Labradoodle...
Discussion
Morning all.
Just after any advice / experiences
Always had dogs, grew up with Collies / Scottie's.
Currently have an 11 yo Collie who is a great dog, but getting older. He used to work sheep with us, but now is a family pet. We still live rurally, but no longer have livestock.
Tomorrow arrives a Labradoodle puppy. His role is to be a family pet, not to work. We have 3 boys - 11,7,4 who are good with animals, but still boys so need watching!
We have quite a menagerie to whom the labradoodle will have to become used to - 2 horses, 1 collie, 2 rabbits and 5 chickens
Anyone had a labradoodle and can offer any tips, advice, pointers etc before we make any errors in training, introductions etc.
My wife and I are both animal people, and have both trained pups independently and together however the bulk of this boys training will fall on my wife. We have found its always better to have one main trainer with pups as they learn better from consistency (This was especially true of collies - correct me if i'm wrong here.)
Thanks!
Photo below.
Pack name was "Goliath" as he was the biggest! Known to us as "Rolo" until the boys all agree on a name - which might never happen. (Current contenders "Spark-Plug" "Komodo" " Ginger" so they may need some parental guidance...)
Just after any advice / experiences
Always had dogs, grew up with Collies / Scottie's.
Currently have an 11 yo Collie who is a great dog, but getting older. He used to work sheep with us, but now is a family pet. We still live rurally, but no longer have livestock.
Tomorrow arrives a Labradoodle puppy. His role is to be a family pet, not to work. We have 3 boys - 11,7,4 who are good with animals, but still boys so need watching!
We have quite a menagerie to whom the labradoodle will have to become used to - 2 horses, 1 collie, 2 rabbits and 5 chickens
Anyone had a labradoodle and can offer any tips, advice, pointers etc before we make any errors in training, introductions etc.
My wife and I are both animal people, and have both trained pups independently and together however the bulk of this boys training will fall on my wife. We have found its always better to have one main trainer with pups as they learn better from consistency (This was especially true of collies - correct me if i'm wrong here.)
Thanks!
Photo below.
Pack name was "Goliath" as he was the biggest! Known to us as "Rolo" until the boys all agree on a name - which might never happen. (Current contenders "Spark-Plug" "Komodo" " Ginger" so they may need some parental guidance...)
Friends of us have bred them from a Labrador b
h, Poodle Dog so they are 1st genThey check out with hip scoring etc. Experienced breeders and trusted friends so no concerns re health and welfare. We have been to see the pack of pups 6 times so are happy with how they’ve been cared for
3 Dogs (male) still available btw - if anyone looking!
We have a Miniature Labradoodle - in that he's Lab mixed with miniature poodle (not sure how they managed that!), making him a tad smaller than a standard labradoodle.
As breeds go, he's turned out to be just about the best family dog either of us has ever had.
Dave's 12 years old now and starting to slow down, but as a puppy was a real livewire! he's easily the most intelligent dog we've had and I'm convinced he understands every word we say - he even responds to our casual conversation (being a lover of the pub, if we discuss going there, he's all ears!)
He's stubborn and if we decide on a walk and he wants to go on a different route (i.e. he wants to go to the field and we're headed to the river) he'll sit down until we go his way. If we force him to go our way, he'll put on a limp, then sit and raise a paw pretending to be in pain. As soon as we go his way, he's right as rain! Same if he decides the walk has been long enough and he wants to go home... Oh, and if the pubs open and we're going to walk past, he's in the doorway sitting down. Dave likes the pub!
He bonded with our first grandchild when he arrived 7 years ago and whenever they visit, Dave's by his side all the time - especially if we all take him out. He's good with our other grandchildren now, but has a real bond with the first one. He's great with other children and is one of the very few dogs I know that I would trust to absolutely never harm a child regardless of what they did.
He loves a ball and will happily chase after one when you throw it. If he wants to, he'll drop it to be thrown again - but 9 out of 10 times he'd rather put it on the floor in front of you and wait till you try and pick it up, then he'll grab it and run off only to repeat again and again...
2 years ago we rescued a greyhound to be a friend for him. Dave tolerates her but doesn't actually like her. If she's been in his bed, he'll sniff it and walk away with a look of disgust and not use it again until it's been washed. He has absolutely no animosity in him, so he just ignores her.
He's very friendly with almost every dog we meet and plays with my sons cockerpoo as if he's still a puppy.
On the minus side, he hates spaniels. No idea why, he just hates them. He also barks - a lot. Anyone near the house and it sets him off barking. Late with his dinner - barking. Answer the phone and mention the pub - barking. Doorbell rings on telly - barking. Tap on something - barking. In fact, that's really his only fault.
Overall, as I say, he's been just about the most perfect dog for a family and I hope yours turns out just the same.
As breeds go, he's turned out to be just about the best family dog either of us has ever had.
Dave's 12 years old now and starting to slow down, but as a puppy was a real livewire! he's easily the most intelligent dog we've had and I'm convinced he understands every word we say - he even responds to our casual conversation (being a lover of the pub, if we discuss going there, he's all ears!)
He's stubborn and if we decide on a walk and he wants to go on a different route (i.e. he wants to go to the field and we're headed to the river) he'll sit down until we go his way. If we force him to go our way, he'll put on a limp, then sit and raise a paw pretending to be in pain. As soon as we go his way, he's right as rain! Same if he decides the walk has been long enough and he wants to go home... Oh, and if the pubs open and we're going to walk past, he's in the doorway sitting down. Dave likes the pub!
He bonded with our first grandchild when he arrived 7 years ago and whenever they visit, Dave's by his side all the time - especially if we all take him out. He's good with our other grandchildren now, but has a real bond with the first one. He's great with other children and is one of the very few dogs I know that I would trust to absolutely never harm a child regardless of what they did.
He loves a ball and will happily chase after one when you throw it. If he wants to, he'll drop it to be thrown again - but 9 out of 10 times he'd rather put it on the floor in front of you and wait till you try and pick it up, then he'll grab it and run off only to repeat again and again...
2 years ago we rescued a greyhound to be a friend for him. Dave tolerates her but doesn't actually like her. If she's been in his bed, he'll sniff it and walk away with a look of disgust and not use it again until it's been washed. He has absolutely no animosity in him, so he just ignores her.
He's very friendly with almost every dog we meet and plays with my sons cockerpoo as if he's still a puppy.
On the minus side, he hates spaniels. No idea why, he just hates them. He also barks - a lot. Anyone near the house and it sets him off barking. Late with his dinner - barking. Answer the phone and mention the pub - barking. Doorbell rings on telly - barking. Tap on something - barking. In fact, that's really his only fault.
Overall, as I say, he's been just about the most perfect dog for a family and I hope yours turns out just the same.
I look forward to hearing how you get on.
I have no idea how the pub thing came about with Dave, but - like you - I'm always willing to take one for the team....
I forgot to mention grooming! Given that Labradoodles don't moult, they need a regular haircut or they can get matted - depending on the coat type. Dave is very "poodle" and so needs a groom every 4-6 weeks or so otherwise he really starts to look shabby. This is him 4 weeks post groom, ready for another:
Mrs Hippy is a groomer, so we're spared the cost, but you're probably looking at £40-50 per session.
Have fun!
I have no idea how the pub thing came about with Dave, but - like you - I'm always willing to take one for the team....
I forgot to mention grooming! Given that Labradoodles don't moult, they need a regular haircut or they can get matted - depending on the coat type. Dave is very "poodle" and so needs a groom every 4-6 weeks or so otherwise he really starts to look shabby. This is him 4 weeks post groom, ready for another:
Mrs Hippy is a groomer, so we're spared the cost, but you're probably looking at £40-50 per session.
Have fun!
Thanks for the photo - a handsome dog!
We are planning on clipping Pup ourselves. Friends (the breeders) will show us how and assure us that it’s quite possible with standard hair clippers - we shall see.
Well..
Pup is home. And all seems fine. I'm at work, so looking forward to the chaos when i get back tonight!
Pup and old dog ( Fingal) getting on fine thus far, Fingal making sure Pup knows boundaries.
Current contender for name ..... Flash!
We are planning on clipping Pup ourselves. Friends (the breeders) will show us how and assure us that it’s quite possible with standard hair clippers - we shall see.
Well..
Pup is home. And all seems fine. I'm at work, so looking forward to the chaos when i get back tonight!
Pup and old dog ( Fingal) getting on fine thus far, Fingal making sure Pup knows boundaries.
Current contender for name ..... Flash!
Edited by scotlandtim on Thursday 5th January 14:38
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