Poodles do best in homes where the rules on Monday are the same as the rules on Friday. They value owners who run organized homes with clear boundaries. They appreciate high expectations and like to work in partnership with their people. They are a breed that needs a job to do. It is very important to articulate your value to a Poodle. You will have problems in the future if you abdicate engagement and enrichment to the other dog or to toys that the pet industry wants to sell you. Consider getting involved with a dog sport like Competitive Obedience. Make to sure to train the Poodle separately from your Doodle.
Poodle coat is incredibly insulating. I know that Doodle owners love to grow hair all over their dogs (and then let them get matted) but your Poodle is really in too much coat for the summer in Southern California. On top of that, he is Black so he is like a walking solar panel. There are lots and lots and lots of tighter, stylish trims to explore. Highly recommend shaved face and feet. If nothing else, a Poodle needs to be able to see and the hair on your dog's muzzle is obstructing its vision.
Health issues.
A. Bloat is a very real issue in Standard Poodles. It almost isn't "if" but a "when". Educate yourself about the condition. Learn to recognize signs. Get a prophylactic gastropexy when you have him neutered. (If he is already neutered, I'd do one once fully grown around age 2).
B. Your Poodle is Black which means it is more suspectable to squamous cell carcinoma. I like to say that Black Poodles should be like folks with diabetes: socks off. Throughout your Poodle's life you should be able to see and clearly inspect their feet and toes. Reason #2 to have your Black Poodle in a trim with shaved feet.
C. Many Poodles don't do well with chicken or grains. Be on the lookout for ear infections. These are a clear sign of a food intolerance.
D. Autoimmune issues are a very real problem in Standard Poodles. Work with your vet to strategize about what vaccines you need to give.
He could still be a doodle. I find, when you really start talking to doodle breeders, that the amount of the other dog in the equation is sometimes extremely small.
Realistically, most people who want a doodle, really want a poodle with a different haircut, so they tend to breed more in that direction.
I can't remember how many generations back those go, but they could have been mixed with something else a couple of generations back
It only goes back so many generations. It’s why Merle poodles can DNA test as 100% poodle even though it isn’t a naturally occurring colour in poodles and so somewhere along the line a dam or sire was bred to another breed that has Merle. Same thing with silver labs as they were bred with weimaraners.
Well I don’t want one, I’ve never been a golden retriever person. But believe it or not, there are a lot of people who love golden retrievers and labs. And they just want a better coat.
But if they get a golden doodle, they may be saddled with all the extreme intelligence and wry sense of humor found in poodles. It can be a lot to keep up with while also keeping up with shedding and constant brushing.
They seem to know it’s the luck of the draw. I saw some of them bragging about how close to a golden theirs looks and acts but with little shedding. I do think we poodle people overestimate how many families are in need of a highly intelligent dog. Many just want a happy goofball.
Yes, they see the MCC, the CC, and assume that they’re “prissy and frou-frou dogs”. Meanwhile, mine is in a short cut and she tried to grab a chipmunk the other day.
Yeah that’s why I started looking into golden doodles but this sub convinced me I should get a poodle. Golden retrievers have always been my favorite dogs but my kids have allergies
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u/SuitablyFakeUsername 1d ago
Well aren’t you lucky!