Doodles: adorable but needy

I have photographed a number of doodles and I love them, but I worry because there are many misconceptions about these dogs.

The first issue is the myth that they are hypoallergenic. The truth is that they likely are not hypoallergenic since they are a cross between a shedding breed and a poodle. Any breed that sheds can cause allergies, and even non-shedding breeds like poodles can still cause allergic reactions in some people. If allergies are your biggest concern, you would be much better off going with a full blooded poodle and grooming it like a doodle. When my standard poodle has not been groomed in awhile, people often think she is a doodle, especially since she is black and white and many people do not know that bicolor poodles exist. So if it is allergy worries and a certain look that are steering you towards a doodle, you might consider a poodle instead.

The second issue is grooming. As the owner of a standard poodle, I know how hard it is to keep her curly coat mat free. The problem is usually worse with doodles because their fur sheds into the curly hair and causes mats even more easily. If you decide on a doodle, you must commit to nightly grooming, and you should know that regular grooming sessions can be expensive, so you will either need to pay up or learn to do it yourself. I can promise you it is not easy.

A third issue with doodles has to do with breed characteristics. When you buy a pedigreed dog, you can have a good idea of what the personality is like before you buy. You will know if the dog will want to retrieve or herd or hunt little animals, for instance. You will know if they tend to be strongly protective of their family pack or if they are more likely to be friendly to everyone. You will also have a pretty good idea of how large the dog will get. None of that is true with doodles. You will not know which breed’s DNA will control each of those factors. You will not know which health problems from either side are likely to affect your dog, or if the problems from both sides will occur. It is not true that these breeds have fewer health problems. You have to be ready to love a dog that might not be exactly what you expected.

If you are considering a doodle, talk not just with the seller but also with other doodle owners. Find out as much as you can about what they are like. Many doodles end up in rescues because people did not know what they were getting into. Remember, when you get a dog, you are committing to loving that dog for his or her whole life. Think hard about whether a doodle is the right choice for you before you buy, and remember that all that cuteness will also come at a price.