Did you choose a specific breed of dog?

[Mee]

What happens if you grow out the coats of poodles and goldendoodles while keeping them brushed? The big puff that happens with my hair?

they keep growing and growing. You can turn poodles hair into ‘dreads’. ( that’s actually shooting permitted too, but .....almost never done and not maintenance free)
and brushing long curly hair is pretty onerous. I don’t know any thing about doodles - it will be different depending on inheritance- but poodles it’s - Hair rather like - curly human hair .

Grooming should be great for bonding - my Bedlington however detests being groomed - such a sadness - I would love a daily brush with him were he enjoying it ?. I’m yet to find a way that doesn’t cause him despair .

 

[Sideways]

Plus, I want to be able to groom my next service dog myself and even the standard poodle fits that list but the google doodle

You might want to think this through. Getting a poodle onto a bench for clipping is hard work. Clipping a dog is hard work. I've been doing my shih-tzu for 4 years and it's still tough on my back.

@Mee - terriers are synonymous with energetic lil muffins that loooooove to get themselves into trouble! I bet you have your hands full most days:)

 

[Mee]

You might want to think this through. Getting a poodle onto a bench for clipping is hard work. Clipping a dog is hard work. I've been doing my shih-tzu for 4 years and it's still tough on my back.

@Mee - terriers are synonymous with energetic lil muffins that loooooove to get themselves into trouble! I bet you have your hands full most days:)

I think the thing with my terrier is he isn’t busy like a JRT - but he is slowly busy. He likes to do something all day. But he likes to do it alone. So he’s quite happy ratting in the barns , with a twice daily ( supervised) run. The small sight hound is the busiest sight hound we have ever had.

They both go running with DH on a coupling and the terrier is a bit tired when they get back but the sight hound would go again. The difference is- after a rest the terrier wants to go and rat - do his livestock patrol, check fence lines - the sight hound crashes . Until something happens like a knock at the door .

and yeah - clipping is tiring. And with dogs it’s way fiddlier than with horses - I get stressed with ears and around the lips. ?

 

[Freida]

What happens if you grow out the coats of poodles and goldendoodles while keeping them brushed? The big puff that happens with my hair?

Ya mean like over the last two months?? :laugh:
Yep -- they actually have hair instead of fur so it will get as long as you let it. I like to keep him fluffy, so he doesn't really look like a regular doodle. We have a whole routine - he gets brushed every night while we are watching tv. If he doesn't it will tangle at the ends and make nasty mats that have to be cut out :(

I will admit the grooming bill was a shock. I was used to dogs you could throw in the shower, wash off and dry in 10 minutes. Now? It's a production to wash him each week at home, then every 8 weeks he goes in to get pretty. But he's totally worth it!

 

[DharmaGirl]

I'm on a list for a mastiff puppy! Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Ya mean like over the last two months?? :laugh:
Yep -- they actually have hair instead of fur so it will get as long as you let it. I like to keep him fluffy, so he doesn't really look like a regular doodle. We have a whole routine - he gets brushed every night while we are watching tv. If he doesn't it will tangle at the ends and make nasty mats that have to be cut out :(

I will admit the grooming bill was a shock. I was used to dogs you could throw in the shower, wash off and dry in 10 minutes. Now? It's a production to wash him each week at home, then every 8 weeks he goes in to get pretty. But he's totally worth it!

I'm considering a Golden Doodle for my next service dog. I love the poodle and the golden and can't decide between the two. Until I heard how hard it is to keep them groomed.

 

[siniang]

I'm considering a Golden Doodle for my next service dog. I love the poodle and the golden and can't decide between the two. Until I heard how hard it is to keep them groomed.

While personally not the most biggest fan of doodles in general (not because of the dogs but because I'm a proponent of responsible/traditional breeding and just generally not a big fan of so-called "designer breeds" - but really, that's me), doodles are cute as f*ck and can be amazing dogs. We have three amazing ones in our therapy dog squad and I all love them heaps. However, I'd not recommend them as a SD when looking for prospects (it's a different story if doggo is already there anyways) because it's such a hit or miss with their temperatment. Social media is full of success stories of doodles being awesome SDs.... but the truth is there's a REALLY high number that washes. It's kinda like rescues. Yes, you absolutely can get lucky (and I know you specifically, lostforgottensoul, did, so did Freida). But it's such a high risk I personally just wouldn't take.

 

[Sideways]

but the truth is there's a REALLY high number that washes.

This.

You'll get a beautiful, loveable dog. Whether or not it's got all its marbles is a total gamble, which too often doesn't pay off.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Thanks @siniang and @Sideways, I hear such mixed reviews about Golden Doodles and there are quite a few people getting them as service dogs that I was looking at them for a while but honestly their coat and grooming needs is what made me take them off my list. But good to know I made the right choice either way!

 

[Mee]

What does a golden doodle - in its best possible configuration, give that a poodle doesn’t?

My potential breed list has a third dog on it now, a new breed ( yeah. -designer dog) which might give me something my preferred Options of Doberman or poodle don’t. I have been researching and seen a few in ESA roles and doing obedience but not one as an assistance dog. I am going to call the Breed society at some point.

 

[Sideways]

Doberman or poodle

This sounds like a truly bizarre list to me. What made you pick them?

Dobermans aren't typically used as SDs. Two key reasons: first, even with very active socialisation and training from a young age, they don't tolerate strangers too well (super protective), which SDs have to do every time they're out working.

Second, they need a shittonne of exercise (think having your dog running alongside you while you cycle for at least 40 minutes a day), and mental stimulation to keep them from getting bored (which again, SDs have to tolerate reeeeeally well, since a big part/most of their job is lying quietly beside you wherever you happen to be). They get irritable without sufficient exercise or if they get bored, and when irritable, are prone to aggression because of their breeding (being alert and protecting shit comes as naturally to them as herding sheep comes to border collies).

Most people with a disability can't commit to that kind of daily exercise regime, and don't have the background in dog training that a doberman is likely to require to make a safe SD option.

Are they truly loveable and affectionate towards their immediate family and absolutely stunning looking dogs? Absolutely. But will they tolerate idiot strangers every day and long periods of boredom at your side? Nup.

Is there a reason you've chosen a Doberman for your list? Poodles require a lot of exercise, but nothing like the kind of exercise required to satisfy a doberman. They also tend to loooove attention from strangers (super helpful quality with SDs), and if exercised adequately, will be quite happy to lay beside you for long periods of time. They don't tend to need the kind of skill with their training that dobermans require because of their breeding history...

Poodles have their own issues (epilepsy comes to mind - sadly common, so get the lowdown on your breeder). But in terms of the amount of work and skill required to transform them from pet to SD - they're a cake walk compared with dobermans.

 

[siniang]

Kinda sorta OT:

I think I've mentioned it before, but I've been spending some time on social media following various (on average mostly younger - go figure) SD handlers and it's really been irking me to see the sheer variety of breeds. From Dobermans to Corgis to all your different herding and bulli breeds to your random mutt and seriously all kinds of different doodles ... (and mostly as PsychSDs...some cardiac alert)

And don't get me started on all the Husky SDs.... social media is FLOODED with them.

There is a reason why we do have the "fabulous four" breeds + a couple smaller ones that are also good candidates in general.

Can it work out with other breeds and mixes? Absolutely, as I mentioned before. You can get lucky and people do get lucky (emphasize is on "luck"). But my sense is that more often than not those who allegedly "need" (which is a whole other discussion) a SD don't actually know what it means to be a SD and what it takes to be a SD and just <also> want to have their favorite breed. Which is human. Can't say I blame them ... but it's like they don't actually understand their SD isn't a pet dog and breed really should be secondary to what they <need> the SD to do.

And that's when you see literally every SD on social media on ecollars and prongs every single time they're out working...

/rant

(it's been on my mind a long while)