelter - that also will be a good time hopefully, but very different from watching this abundance of joy and love of life that we are enjoying today. And by the way we take them everywhere even on our vacation flights - the next upcoming will be in beautiful Greece❤.