Lagotto or GR/Pooodle cross as first family dog?

[mybrains]

This is a genuine request from a family about to get their first dog.  My little kids (2 & 8) love the teddy bear look and my wife needs non shedding. Our friend is a groomer so we have some great feedback.

 

We are ready to buy our first family dog and the investment is not only financial, but a lifetime one.  We want to get to right. We found a Lagotto breeder that says the dogs are fine with kids and also our neighbor has a great wool Poodle/GR cross (from a low volume cross breeder with known track record, not a trading post puppy mill).

 

However I have read quite a lot on this forum and despite many sound arguments about shying away from cross breeds (I get it, really I do!), I am concerned (from your advice) that while a Lagotto has similar looks to a poodle cross, it lacks the temperament. I read Lagottos are timid/unfriendly. Is this true or does socialization & puppy training play a big part in how they turn out with kids? 

 

Both myself and my wife grew up with dogs and we want to share this wonderful experience with our kids.

 

really looking forward to some expert advice here !

 

cheers

Peter

 

[sandgrubber]

Lagottos vary, but bad temperament is common.  It's a breed brought from near extinction, and fetches high prices.  Some people breed anything and everything.  Be VERY selective. 

[The Spotted Devil]

The issue with the poodle crosses are that the coat can be unpredictable. Will it be low shedding? Maybe, maybe not. It’s luck of the draw. Are you prepared for the high amount of grooming required?

[juice]

We  get alot of oodles round here, some are  ok, many are hyper nut jobs , its the luck of the draw., some shed hair, some don't.

I do get why people like them.

We had a standard poodle come into work this week and i must admit i was rather smitten, calm solid dog,

[mackiemad]

If I was getting a lagotto I'd get one from heavnsent - Pauleen Bennett in Victoria. She's done a lot of scientific research to find the best family dog and that's why she breeds lagotti. The dogs I've met of hers have had great temperaments. 

[Pjrt]

Yes if you settle on a Lagotto be very careful selecting a breeder, and the puppy. Personally,  For pure breeds , I’d look at the Miniature or Standard Poodle, over the Lagotto. 

 

But Personally,  as a groomer of 33 yrs experience, I’d choose an oodley doodley dog every day of the week. I bloody love them! Yes, you find the occasional one that is a bit hyper, a little nutty, but generally I find the nutty ones are from homes where socialisation has meant go forth and be everyone’s friend, rather than go forth and learn to be calm and sensible in the face of distraction, if you get what I mean. 

I’ve met and groomed at least a dozen Lagotto, most on regular grooming schedules, and to be perfectly honest, I’m yet to meet one I could say I really liked. But every single day I meet dooodly dogs that are just silly happy goofy balls of delight. 

[Dogsfevr]

As a groomer we deal with more fruitloop oodles than I care for ,the other issue we find is the owners who brought them because they want the teddy bear look but the greater majority don’t have the coat quality to pull the look off and the teddy bear look requires dedicated brushing and regular grooming  costly grooming ,If the coat quality isn’t there then the teddy bear look will not happen so how will that impact on the family 

Yes I have also dealt with fruit loop Lagottos but I feel the greater majority buy them because they want the teddy bear look NOT because they want to own the actual breed .

Either breed will require a good honest breeder .

The teddy bear look is the least important over a good dog to live with and yes your oodles crosses shed a lot in many cases ,coat texture and quality varies and most felt like crazy and the owners struggle to brush them 

[Guest crazydoglady99]

I'm yet to meet an oodle mix I don't like. But I don't know if I've ever met a dog I didn't love on first sight!

 

If you go with a non shedding breed (or mix) please be sure you are prepared (committed) to grooming. 

Dropping off at the groomer every 6 weeks is not enough, they still need regular brushing, and at least one bath in between groomer visits. It is A LOT of work.

 

Good luck! 

 

Edit for all the typos eeekkk

Edited January 27, 2019 by crazydoglady99

[karen15]

On my sample size of one lagotto - it's a nice, friendly family dog with a child of 5 years, now 6. No behaviour issues, slightly excitable, but it's not 2yo yet.

[Guest]

I know nothing about either breed, only thought I’d mention  that I’ve never known a dog who doesn’t leave some kind of something “allergy-ish” on you/your clothes/your home/in the air, or lead you over to a nice, itchy patch of lawn to play :p .  Even the grass that you might track inside with you can cause a mess or a sneezing fit quickly! A lot of breeds may not be any problem whatsoever for people without hay fever or irritable skin, but if you’re even somewhat prone to allergies, I’d recommend taking a few minutes to really suss out how you and your family are going to handle the “worst case scenario”.  Especially since your wife “needs” non shedding. 

Growing up with a dog is different to being the adult who has to pay the water bill and do the cleaning ;p unfortunately lol.

 

Are you ok to do things like never allow the dog into one or a few particular rooms? Will it annoy your wife to have to vacuum every day (potentially whilst sniffling? ;)) ? 

Can your children (and you! Lol) comply with wearing particular clothes around the dog, even if it means changing several times a day into & out of your canine clothing? Do you mind showering and  running more loads of washing than usual? 

Is your wife able to wear sunscreens without developing rashes, is she able to add another (if already one one/some) antihistamine pill to her line up if required? 

(Absolutely not picking on your wife here!!  even though it sounds like it haha. There are honestly just a lot of things to consider if allergies are an issue. Even things like “keep your hands moisturised so that all the sudden extra washing (food bowls etc) doesn’t dry out the skin and cause contact dermatitis”. If nothing else, it can add a lot more housework to your day than it would if allergies were not a problem).

 

If you’re all happy to proceed, go for whatever breed you wind up feeling best about, and enjoy  

 

 

[RuralPug]

If the Teddy Bear look plus woolly coat is really that important to you then avoid the cross breeds as they don't all have a woolly coat and you can't always tell from puppy coat. Even then, not all poodle crosses with woolly coats will have sufficient growth of coat to achieve the Teddy bear look. And it DOES take a lot of home grooming plus 6 weekly professional grooms to keep this look - do not think it happens naturally!
The most reliable way to achieve the Teddy Bear look would be with a Standard Poodle - it is all in the type of grooming done. Standards usually have a fantastic temperament BUT are a very intelligent dog and need constant brainwork - they will sort out a job for themselves if you don't keep them busy and that job might not be to your liking! So add them to your list of possibles and start contacting breeders of your possible breeds to ask to meet and interact with the dogs. Some breeders are wary of inviting strangers into their home (as dog theft can happen, sadly) but most will be more than happy to meet you at a dog show.

 

[Cosmolo]

I know some really wonderful lagottos with great family dog temperaments. Choose a breeder with dogs you can meet and discuss with the breeder your requirements. 

 

In my experience the groodles are much more full on. 

[poochmad]

I agree with a Standard Poodle over a cross. The ones I’ve met at training had the most beautiful soft coats and a steady temperament, whereas my sister decided to spend $4000 on a ‘minature’ poodle cross and that dog has unfortunately fed off the household of four children and it barks all the time for attention and is absolutely hyper (and at times snappy). Completely wrong dog in my opinion (she did ask for my assistance, but ignored every suggestion and just went with the ‘popular and cute dog’ instead of a calmer breed).

 

I am a firm believer that dogs pick up on the environment and react a certain way. For example, a friend had a Cocker Spaniel that in her eyes was unruly and constantly on the move as well as destructive, so she rehomed it to a retired lady who had a calmer environment and lo and behold, the dog calmed down within a couple of weeks and is now a relaxed and obedient dog.

 

The reason I mention this is because it should be taken into consideration as you don’t want to get the wrong breed based only on looks.

 

There are a few people on here with poodle crosses - I’d reach out to them to find out what the dogs are like, though of course it depends on where they got the dogs from in relation to temperament.

 

There are some good breeders out there that do the best they can in relation to the cross breeds, such as desexing and breeding dogs consistently, as well as following the breeding regime (only allowing 2-3 litters for a bitch, etc), so I’d be looking at those breeders if you have your heart set on one. The breeder should be able to match a calm dog to your requirement.

 

Just please don’t do what my sister did, who chose the dog ‘online’, never met the breeder or the dogs and just picked a pup based on colour.

[Guest]

On 28/01/2019 at 8:36 PM, poochmad said:

I agree with a Standard Poodle over a cross. The ones I’ve met at training had the most beautiful soft coats and a steady temperament, whereas my sister decided to spend $4000 on a ‘minature’ poodle cross and that dog has unfortunately fed off the household of four children and it barks all the time for attention and is absolutely hyper (and at times snappy). Completely wrong dog in my opinion (she did ask for my assistance, but ignored every suggestion and just went with the ‘popular and cute dog’ instead of a calmer breed).

 

I am a firm believer that dogs pick up on the environment and react a certain way. For example, a friend had a Cocker Spaniel that in her eyes was unruly and constantly on the move as well as destructive, so she rehomed it to a retired lady who had a calmer environment and lo and behold, the dog calmed down within a couple of weeks and is now a relaxed and obedient dog.

 

The reason I mention this is because it should be taken into consideration as you don’t want to get the wrong breed based only on looks.

 

There are a few people on here with poodle crosses - I’d reach out to them to find out what the dogs are like, though of course it depends on where they got the dogs from in relation to temperament.

 

There are some good breeders out there that do the best they can in relation to the cross breeds, such as desexing and breeding dogs consistently, as well as following the breeding regime (only allowing 2-3 litters for a bitch, etc), so I’d be looking at those breeders if you have your heart set on one. The breeder should be able to match a calm dog to your requirement.

 

Just please don’t do what my sister did, who chose the dog ‘online’, never met the breeder or the dogs and just picked a pup based on colour.

This. All of it, but especially the meeting of the breeder part. Yesterday alone I heard the Poodle/GR cross referred to a Groodle, Golden-Noodle, and something else (I think Goldi-poo? Like Shihi-poo?). Whether each breeder has a specific name for their line and whether it’s just their own personal choice or if it means something (one maybe denoting more poodle than goldy?), I got no idea. But it’s worth checking out. 

Especially since there’s a big trend now to have the most miniature version as possible (cute factor.). I’d want to know if that’s a golden retriever and toy poodle crossed or if they just shrank the dog in the wash :p 

plus, aren’t golden retrievers kinda hard to get? It seems a bit suss to me that people have to wait ages for one yet tonnes are somehow available for crossbreeding purposes. 

 

And colour, oh boy. It does my head in when people tell me really seriously that they’re glad I have so and so colour instead of this other one, because they, wait for it, don’t think it’s as pretty.

I don’t know how I keep a straight face! One day I just might say that I actually got *disliked colour* but bought a special dye to fix that ;) 

[cannibalgoldfish]

Quote

There are a few people on here with poodle crosses - I’d reach out to them to find out what the dogs are like, though of course it depends on where they got the dogs from in relation to temperament

I wouldn't bother. Because the very nature of a cross means the temps and the coats can be  guesswork. That's even before you look into the "breed" of the original cross. It's often not just two pure breeds bred together but several blends. "Maltese-shitsu" ring any bells? 

[capanash]

Any X breed is a genetic lottery, no guarantee of Non shedding, low allergy. Get a pure breed Poodle and clip with a hairy face if you don't like the shaved face look.

[sandgrubber]

2 hours ago, capanash said:

Any X breed is a genetic lottery, no guarantee of Non shedding, low allergy. Get a pure breed Poodle and clip with a hairy face if you don't like the shaved face look.

Why, then, are f1 hybrid seeds so widely used?  I haven't systematically looked at hybrid dogs (I kenneled many shih tzu Maltese crosses and from recall, they seem much of a muchness) but from what I learned in biology class, the f1 generation is quite predictable.  Mendel's peas, mules, and all that.