Alternative To A Labra- Whatsit

[darlingdog]

We had an irish water spaniel come visit the other day...what a great dog ! I would strongly suggest your friend have a look at them. So much better than some sort of oodle!!

[emgem]

Since they previously had a fox terrier they might do well with a Wheaten. Assuming they want to committ to another 14 years or so with a terrier temperament of course. They have a milder temperament than most foxies, don't shed much and make good house pets once you get past the puppy stage. They definitely aren't dogs that can be chucked in the backyard as they fret, which means they aren't the dog for people who work long hours or aren't home much, and they would need to commit at least a half hour a week to grooming (or more if they don't have them professionally groomed as well).

It might take awhile to get one though as most litters seem to be available between September and March.

Edited April 27, 2012 by emgem

[SkySoaringMagpie]

I would select for temperament and then look for the shaggy dog ones.

So if hound temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a BFDB, PBGV or GBGV might work

If terrier temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a Wheaten or an Airedale might work

If gundog temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a Springer or a Brittany might work. Chessies might be a bit much dog (but then so might be the french bassets)

And etc etc throughout all the groups. Something I would suggest in this situation, even tho' it's a small dog, is a mini schnauzer. Seems to tick the boxes.

[frufru]

Seriously, non shedding, intelligent and friendly breed of medium to large size is a standard poodle. We have owned 4 standards and met many others. Quite a few weigh around the 19 to 23 kg mark (our current brown girl weighs 21 kgs) and our male is bigger boned and he weighs between 29 to 31 kg. I find that for their size standard poodles are very light on their feet and what I call "body aware" they are very agile - they can run around in the house and not nock anything over - not my experience with some other retrieving breeds LOL. How a poodle looks is all in the clipping and like any of the crosses leaving a poodle coat "shaggy" is a lot of work - It must be brushed/combed at least twice per week and be matt free - that is why many people opt to shave them off - and yes all over is an option it is called "retriever trim"

Edited April 27, 2012 by frufru

[Sheridan]

Experience with a terrier is a plus certainly but I don't tend to recommend wheatens to anyone let alone people whose criteria appears to be (a) non-shedding and (b) medium sized. I suggest if she expresses an interest in any breed, she joins an email or Facebook community to learn more about them. Though if she wants grooming, grooming, more grooming and 14+ years of the sort of sense of humour that says, 'And now, what can I get into next?' she may qualify as a long-suffering wheaten slave.

[Dogsfevr]

why wouldn't anyone loove an unclipped poodle :)

this one belongs to a DOLER

The groomers who have to get the matts out .

If they are truly keen on brushing go for it but the shaggy poodle or shaggy anything only remains that way if the owners brush it.

If brushing isn't there thing then they need to be realistic & look at what any of the shaved down versions look like & if that doesn't appeal then avoid the breed or meet a middle ground

[Alyosha]

Does she understand that low/no shedding normally means lots of grooming and/or clipping? I sometimes think folks think low or no shedding means easy care...

[Paula89]

Finnish Lapphund! Medium size, friendly and intelligent, don't really shed, they just require a brush once a week. Pretty darn cute too :)

[juice]

I have at least 6 oodles close to me, all different colours and sizes, common thing with everyone, they are nutters!!

one lady said her dog is 6 and is still crazy, they charge around like they are on speed :laugh:

[Nik]

I would select for temperament and then look for the shaggy dog ones.

So if hound temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a BFDB, PBGV or GBGV might work

If terrier temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a Wheaten or an Airedale might work

If gundog temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a Springer or a Brittany might work. Chessies might be a bit much dog (but then so might be the french bassets)

And etc etc throughout all the groups. Something I would suggest in this situation, even tho' it's a small dog, is a mini schnauzer. Seems to tick the boxes.

Sorry, I know what PBGV is but I'm stuck on the other two!

[Nik]

Thanks everyone for your help. Hopefully I'll catch up properly with her in a few days and go through this thread with her. Apparently they're looking ahead, thinking maybe in about 6 months to add the pup (or earlier if there's a suitable one) I'll ask her more about temperament then.

[jr_inoz]

sorry to hijack......

I also have a workmate who is looking for an "oodle" for their family....

Am trying to convince them otherwise.

Anyone have an alternative to a shetland sheepdog? In terms of character, size, temperament etc - it fits them absolutely perfectly. They don't like the coat though - they think it is too much work and would be an issue with child in the family with allergies. I personally think a sheltie coat isn't hard to manage at all and doesn't take that much work. It seems to repel dirt and water and my girl only sheds after her season. So - a shetland sheepdog with a non-shedding, shorter coat.

Any suggestions...

sorry to hijack emgem.... hope you don't mind.

[Podengo]

Oooh those unclipped poodles are gorgeous, if I ever wanted a fluffy dog I would so get that!

[Rysup]

Why do people seem to think Oodles are easy care coats? The majority of the dogs we do at work would now be Oodles, and most of them are matted to the skin!

And we have Labradoodles in ALL sizes, from Cav size up to Great Dane size.

[Alkhe]

This thread has made me desperate for a shaggy Bedlington.. pleasepleasepleaseplease let me not be allergic to them!

[SkySoaringMagpie]

I would select for temperament and then look for the shaggy dog ones.

So if hound temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a BFDB, PBGV or GBGV might work

If terrier temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a Wheaten or an Airedale might work

If gundog temperament and cute scruffy shaggy is your thing, then a Springer or a Brittany might work. Chessies might be a bit much dog (but then so might be the french bassets)

And etc etc throughout all the groups. Something I would suggest in this situation, even tho' it's a small dog, is a mini schnauzer. Seems to tick the boxes.

Sorry, I know what PBGV is but I'm stuck on the other two!

Sorry, that was a bit slack of me. Basset Fauve de Bretagne, and Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen

[korbin13]

Why do people seem to think Oodles are easy care coats? The majority of the dogs we do at work would now be Oodles, and most of them are matted to the skin!

And we have Labradoodles in ALL sizes, from Cav size up to Great Dane size.

While reading this thread I was wondering why you wouldn't have to clip an oodle? Obviously you do. Wouldn't it be as much grooming as a unclipped poodle?

Love the unclipped poodle look though, pity I'm too lazy for fluffies, I'll stick to short coats. :laugh:

[Jed]

She's found a breeder in gippsland via google for a Lab x poodle pup already!

And that would be any one of the disgusting, skanky puppy farms in that area, with 6 dogs out the front looking good, and 500 in sweltering tin sheds breeding breeding breeding with absolutely no hope of release except death, in squalid conditions without any mental stimulation whatsoever.

An oodle doodle may be as stated on the "paperwork" or it may not be, there is no controlling body so the producer can say what he wants. Most of the dogs in these puppy farms are not sourced from good quality dogs because no one with good quality dogs will do business with them, so they are using 4th or 5th rate parents, from other puppy farms or pet shops, where HD, PRA and other nasties may be endemic and no tests are conducted. Where the dogs may have wry mouths, or eye problems. Oh, and it is a myth that the nasty genes hop on their magic carpet and leave the body when breeds are crossed. A swindle on the unsuspecting public.

The coat may be non shedding, or it may be shedding, or it may be a mix of both, where the shedding lab hair is caught up in the poodle wool, forming mats which require expertise and experience (and a big pair of clippers) to resolve.

These dogs were never meant to be. People breed them because they have nfi what they are doing, nor do they care for the dogs they produce, or the people who buy them.

Why would people not go for a purebred registered dog, where the parentage is guaranteed, where the pups are property raised and socialised during their formative weeks? Where the parents are good quality dogs, which have been health tested? Where the mothers are content and pass that sense of contentment to the pups, so they do not grow to be nervy anxious adults.

Chances of getting health problems are less.

Labradoodley things are very very cute --- but so are Irish Water Spaniels, Portugese Water Dogs, Spinone, and Lagotti. Lagotti come in many stunning colours.

The stand out choice - for me - would be a poodle. Smart, very trainable, reliably NEVER sheds, lives a long life, easy to live with, happy to be part of the family and if from a decent kennel with tested parents, will have no hereditary problems. Great with kids, great watchdog, probably smarter than you are, but prepared to disguise that to keep you happy, cand an absolute delight to live with. And much CUTER than a doodle.

BUT - the dog should be wearing the scruffy look, not the lion clip. Puppy or lamb clip, let it grow out a bit, and there is your labradoodley - not bred in the slums, but bred in the purple. Ready to uphold his heritage, and to be a reliable and trustworthy friend to your family all his life.

Google lamb and puppy clips, show them to the man of the family, get one, and let him believe it is a doodly thing, if that is what he wants, he will be happy

How could someone bypass Black Caviar for the nag which came 14th at the Oodnagalavie races last June. Same concept. I just don't understand it.

Poodles don't believe they are "poofy" nor do they behave so. A friend had a choc poodle in a messy "do" who would stand and defend his territory. Tradesmen were terrified of him. Nothing poofy there. And he didn't look at all poodle like. She used to tell them he was a Transylvanian Fighting Dog.

I saw the most beautiful silver and apricot standard poodles in the back of a tradies truck in lion clips. Obviously a tradie with no hangups whatsoever

Additionally, from a mans' point of view, all the chicks love poodles, so he will expand his social contacts.

Oh, do tell me they chose a purebred dog, and weren't sucked in by the hype and advertising,

Edited April 27, 2012 by Jed

[Steve]

There is a huge difference between a foxie and a poodle or an oodle.

Seems to me that the best way to work out what breed she should get is about being clear what she wants in a dog and what she definitely doesn't want - then go looking for what suits those criteria.

It makes little sense to do that and then choose one which is not predictable in health, management or temperament. A first cross oodle has 68 different possible coat combinations and every one is different to every other one.No one can ever say what th edog will be like to live with as its always a guess.unless you are sure you can live with any dog then don't go there as you may as well pick any mutt bred by anyone anywhere for the same risk factors - calling it an oodle doesn't change what it is - a mongrel which is unpredictable. In some you may be able to be sure it wont shed - malt cross poodle for example has both with non shedding coats but there is a hell of a lot they don't have in common and worse, somethings they have in common which may show up as negatives.

Purebred dogs are predictable and while obviously some people are able to live with any dog most need to be able to determine and factor in how often a dog needs to be groomed, whether its something you want to do yourself or will need to pay for each month with a professional groomer, how much its likely to eat, what type of fencing it will need, what its characteristics and traits are and how its expected to behave when working on inbred instincts. How much exercise it needs and how much energy it has and how that will fit into your environment and lifestyle.

You cant determine whether someone is keeping their dogs in poor condition or mass producing them based on where they live - the most well known high volume first cross oodle breeder is in NSW and most of the bigger names which own up to a thousand dogs are in other areas and some of the best registered breeders in the country live in Gippsland. Not all ooodle breeders mass produce them either but regardless of who breeds them or how they are kept a mongrel is a mongrel - why bother looking for a breeder in the first place if that's what you decide you want and can live with there are heaps of mongrels waiting for new homes in pounds.

[Steve]

What about a murray river curly coated retriever. Not recognised by ANKC as a breed yet but I believe they are trying...

http://www.mrccr.org/

http://en.wikipedia....oated_Retriever

SSHHHH You'will get in trouble for this - you're not supposed to talk about these on this forum for many more years and only if they are ever recognised by the ANKC as a breed.