Should I micro-chip my Goldendoodle?

Should I micro-chip my Goldendoodle?

Many pet owners are encouraged to micro-chip their pet to help recover them in the event they become lost or stolen. As a breeder for 11+ years, we always encourage pet owners to have their puppies micro-chipped. However, some states are now mandating mandatory micro-chipping. I had never heard of this until the other day when I came across a website that seemed to be written by a canine activist. Their website seemed to be geared towards canine politics, if you will, but I found it interesting all the same. The site goes on to say they believed that mandatory microchipping was an invasion to the privacy and civil liberties of all dog owners and that such laws would have a great impact on the lives of everyday pet owners, especially those with targeted breeds like the Pitbull, Rottweiler, Doberman, etc. The article goes on to say they believed that mandatory microchipping laws would force dog owners to chip their dogs. That this would allow the local government to track and monitor dogs and their owners. Honestly, I don't see what the problem is but maybe I'm just not a very political person and I have nothing to hide. Personally speaking, it seems that every time one hears about a child or person being attacked by a dog, nine times out of ten, it was caused by a Pitbull.

Too many people are using Pitbulls and Rottweilers as fighting dogs and it's a known fact gangs use such dogs to protect their property because they also have illegal things going on. Of course the issue isn't just a problem with the dogs mentioned. It is the violence and the type of people who own these dogs that are causing the problems. The other issue politically charged animal rights activists say are problems with the micro-chip is that the chips themselves cause cancer in the dogs who have been chipped. I don't know if they are only basing this theory on one article but supposedly a 9-year-old male French Bulldog was examined by a veterinarian for a subcutaneous mass located at the site of a microchip implant. Cytologic examination of the mass was suggestive of a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm. The lymphoid cells were positive for CD18 and CD3. No aluminum deposits were detected by the aurintricarboxylic acid method. A diagnosis of fibrosarcoma morphologically similar to feline postinjection sarcomas was made after conducting many tests. Fibrosarcomas at the site of injections have been reported in dogs and ferrets. Furthermore, neoplastic growth at the site of microchip implant in dog and laboratory rodents has been described. But who is to say that indeed this cancer was caused by the chip? Sure it seems suspicious, but how many other dogs and cats were found to have the same type of cancer after having a micro-chip implanted?

Enough to convince me that we should now stop micro-chipping our pets? Should we all have to worry that micro-chipping our family pets will somehow give the government more access into our lives? Or are these fears just suggested by paranoid activists who believe we should be concerned about why states are now making it a law to micro-chip our family pets? Is there a difference between a sex offender and a dog owner? Not according to those rallying a petition to stop states from making micro-chipping your pet mandatory! While I disagree with this notion, many have the same beliefs that its nothing more than the government stepping further into our lives by keeping pet owner information stored in their government databases. Called "spy chips" by most activists, mandatory micro-chipping of breeding dogs and family pets have been passed by Florida and Texas. Other states are proposing the same laws be passed, including New York. Over all, I have to say that I believe having your family pet as well as breeding dogs micro-chipped is a good thing. For one, its helps the breeder identify their breeding dogs if they have dogs who are nearly identical in appearance and size, to include the same gender. It helps identify the dog if a pet owner's dog should be lost or stolen.

A micro-chip will help the pet find its way back home if he or she somehow gets away from its home and is picked up by animal control or a humane society or some other service that has micro-chip scanning devices. I personally own a micro-chip scanning device and use it if I find a dog wandering the streets. Collars can be removed but a micro-chip is forever! A micro-chip will actually outlast the life of the dog and the capsule is very, very small. About the size of a grain of rice. Many breeders and dog owners micro-chip their dogs and cats voluntarily. I don't think we should become so paranoid as to believe that the government is now going to watch over us through our pets. Micro-chipping is becoming very popular not only with animals, but for credit cards and humans alike. The following article was written about the plans of American Express: " The top brass at American Express, chagrined at the discovery of its people tracking plans, met with CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering) last week to discuss the issue. One outcome of the meeting was a promise by American Express to review its entire patent portfolio and ensure that any people-tracking plans be accompanied by language requiring consumer notice and consent.

The meeting was organized after CASPIAN called attention to one of the company's more troublesome patent applications. That patent application, titled "Method and System for Facilitating a Shopping Experience," describes a Minority Report style blueprint for monitoring consumers through RFID-enabled objects, like the American Express Blue Card. According to the patent, RFID readers called "consumer trackers" would be placed in store shelving to pick up "consumer identification signals" emitted by RFID-embedded objects carried by shoppers. These would be used to identify people, track their movements, and observe their behavior." The article goes on to discuss further about the issues of using such tracking devices and while some were indifferent to the idea, some were greatly opposed. Just another method of big brother stepping in? The VeriChip implant is a glass encapsulated RFID tag that is injected into the flesh to uniquely number and identify individuals, or pets for that matter. The tag can be read by radio waves (scanners) from a few inches away. The highly controversial device is being marketed as a way to access secure areas, link to medical records, and serve as a payment instrument when associated with a credit card or pre-paid account. But is this all hyped up worry like what we saw when the "bar code" was introduced? Many people opposed the bar code on items we purchase in supermarkets and stores, but we seem to have now embraced the bar codes, not giving them a second thought any more. I think after all the fuss dies down, the same will be said about the micro-chip implant. Once something of the future, the micro-chip is finding its way into the market for all sorts of useful reasons.

Author/breeder: Dee Gerrish 2007. Goldendoodle World

Creating the Ultimate Designer Dog

Creating the ultimate Designer dog

Is is possible to create designer dogs through DNA selective testing? With modern technology right at our finger tips...you bet your sweet DOODLE, it is!
Faster? Stronger? Keener sense of smell? More muscles? Shorter? Thicker coat? The list could go on. But is this playing God, with dogs? We have already seen animals being cloned. Genes determine who we are as humans. They also determine what the animal will become too. But, what if we could create our Own special dog? Create pets that are designed for individual families? Is this possible?

Located in Ithaca, NY, the Baker Institute is a part of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University. Today, the Institute serves society through discoveries that will have both an immediate affect and long term implications. Along with their historical strength in the study of infectious disease and immunology, the Institute's medical geneticists have gained prominence in recent years through the development of practical tests for detecting carriers of defective genes and strategies for control of genetic diseases. These researchers also investigate a variety of diseases affecting both animals and humans, including osteoarthritis, diseases of the eye, and reproductive disorders. In 2006, the Baker Institute Mapped out the canine rod cone dysplasia type 2 (rcd2) to a region of dog chromosome 7. Their achievements are numerous where the canine is concerned. But who will be the first in achieving a true Designer dog? A dog that is simply created by mixing a variety of specific genes to give someone seeking such a dog, something unique...only to them? Do you think this could become a reality?

Canine geneticists have come a very long way, especially since our modern technology is getting better and better. Our environment being what it is, may be the driving force for those seeking "designer" dogs. When I think of a "designer dog"...this is essentially the reality of what comes to mind. A dog that has been put together by a canine geneticist according to my desires and wishes. Dogs created to specifics. Yes. Now we are talking about "playing God". We already have hybrid dogs that have become wildly much more popular than the purebred, which angers many purebred breeders. But, it is what it is. A new fact of life. Man's best friend, the dog, is proving that it has, yet again, figured out a way to lend a helping paw. The identification of canine genes is not only improving the health of dogs, but is also helping researchers identify genes controlling human diseases and develop treatments. Yes, as much as I hate to say it, dogs are used greatly in many experiments and tests. Some agree it is for the betterment of human kind...some disagree completely.

Dr. Dennis O'Brien, a professor of neurology at the University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine and an expert on neurodegenerative diseases, says he is thrilled about the recent identification of genes that cause two types of rare epilepsy in dogs and humans. "It's very exciting. I think it shows the power of canine genomics to (be able) to start answering some of these questions," Dr. O'Brien said. Berge Minassian, MD, and other scientists at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, turned to the dog in their hunt for genes that cause Lafora disease in humans. With Lafora, seizures begin in the teenage years and increase in frequency until they cause death, usually within five years after the onset of the first symptoms. The researchers had identified one gene in humans but knew there was at least a second gene, because some families couldn't be linked to the first gene. "I knew that Lafora is, relatively, frequently reported in dogs," Dr. Minassian said. "I thought perhaps if we found families of dogs (that) have this disease, it may help us find the gene and, from there, the human gene."

While dogs and cats are used for testing and experiments, they are also man's best friend. Dog and cat alike. Goldendoodles are called, by some, designer dogs but I beg to differ. Goldendoodles have not been created from test tubes or by Canine geneticists. They are selectively created by designer breeders. The dog itself is not a designer dog, but I do consider the breeder who only creates hybrids, a designer breeder. That's not a bad thing. I myself am a "designer" breeder.

Sometime in our future, REAL designer dogs will occur. We will be able to select and design our family pets in a very real specific way. As time goes by and scientists collect more and more DNA of family pets and varying breeds, they will soon have an entire collection to choose from. They can mix and match and perhaps, you'll even be able to check off a list what it is you desire in your own personal, designer dog. ALready breeders can know before their litters are born, what colors to expect through DNA testing. Canine DNA holds more keys than we realize, to knowing what to expect with offspring. Mark my words! Canine DNA is going to go to places they've never known before!

*AUTHOR/BREEDER: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World. http://www.goldendoodleworld.com/

Goldendoodles and allergies

It's not surprising that myths and misconceptions about Goldendoodles and allergies exist. Some are factual to a degree, but others are totally incorrect and often influence our attitudes or knowledge about dealing with sensitivities to pets. Here is what I believe to be true with regards to allergies and Goldendoodles:

Goldendoodles ARE NOT Hypoallergenic:

Any animal with fur or feathers can trigger an allergic reaction.These include cats, dogs, rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters,ferrets, mice, horses, cattle, monkeys, goats, pigs, chickens, and birds. Of these, research indicates that cats are by far the worst offenders, followed by dogs and horses.

While some animals seem to be more tolerable than others, there are no dogs, cats or other furry animals that do not cause allergic responses. It makes no difference whether an animal has short hair,long hair or how much it sheds.

Cats cause more severe allergic reactions than other pets:

The major cat allergen is an extremely potent one called Fel d1. Secretions from the sebaceous glands of the skin are the primary source of Fel d1, but it is also deposited on the fur through the saliva when cats clean themselves through the licking or self-cleaning process. Eventually the Fel d1 flakes off and becomes airborne to trigger the symptoms that characterize allergies to cats. Male cats generally produce more allergens than females do.

DANDER:

The problem is not with the pet's hair. It is the dander, or microscopic scales of dead skin (similar to, but much smaller than the dandruff on the human scalp) which pets are constantly shedding that is the cause. They are so tiny that you seldom, if ever, know that they are circulating in the air or laying on the furniture and carpets.

URINE:

Recent studies indicate that urine (protein), from cats and dogs as well as from ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, and mice, contain allergens which can also trigger allergic reactions.
Short-haired or long-haired dogs - Doesn't matter:
All dogs – short-haired, long-haired, wire-haired, curly-haired, even hairless—are potentially allergic. Allergic reactions to dogsare not caused by the hair or fur but by dander (the tiny scales ofdead skin) and by sebaceous and salivary gland secretions. Short-haired dogs can cast off as many allergens into the environment as long-haired ones do.

Goldendoodles are not hypoallergenic:

Just because a Goldendoodle may shed very little, it does not mean itis "hypo-allergenic". It is surprising how many Goldendoodle ownerspurchased this hybrid because they were told by their breeder that theydid not cause allergies. Not true! Goldendoodles DO shed...but shed inphases and shed very little.

While it has recently been established that some dogs cast off more allergens than others, there are no non-allergenic dogs. The reason Goldendoodle dogs are thought to be "safe" is probably because they are shampooed and groomed regularly and therefore cast off less dander in the home.

Some people may have more problems living with a dog that shed hair profusely because of the excessive amount of loose hair contaminated by dried saliva and dander clinging to it shed from the pet onto the rugs, furniture and the dogs bedding and favorite lounging places. Frequent vacuumings are usually necessary, along with the use of a moist sponge, to pick it up.
A Goldendoodle puppy begins their shedding phase at the age of 6 weeks or slightly younger.Some people may have issues with a very young doodle puppy. Goldendoodles are usually completed with their shedding phases by the age of one year. SOme allergy sufferers have less allergy reactions to an older doodle puppy because of the fewer shedding phases. Some peoplecan have allergy issues AFTER their doodle turns one year of age.Puppies usually produce fewer allergens and depending upon what exactlya person is allergic to, some have less allergy issues with young pups.

People cannot be allergic to some breeds of dogs and not to others
The possibility of dog breed-specific allergens was first investigatedmany years ago, reports Dr. David Knysak of the Department of Medicine Allergy Division of the University of Michigan Medical Center. Subsequent studies have determined both qualitative and quantitativevariations in the antigen content extracts derived from different dogbreeds, however, he adds, no breed-specific allergens have been found.

It is true, though, that an individual may occasionally become sensitized to or build up resistance to a single breed over a period of time. Another reason why people may think they are allergic to certain breeds of dogs is that some dogs shed many more allergens than others,a process which may produce a higher level of exposure and consequentlymore allergic symptoms.

Restricting your Doodle to one or two rooms of the house does not help:

The longer your doodle lives in a home, the more its allergens will have permeated the entire house to cause symptoms. Isolating your Goldendoodle to one or two rooms in the home does not contain theirallergens. Air currents from forced-air heating, air conditioning andfans spread the allergens through the house. We do not recommend restricting your Goldendoodle to just one or two rooms unless you have become allergic to him or her.

Such particles tend to remain airborne for hours, even in homes with minimal disturbance. Once they do settle, vacuuming or walking on the carpet, sitting on the furniture, fluffing up cushions pillows and thepet’s bedding, raising or lowering the blinds, and opening or closing the drapes or curtains causes tremendous amounts to be set loose in theair once again.

People cannot tell if they will be allergic the first time they encounter a pet. This is a myth and a mistake that many people make when in search of the perfect family pet due to allergies.No one is allergic to a substance the first time he or she comes in contact with it. Sensitization, or the process that leads to development of symptoms, requires repeated exposures over a period of time, anywhere from days to months and possibly years. Sometimes, though, only a few minutes of a pet's presence is necessary. People who come in contact with a cat, for instance, or who enter a room where a cat has been, may react to it within seconds. Other times a pet can be kept for many years and then suddenly its owner will become severely sensitive to it.

Being allergic does not mean that you can't own a doodle or that you must give up one you already have.....If you are allergic to six things, get rid of three of them and you maydrop below your allergic threshold, and become symptom-free. Find out from a physician what your particular allergen is, and if it turns out to be pet- related, try to reduce the allergens in the environment. Using air cleaners or filters could be a start. Your physician may also be able to prescribe medications to lessen the symptoms associated with allergies. If you are allergic to fur, a breed of dog that doesn't shed very much may be your answer.

Dander is a common culprit in allergies to dogs. A dog can be bathed up to twice weekly to try to alleviate the excessive dander production. Be sure though to use a medicated pet shampoo prescribed by a veterinarian if you have found that your dog is having skin allergies and not an inexpensive alternative which can dry out yourpet's skin and worsen the problem for the both of you. A non-allergicmember of the family should brush the dog often, preferably outside.It is important to know that a Goldendoodle can have dry skin and usinginexpensive Shampoo can further irritate the skin causing the dog itself to have allergies. We recommend Pantene as well as a tad bit ofPantene conditioner.

The Goldendoodle hair samples are from two seperate doodles of different ages. We welcome you to join our doodle world if you have found this hybrid to be the perfect fit for your family.

© 2007-Author/Breeder: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World

When Goldendoodles are void of a facial beard

When Goldendoodles are void of a facial beard


When we think about the Goldendoodle dog, we usually think of them as being one part Golden Retriever and one part Poodle. Since 1999, we have gathered enough researched information from our own experiences to now know Goldendoodle fact from fiction. From Mara's litter (see photos on our website under the link "available doodles"), we have come to know that using a Goldendoodle sire to a Golden Retriever dam will produce Goldendoodles who have twice the Golden Retriever DNA. Not only will it produce Goldendoodles with twice the Golden Retriever DNA, but at least 1 or 2 of the puppies in the litter will have an identical appearance of the Golden Retriever. However, a unique sequence occurs as the puppies become closer to 4-6 weeks of age.

From September 1st, 2007 we have watched each puppy begin to obtain a very simliar appearance and coat as that of our Goldendoodles when they have one parent the Poodle and one parent the Golden Retriever (ie...50/50) with the exception of ONE Goldendoodle (the only female in this litter) who is void of the normal facial beard. She has picked up more Golden Retriever traits BUT has not shed a single hair as of yet. Her body coat in the beginning was smooth like the Golden Retriever but then it began to become thicker. However, as of September 25, 2007 her coat has not become fluffy like her brothers and has remained very similar to the coat of the Golden Retriever. We had encorporated a male Goldendoodle with beautiful sky blue eyes into our breeding program for Goldendoodles in hopes of offspring not only carrying the blue eyed gene but perhaps of having blue eyes themselves. Each puppy in this litter was born with brown eyes, to our dismay. BUT, they do have the blue eyed gene within their genetic structure.

We use to get alot of calls from people who bought a Goldendoodle from other breeders and they had questions about their Goldendoodle not having a facial beard or the shagginess of most Goldendoodles they saw in photos. Their breeder had told them their Goldendoodle was a 50/50 mix or a mix with a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. This litter has proven what we knew all along to be true. You can pretty much be sure that if you own a Goldendoodle that resembles the Golden Retriever in nearly every way....is void of the facial beard.....and has nearly an identical appearance as that of a Golden Retriever...... the sire to that puppy's litter was a Goldendoodle who was bred to a female Golden Retriever. Interestingly enough, when a Goldendoodle is sired to a female Poodle, the Goldendoodles pick up twice the Poodle DNA and each of those puppies will have more of the temperament of a Poodle as well as the body structure of the Poodle and yet when a Goldendoodle is sired to a female Golden Retriever, the Goldendoodles pick up twice the Golden Retriever DNA.

EVERY GOLDENDOODLE IN THIS LITTER EXCEPT FOR THE ONE FEMALE, has begun to obtain a facial beard and shaggy coat. The female has still not shed a single hair. That's the cool part about this litter. It was my original belief that if a Goldendoodle was bred to a Golden Retriever, that the puppies would shed. I still believe that if a Goldendoodle has alot of Golden Retriever DNA in its structure and is bred to a Golden Retriever, that the offspring will shed. But we elected to use a Goldendoodle who had twice the Poodle and had more Poodle within his DNA structure so that we could encorporate enough Poodle into the offspring to reduce the shedding that is very similar to the 50/50 mix. It has now been our exerience that the Goldendoodles that came from a Poodle mother and Goldendoodle father, had more curls to their coat and picked up more of the Poodle personality/disposition.

Our experience has taught us thus far, that If you are a Golden Retriever fan, you will completely enjoy either the 50/50 mix or the mix we are talking about....a Goldendoodle with twice the Poodle sired to a purebred Golden Retriever. We have found also that if you are a Golden Retriever fan, you will NOT be able to appreciate the personality or temperament of any doodle that has twice the Poodle DNA. It has also been our experience that such a mixture does NOT work out that well for those who either have young children in their home or who befriend the entire neighborhood or do alot of socializing. Our experience thus far has taught us that Goldendoodles with more Poodle do much better with families who have adult children...no children or children who are at least over the age of 13. Goldendoodles with twice the Poodle are somewhat skiddish; do not befriend strangers easily and do not want to befriend your entire neighborhood. I won't lump all doodles with twice the Poodle into this category but am just discussing what has been our experience thus far. Althought in 11 years of being a professional breeder, we've had only a couple of rehoming issues and 2 of the rehoming issues was with doodles that had twice the Poodle. To date, since 1996, I can only remember three rehoming issues from the top of my head and we've produced quite a few litters since 1996. 2 out of the 3 had twice the Poodle. The other rehoming issue was from a doodle that had been abandoned at a boarding facility and adopted by an elderly couple. From those three issues, we've discovered it was the owners inability to understand their doodle and their reluctance to actually incorporate obedience training that caused their issue. Had they made the effort to actually use a professional dog trainer to help them with their situation, I believe the placements would have worked out. Some people call a dog trainer and then never use them.
Either the training was going to cost more than they could afford or would cause them to actually make an effort at changing their dogs' behaviour....it's hard to say what the reason was that they did not actually stick with a training program or use a training program.

Those who are experienced with the Poodle....have owned Poodles before or are at least very familiar with the Poodle have the most successful placements with Goldendoodles who have twice the Poodle DNA. We actually only desire people with more Poodle experience to adopt doodles with more Poodle so that they don't become surprised or frustrated with the personality. We encourage everyone with young children or children who are NOT adults, to adopt a Goldendoodle with more Golden Retriever DNA because children usually have alot of friends and children want their dog to participate in activities with their friends. Most doodles that have twice the Poodle do not want to become involved with numerous people at any one time. They seem to be wary of large crowds of people or screaming, running, yelling children. There are some people you can't convince of this but it is those people who have the most placement issues. Those who do not listen to the advice of their breeder always have the most problems.

This is the first time that we intentionally used a Goldendoodle sire with more Poodle traits to breed to a female Golden Retriever. I have always been leery of matching a pair like this because I was not sure about the shedding element. I did want to know, however, if a Goldendoodle would be void of the facial beard, the plume tail and the shaggy coat if it came from this sort of pairing. As such, this litter and our litters that turned out to have more Poodle DNA has taught us a great deal concerning breeding methods and what to expect. We were able to notice the difference in coat type from this most recent litter, at approx. 6 wks of age. This further backs up our original claim that a breeder would be fully aware by age 6 weeks whether or not their doodle puppy will either be void of the facial beard or have a facial beard as well what coat type the doodle would have.
Many people in the past emailed us regarding their doodles purchased from other breeders whose doodle was void of the facial beard asking if their doodle would ever have one and we now can back up our prediction that any doodle with a smooth face and void of the "V" shape by six weeks of age will NOT have a facial beard as an adult and the breeder is fully aware of this fact if they are an experienced breeder. We noticed the difference between this particular female and her brothers right at the time the puppies began to get their fluffy coat and this generally takes place between 4-6 weeks of age. All of the puppies in this litter have the Golden Retriever temperament and disposition but we noticed another difference!

The female in the litter that we are discussing has more of a stocky, Golden Retriever build but she has the long, narrow "field retriever" appearance in her face that we saw in alot of our purebred Golden Retriever litters when we bred them. We do not breed purebred Golden Retrievers that often because my allergies have become much worse as I've gotten older and I've remained more of a Goldendoodle fan just for allergies alone. The males on the other hand have a much smaller body structure and are smaller in size. The female has taken more of her mothers' appearance and size and the males have taken more their fathers' size and body structure but still have the Golden Retriever temperament. The males in this litter are very shaggy and have the full facial beard already! I'd like to also note that many people who are not experienced with the Goldendoodle dog do not realize that there are numerous coat changes and phases before their doodle turns a year of age.

Even the facial beard will change in texture. I always hear people tell me...well...that puppy doesn't seem to have very long hair and it doesn't seem to have a very full facial beard. Yes! That's correct! Because the dog is just a puppy! So many people assume their doodle should automatically have a thick, fluffy coat....a full facial beard and a really thick plume tail. No. That is not what happens.

The Goldendoodle's coat is a gradual process from the day they are born until the day they turn a year of age. Once they are an adult, that's it. The coat is what it is. The coat will always continue to grow and will always be in need of coat maintenence if it is a shaggy dog. That's a given for any dog with such a coat. But we think that if someone really wants a Golden Retriever but can't handle all the shedding that comes with a Golden Retriever, they'll be happy with a doodle that is void of the facial beard and the shaggy coat and has more of the Golden Retriever appearance.
Their coat will not be long and thick or shaggy, nor will they have a shaggy, facial beard. The coat will be easy to maintain and they will not have the shedding coat like their purebred counter part. The doodle that I mention up above will make a perfect companion to your neighborhood...your friends....your children of any age. Now we have given the purebred Golden Retriever breeder something to be jealous of! A Goldendoodle who could very well pass for a purebred Golden Retriever yet NOT shed! You are very welcome.

Author/breeder: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World. All rights reserved. 2007

Let's talk doodle

Lets talk Doodle

Back when I started with my Goldendoodles in 1999, many people here in the United States had never heard of them. "What is a Goldendoodle?", they'd ask. Even though the truck I drove had photos of a Goldendoodle all over it. My husband and I would have to explain to everyone that a Goldendoodle was exactly as what was visually seen on our truck.


Many years has passed since I first began creating Goldendoodles. Yes, I said, "creating", simply because back then I didn't "breed" them. We had to first create them....see if we liked them.....before we could keep some and place them into our breeding program. Back then, I was a purebred Golden Retriever breeder and would have never considered mixing any of my Golden Retrievers with a Poodle. Don't get me wrong. The Poodle is a fantastic dog, but there is far too much coat maintenence required of this breed and I had no desire to own a dog that I'd have to spend countless hours maintaining the coat. I wasn't even sure I'd like the personality of a Poodle, much less own one. But in 1999 I fell in love with a Poodle that I eventually named Scisco's Kid. I would later add another terrific boy that I named Darby. He has since crossed the rainbow bridge in his sleep, but I was very glad that I had kept a couple of Goldendoodles from his last sired litter back in March of '07.

Both of my original Standard Poodles helped begin my Goldendoodle breeding program. Scisco's Kid is still with me, but he is neutered and retired. Both dogs have produced some of the finest Goldendoodles out there. A couple of our past doodles live in Europe, with the remainder live in the United States. It has been a "learn as I go" experience with the Goldendoodle dog, which is why alot of the information on my Goldendoodle World website has changed over the years. I've had to update my information as I've come to know it, experience it and see it for myself. What I've come to know and what I've already discussed quite a bit on my website, is the fact the Goldendoodle dog comes in three coat types. JUST three coat types. If a breeder has told you otherwise, then they have not educated themselves properly or learned enough about the Goldendoodle dog to tell you the facts. There are only three coat types for the Goldendoodle dog: 1. Shaggy 2. Curly 3. Smooth

I want to talk a bit more about the shaggy coat because alot of people seem to be confused and I can see why. Indeed, many photos on the internet may show you Goldendoodles who have been trimmed down...so it isn't easy to tell what type of coat the dog has. Many photos may show you various types of hair cuts and so you can't get an idea of what the coat really looks like untrimmed. The shaggy coat Goldendoodle has lots of wispy hairs that go in every direction, all over its body. There will even be waves or slight curling at the tips of the shaggy strands of hairs. So, let's get a closer look at the shaggy coat Goldendoodle. (photos can be viewed on our Goldendoodle World website.)



The shaggy coat Goldendoodle starts out looking like a purebred Golden Retriever puppy. Their body coat is soft, short and every doodle pup has a lovely round head. They are oh, so adorable! I've come to know that the more ripples about the coat within hours of birth, the shaggier the coat will be. A Goldendoodle puppy that is going to be curly as an adult will have multiple ripples from its head to its tail, within four hours of birth. You could literally take your finger and feel the ripples because they feel like little tiny bumps along the coat. But this article is about the shaggy coat Goldendoodle. When I had my first litter, I was confused after seeing the puppies as newborns. I wasn't sure what had happened because they looked just like Golden Retrievers. But an amazing transformation began to happen by the time the pups were just four weeks of age.



My Goldendoodle puppies began to look like fuzzy little teddy bears! Every day their coat continued to become thicker and shaggier and the hairs around the face began to peek out. By the time these little doodle buds were eight weeks of age, their coat was very fluffy. Now the one thing people need to remember is that a Goldendoodle puppy's coat is never the end result of what the coat will look like as an adult. I've had many people look at a Goldendoodle puppy and make the remark, "Oh...I thought it was going to be shaggy." But I had to explain to them...yes, of course they are going to be shaggy. Goldendoodles are never as shaggy in the puppy stage as they are an adult. The coat of a Goldendoodle will go in phases. I've literally counted 10-15 coat changes from the time a Goldendoodle is born up until the time they turn one year of age.


The shaggy coat Goldendoodle will look scrawny and as though they have stuck their paw into a light socket by the time they are six months of age. Like a teenager, they are going through a growing phase. Some shaggy coat Goldendoodles will have long, thin legs similar to the Standard Poodle and some Goldendoodles will have short legs and a stockier body. There is no way for a breeder to actually "breed" for either physical appearance, so don't ask your breeder for one "body type" over the other. A Goldendoodle, regardless of coat type, will literally take after any one of their ancestors because all of their ancestors play a 100% role in what or whom they become as an adult. Unlike the purebred dog, hybrids have not been refined down through the years to look exactly this way or that way....but as a Goldendoodle breeder since 1999, I can definitely tell you that all three coat types do have the same exact coat traits or similarities regardless of what breeder your dog has come from so long as the breeder sticks to the golden rule of creating first generation dogs only. Don't get confused. Stay with me here. Many people do not understand what the term, "first generation" means. The term "First generation" implies parent to child...not dog type. When I say that it's important for the breeder to stay with the golden rule of creating only first generation dogs, I mean that in order for the Goldendoodle to have very similar coat traits per coat type, the breeder must not breed two related dogs together. For example, a breeder must only pair up two dogs who do not have the same exact parents or same exact pedigree within the first three generations. The two dogs used for breeding should not have shared parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. They should not breed a brother and a sister together; a mother and a son together; a father and a daughter together or a grandchild to its grandparent. Many show breeders do this, which is why the purebred dog has so many genetic health issues running through its bloodlines. So, Goldendoodles who come from a Goldendoodle/Golden Retriever mixture or two Goldendoodles or a Goldendoodle/Poodle mixture can still be first generation dogs if the parent dogs do not have shared, direct ancestors in the first three generations of their pedigree. If the children come from two parents who have different parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, those children are first generation. Many breeders will tell you that their Goldendoodles are "F1b" simply because they bred a Poodle to a Goldendoodle and they imply to you that their Goldendoodle pups are "backbred" simply because the Goldendoodle was bred back to a Poodle. This is not the correct meaning of "F1b". The correct meaning of "F1b" is that it means a Goldendoodle was bred back to a Poodle who shares the same ancestry or parentage as the Poodle within the Goldendoodle. They are really saying that they have possibly kept a Goldendoodle puppy out of one of their past litters and bred the dog back to its Poodle father or mother or possibly grandparent. Many show breeders for purebred dogs do this because they are trying to pull specific traits out of the dogs they create for show purposes. I'm here to tell you that a breeder can not have their cake and eat it too. Something will be lacking, some where, if their dogs are back bred or inbred. There's a reason that people should not create children if they themselves are directly related. There's a huge risk for genetic issues and that's why it isn't recommended. So is the same for dogs.



Every single shaggy coat Goldendoodle will have very similar features, as an adult. A shaggy coat Goldendoodle will have a full facial beard, a nice plume tail and a body will of shaggy hairs. Every Goldendoodle, regardless of coat type, has a single coat. The coat hairs itself sprouts away from the body, the tail, the legs and the face in every direction. The hair can become very thick and the shaggy coat Goldendoodle does require alot of coat maintenence. This is the only downside to owning a Goldendoodle who is NOT a smooth coat. A doodle with a shaggy coat or a curly coat, who lives outside or enjoys many outdoor activities is going to be one messy dog if the coat isn't kept trimmed, washed and brushed on a weekly basis. If your doodle does alot of swimming at the beach, lake or inside of a personal pool, you may not want to have your doodle's coat remain long and shaggy. Of course if you don't mind all the coat requirements, then the coat can remain as long and thick as you personally like.



The tail of a shaggy coat Goldendoodle is actually must thicker and longer if left untrimmed and this goes for the body coat as well. Every Goldendoodle, regardless of coat type, has a tail that rides high up over the back. Their tail curls up over the back because believe it or not, the tail of a Poodle also rides high up over the back if left undocked. I had never known this, myself, until I purchased a Poodle who for some reason, never had its tail docked. I later had my vet dock the tail and I will tell you that I will never have another adult dog's tail docked. It was a painful experience for my Poodle, for about two weeks. All dogs should have their tail docked when they are two days of age, if their tail is going to be docked. It is virtually pain free and little to no bleeding whatsoever. I would never recommend anyone dock the tail of an adult dog. If their tail has not been docked as a newborn, leave it natural. I have no idea why the breeder of one of my Poodles had not docked the tail. In Europe, it is against the law to dock tails or crop ears. All dogs in Europe have a natural appearance, including show dogs. I had not known this either until my husband and I had visited a couple of dog shows in Germany. It was then that I learned that they do not permit any dog to have its tail or ears altered in any way, shape or form.


There's a reason the Goldendoodle has become so popular and it isn't just because it's a low shedding dog. The Goldendoodle is soft, cuddly and incredibly sweet. The Goldendoodle, regardless of coat type, is a very happy, outgoing dog who loves affection and enjoys being with their human family members. The amount of love a Goldendoodle has to offer is simply unbelievable. Most Goldendoodles work out for children of all ages, but we have found that the smaller the doodle, the less likely it would make a good candidate for children. Many Toy sized dogs are nervous around children or a large group of people. I'm not sure why this is, but it just seems to be a fact. It seems to me that the very small Goldendoodle would prefer to be a lap dog and usually gravitates towards only one person and not an entire group. Goldendoodles 20-25 pounds or more are better able to handle a lot of activity and seem to be more suited for children. Especially small children. I've never recommended any family obtain a toy sized dog if they have small children. For some reason, many people want to buy their small kids toy sized dogs. As a breeder, I never thought this was a good idea. I have found that many breeders of toy sized dogs feel the very same way. Some will not even allow their little dogs to be adopted by families with small children. It just isn't a good match.

The shaggy coat Goldendoodle has alot of love to offer. They are very funny to watch as young puppies and they will certainly give you alot to laugh about. But puppies are not always a laughing matter. They are a lot of responsibility and require a lot of work. Many people assume that it is very easy to house break or potty train a puppy rather than a young adult dog. Well, I will be the first person to disagree with that notion. Young puppies have absolutely no self control whatsoever. They do not have a fully developed sphincter muscle and physically can not hold their bowels in check for very long. Puppies also have a very short attention span. They literally do nothing as a puppy, except eat, pee, poop, play and sleep. Playtime for a puppy is generally high activity for about 30 minutes and then off they go for a very long nap. This is why I don't understand why so many people have the idea that training a young puppy is much easier than training a young adult dog. I've completely found it just the opposite. As I write this article, I have a German Short-haired Pointer that I obtained as a five month old puppy. She had never been exposed to the indoors of a home...no potty training experience and was afraid of everything because she had not been exposed to anything other than other puppies. Smart and incredibly loving, her intelligence springs out through her eyes. She's a very high activity level type of dog, so getting her to calm down and relax has been a challenge. We are still working on self control. Since I'm not a trainer whatsoever, I've been teaching myself how to train this particular puppy. I want her to learn to live indoors, so working with her every single day is very important. Personally I will share with you what has worked for me, for housebreaking a puppy who was never exposed to any type of potty training. Every day gets better, so let me get that out there right now. Some people have the notion that they are going to get a puppy and within a few short days, housebreaking will be a thing of the past and their puppy will magically become housebroken over night. If you are one of these people who thinks like that, you'd better make sure that the dog is one hundred percent housebroken or you will be looking to find your dog a new home very quickly. Impatient people will need to hire a professional dog trainer or farm out their dog to a professional dog trainer who keeps the dog until they are fully trained. This type of nonsense is for lazy people who want instant gratification. Trust me...those type of people exist and they are out there. Yelling, screaming, getting upset and freaking out won't help your puppy or dog learn how to use the bathroom or behave while inside of your home. Positive reinforcement works and I will be the first person to tell you that you should always keep your puppy or dog on a retractable leash if you want the housebreaking to go quickly. I learned this from experience.



Let's talk about potty training for just a few seconds and then we'll get back to the shaggy coat Goldendoodle. What I personally discovered is that placing your puppy or dog on a retractable leash and taking your pet to the same exact area, each and every time, will make the process go faster. A retractable leash is nicer than a standard leash because you can allow your dog to move further out away from yourself and you can also retract the leash to give a short, quick jerking motion if your pet isn't doing what he or she is suppose to be doing. You must have control of the leash and its movements for the sake of potty training. If you puppy or dog wants to start taking off in a direction that you do not want him or her to go, just jerk back on the leash by releasing the lock and letting the leash retract back into the handle and give a slight jerk at the same time, with a very quick, short command of "NO" at the same time. Then release the leash to go back out of the handle so that your dog can continue to do what it was that you wanted him or her to do in the first place. I used a harness on "Merry-Belle" (my German Shorthaired Pointer) and not a collar. It was easier to control her movements with a body harness. I kept the harness on her all the time for about a month. After she began to associate the harness and the leash with going outside to potty, I was then able to graduate her to a neck collar. Now I can simple take the end of the retractable leash and wrap it around her neck and clip the leash unto itself and not even worry about a collar if I am going to take her outside in the yard. You will want either a harness or neck collar if you take your dog out in public. But for simple front or back yard trips, you don't have to place the collar on your pet every time. I never leave collars on my dogs full time. Ever. Dogs have a strange way of getting caught on something and this can be deadly if you are not supervising your pet or at home. Never leave a collar around your dogs' neck if you are not at home or supervising your dog. The consequences can be deadly and I can't stress this enough to people who have never had this unfortunate experience. If you have been lucky enough to never experience the consequences of your dog hanging itself from getting its collar caught on an object while you were not at home, then your one of the lucky few and it could just be a matter of time before you will experience this horrible tragedy. Believe it or not, even crated dogs can hang themselves with deadly consequences if you place it inside of the crate with its collar on.

I began to notice with Merry-Belle that if I took her outside for potty breaks while on leash and to the same exact area each and every time, she would do her business immediately. However, if I simply asked her if she wanted to go outside and I opened the door for her to zoom outside, all she wanted to do was run around the yard to play. So, its important that you place your dog on the leash each and every time you are taking it outside for potty breaks. With a puppy, it seems like you've had to take the dog out every ten to fifteen minutes! It can become exasperating and sometimes frustrating. With Merry-Belle, no sooner than I brought her inside from using the bathroom outdoors...it seemed she had to go again. Literally within minutes! Or at least it seemed like minutes. Another important thing to remember is that your dog can not talk to you through yelling, "Hey, You! Take me outside!" . Your dog will look at you as if staring. Your dog will sometimes whine. It will sometimes constantly come up to you as if wanting to play...when it really is asking for you to take him or her outside for a potty break. Since you just came back inside, you will think they want to play. Not! They want to go back outside. So...learning the signals to communicate with your dog or puppy is essential. As the days go by of bonding, both of you will soon learn to speak each others' lanquage. Think of your dog as being a person from another country. They don't speak your lanquage nor do you speak their lanquage. You wouldn't yell at the person if you could not communicate...even though it would be frustrating to not understand what that person was telling you. So, through body lanquage and other signals, you have to teach each other how to get your messages across. Merry-Belle will now bring mer her toy and drop it at my feet if she wants to play. If she needs to use the bathroom, she will come and sit next to me or stare at me or whine at me. She now knows it is important to communicate to me that she needs something. I've also learned how to communicate with her and understand her signals. So, it's really important that you teach your dog or puppy how to communicate with you if he or she needs something and if you pay close enough attention to your dog, you will see that they also are teaching YOU how to communicate with THEM through their own body signals.

I discovered that Merry-Belle loves to play with specific toys. She loves to carry around anything that squeeks! She particular enjoys toys that has something for me to grab onto at the other end so we can tussle with it. So, you can use a simple favorite toy as a "treat" when your puppy or dog has done what you wanted him or her to do. Giving food treats isn't always a good thing because your canine can become very over weight which is not good for its joints or heart or other internal organs. What I did with Merry-Belle for housebreaking, was that I released her from the retractable leash after she did her business and then I tossed her favorite toy for her to play fetch with. She soon learned that playtime was AFTER she did her business and not before. Releasing your pet from the leash soon AFTER he or she has used the bathroom outdoors will teach him or her that play time comes after and not before pottying and by playing with your dog AFTER it has done its business and not before, also teaches your dog to associate the outdoors with pottying and not for playing. Dogs are relatively simple creatures if we learn how to communicate with them. Repitition is also key to learning. Doing the same thing, at the same time, every single day over and over again helps your dog learn faster. As I said, I'm not a dog trainer nor do I claim to be. But I can share with you what has worked for me and perhaps what I've learned will help YOU too.

Now, if you want to learn more about the shaggy, curly or smooth coat Goldendoodle and your on a doodle quest....take the time to visit our website at http://www.goldendoodleworld.com as I've spent since 1999 writing about the Goldendoodle and taking hundreds of snapshots of not just the dog itself, but of various coat phases and changes! Plus, since 1996, many of our fantastic customers have shared with us, photos of the dogs they have purchased from us and by sharing their photos with us...we've turned around to share them with you. Our Goldendoodle World website is the most comprehensive, educational, extensive doodle site on the internet and we hope you'll enjoy not just our website....but join us too! We ship worldwide and we welcome everyone to personally come to our home to pick up their next doodle dog.



**About the author: Dee Gerrish has been a private, professional breeder since 1996 but has owned dogs all of her life. Dee Gerrish is one of the original founders for the Goldendoodle dog in the southern region of the United States. She has written extensively about the Goldendoodle dog since 1999. Dee Gerrish was the first breeder to register the Goldendoodle dog with a ligitimate kennel club in the United States...."Universal Kennel Club".




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People love to love dogs

People love dogs. People love to love dogs. People love to own dogs. What type of dogs do people love to own? Well, all sorts of people have fallen in love with dogs over the centuries. Famous people own dogs. Poor people own dogs. The average person owns dogs. Dogs even sometimes live at nursing homes and dogs have performed many functions for centuries. In some Asian countries, dogs sometimes even become food.

Have there been famous people with famous dogs? Yes! Through out history, many famous people have owned famous dogs. Will Rogers once said, "If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went." Most people who are dog people will agree that most dogs are nicer than most people.

Dogs are not judgemental nor do they care how much money you earn. Dogs do not even care if you have a job so long as you make it YOUR job to give them love and lots of hugs. Joe Weinstein said, "My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3 a can. That’s almost $21 in dog money." Dogs are very basic, simply creatures and they are surely not as complicated to understand as humans are. People make life complicated. Dogs do not.

Dogs make great pets for many people, especially senior citizens. They provide companionship and instant friendship. Dogs do not mind how old you are. Dogs will love you even if you are in diapers! Young or old. Over the centuries, dogs have provided valuable service to people. From assisting fire fighters to helping locate victims of earthquakes! Dogs can be trained to help people who need assistance with personal chores. From ringing bells, to picking up small items to helping the blind get around. Dogs can even learn to perform multiple tricks!

Many people who love to own dogs have a need with learning how to train their dogs. Casar Milan is a well respected dog trainer with alot of terrific information on how to train your dog! His website provides alot of great information. Some people go to college to learn how to become a better dog person. Seriously! Check out this link if you are interested in getting a degree on becoming a better dog person! Dogs think, feel and react very much like humans. That's why people and dogs go together like peanut butter and jelly! But you'd have to be a dog person to agree with this notion.

Dogs actually help people understand themselves better as human beings. There are millions of people on our planet who own dogs. Some people shouldn't own dogs and some dogs shouldn't be around people. You can see dogs virtually anywhere! You see people throwing a frisbee for a dog in a park. You see people walking their dog on a sidewalk. If you visit Germany, you will even see dogs riding on a trolly or sitting besides its master at a local cafe. Some people have more pictures of their dog than of their children. Some children prefer their dog over their friends. Some dogs prefer one person over another.

Many people will tell you long stories of how their dogs have enriched their lives. Some people don't even want to discuss dogs at all! Sometimes a person will think they are not a dog person at all until they meet a dog. Then suddenly that non-dog person becomes magically transformed. Some people are morons around dogs and some dogs think some people are morons. Dogs can make us laugh. Dogs can make us cry. Dogs can make us mad and dogs can make us happy. Not everyone loves dogs and not every dog loves a person. One thing is for sure, however!

Dogs have been around for centuries and we will continue to see dogs for as long as we see people.

*Author/Breeder: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World cc@2009

*Photo courtesy: Goldendoodle World: http://www.goldendoodleworld.com/ and Goldendoodle owner, Cheryl as well as Goldendoodle, Sonny.

(Sonny is a male Goldendoodle that was purchased by Cheryl from Goldendoodle World. Sonny has been featured in a magazine article