Why Doodles Are Bad For Certain Families: Unleashing The Truth!

Are you thinking about getting a doodle? If so, you have to do your research. Getting any kind of dog needs a lot of research and preparation, and a doodle is no different. 

I have a bernedoodle named Jill. A mix between a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle. I love her so much and she is the sole reason I write for this blog. We got lucky with having an amazing, ethical breeder, though we definitely did NOT do enough research. Jill’s temperament and health are amazing, however, she is one hyper dog. I have no children currently and spend LOADS of time training, grooming, and making sure she’s okay every day. 

There might be a lot of reasons why you want a doodle. They are hypoallergenic, they have amazing temperaments, and they are just so gosh darn cute with their hair. If this is you, make sure you ask yourself these 9 questions below, to help determine if a doodle is right for your lifestyle. Understand why doodles are bad for certain families, and make the most informed decision for yours!

What are doodles?

Doodles are not considered an AKC breed, but there sure are lots of them. You might have crossed paths with one recently, as they have BLOWN up in popularity within the past 5-10 years. A doodle is any dog mixed with a poodle. You know… those really smart dogs with the curly, fluffy haircut? Poodles have hair, not fur, so they are considered hypoallergenic. They shed almost no hair, compared to other non-hypoallergenic breeds like the labrador. Poodles are high-energy, very intelligent, and extremely playful.

Some common mixes are the goldendoodle, bernedoodle, labradoodle, aussiedoodle, cockapoos, cavapoos, and sheepadoodles. There is a fair share of doodle mixes, but are they right for your household?

Today, we’ll discuss 9 questions to ask yourself before getting a doodle, to make the best decision for everyone involved!

9 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Getting a Doodle

#1: Why do you want a doodle?

Figure out why you want a doodle, and make sure those points are true! At the end of the day, there are a lot of breeders out there, trying to sell you something. Make sure you know what you’re getting into. For example:

• “They are hypoallergenic and I’m allergic to dogs” They are, because of the poodle side, but they still shed (though less). Especially if the other breed is not hypoallergenic, you better bet you might still have an allergic reaction and mild shedding when you bring your furry friend home.
• “They have playful personalities, they’re great family dogs.” They do, but that energy is not restricted to you. If they want to play with you, they most likely want to play with every other human and dog around you. This takes a lot of practice and training.
• “They look so cute and fluffy!” Yes, they do… but only after daily brushing and frequent bathing. 

This is not to deter you but for you to question why you truly want a doodle mix. Especially with the allergy issue. I’ve seen too many people get doodles, thinking that they can have a dog because they are hypoallergenic, and then having to give them up because they did end up having an allergic reaction. Always make sure the breeder you choose gives the option to meet the pups first.

#2: Do you have time to train your dog every day?

Doodles are usually very high-energy. Poodles are known to be high-energy. If the other dog has any inkling of high energy as well, your doodle will be the result of it. How much… nobody can really predict this in mixes either.

They will jump on people, eat off of tables, and do whatever they want unless they are well-trained otherwise. This takes daily practice that doesn’t stop after the puppy years. Though, it’s not impossible to fit it into your schedule, you just have to plan accordingly!

#3: Do you have time to give your dog the physical exercise they need every day?

Your doodle will undoubtedly need walks almost every day if not more than once a day. Depending on their high energy levels, you will need to be walking them often. That means, if you are at work for extended periods of time, you might need to have a family member or a designated dog walker walk your dog. Without proper mental and physical enrichment every day, they will turn into a little bundle of chaos for your house. 

#4: Do you have the time to groom your dog every day?

Because doodles have hair (like their poodle parent), they will need to have their hair brushed almost daily. If not, you will get knots in their hair. Knots are not only painful for them, but painful for you to remove and can pose real health issues like skin infections.

#5: Do you have the financial means?

This one can almost go without saying, but between the amount of grooming tools, grooming trips, training treats, and enrichment toys, they cost a lot of money. You must factor that in before getting a high-maintenance dog. 

As you can tell, there are a few daily responsibilities already… You must determine if you will be able to do this every day! Now… you might be wondering, what if my doodle doesn’t have a high-energy personality? There is this misconception that breeders can predict their personality. Though they can get close with predictions, nothing is set and stone when mixing breeds.  You don’t quite know for sure how they will react to certain things and throughout the years to come. A very shy puppy might become very confident as an adult or even more anxious as an adult. Though training can play a big factor in this, you can never really predict how their personalities will develop.

#6: Are you okay with having a dog around at all times?

Due to their highly intelligent nature, poodles can often develop separation anxiety when left alone for too long. Doodles are no different, and your dog will most likely want to cling to you 24/7. They might even want to get in your skin… if only!

This might be great for you and your lifestyle. Maybe, you need to stay busy during the day or would like a companion while working from home. However, if you’re gone for many hours a day or need to pay close attention to other things, like young children, this might cause some issues. It will take lots of training and time before they can be left alone comfortably for hours. 

#7: Where are you getting your doodle from?

There’s been some fierce debate about whether doodles are good or bad, due to the increase in popularity and increase in breeders trying to catch the expensive wave. There are too many breeders foolishly breeding poodles with other breeds, and selling them, without any afterthought. What kind of health issues are the parents passing down? Are they selling these doodles to people who can really take care of them? If not, who knows where they will end up!

Therefore, you MUST look for a breeder who truly cares about both the pups and the people. Someone who does genetic testing before they breed, to reduce chances of passing down severe health issues. Someone who does temperament testing and helps with exposure right after birth, as exposure during those early days is invaluable. Someone open to discussion and cautious with who gets the pups, as everyone knows… if put into the wrong hands, can only add to the growing problem of dogs in shelters. 

Though these pups from ethical breeders might be more expensive, it is completely worth it. When placed with the right family at the right time, boy… do they bring you so much joy and laughter. 

#8: Are you okay with your pup being smaller or larger than expected?

Because this is a mixed breed between a poodle and another dog, there is nothing really to determine what size they will get. People can make predictions, and they can get close to the predictions, but there is just no way to tell. I’ve heard too many stories of people wanting mini bernedoodles, and ending up with a medium bernedoodle that they were NOT expecting. 

You can get close to the size you wanted but know that they might get bigger even if it says mini bernedoodle. If they say a standard size, there can be a huge range of how big or small they’ll get as an adult. 

#9: Is everyone around you onboard?

You might not have allergies, but do your kids or parents have allergies? Are they okay with getting a high-energy dog, that will inevitably take a little bit of everyone’s responsibility to help train? Make sure those around you are aware and able to help if needed. The last thing we want is for your parents not to allow your doodle over, because someone has a severe allergy…

Conclusion

This article seems a bit negative, but it’s intended to shed light on some of the real responsibilities of both raising a dog and raising a high-energy, high-maintenance doodle mix. If your lifestyle does fit with getting a doodle, they are such a fun, happy, entertaining, and invaluable addition to your family. They will never leave your side and continuously make you smile over their silliness and happiness. Yes, there are quite some things to consider, but knowing these moving forward, can help make sure everyone involved is happy and healthy!

Check out the 17 Things Every New Dog Owner Should Know next!