Combo Dogs: The Doodle Phenomenon

By Leslie Brown

Doodle dogs are a combination of two (or sometimes more) types of breeds, typically a Labrador or Golden Retriever bred with a Poodle. The resulting dog has the hair of a Poodle, which is thought to be non-allergic, and because it is more like human hair than fur, it doesn’t shed as much. The retriever part of the combo dog offers the strength and personality of the Labrador or Golden Retriever. But “combo” dogs don’t stop there--there are all sorts of combinations of dogs, bred for specific qualities.

Recently, the American Kennel Club disclosed their annual ranking of dog breed popularity, based on the number of registrations with the AKC. The Labrador Retriever topped the list, with the lovable Golden Retriever in fourth place. Because of the Labrador and Golden Retriever popularity, breeders have looked to combine them with other breeds that might offer some contrasting qualities.

You can find these mixes for sale over the internet, as well as from listings for home-based breeders. The price for these various combinations of dog breeds range from $200 from a newspaper ad, for example, to a breeder-based high of $3,000. This high end is usually the standard Labradoodle or Goldendoodle, the combination of Labrador and Poodle or a Golden Retriever and Poodle. Also at the high end is a combination of the Maltese and Yorkie breeds. At the low end are Jack Russell and Poodle mixes. Along with a combination of qualities, these dogs have fancy “combo” names, such as the “Malti-poo.”

Some believe that a Labradoodle should be a straight cross between a Lab and a Poodle, while others think that there should be more Poodle in the combination, and they breed the puppies with a Poodle to get a three-to-one cross, making available a dog that sheds less. A direct Lab-Poodle cross will still shed, although much less than a Lab. The more Poodle in the mix, the less shedding there is in the offspring, which was the reason the “doodle” dogs were bred in the first place.
Allergies are another reason these dogs are bred together, although it has been proved that dog hair is more of a minor cause of allergic reactions in humans. The more common reason for allergies is dander, which comes in tiny flakes from the outer layer of a dog’s skin. While Poodles shed, along with the dander, only about every 21 days, other dogs shed about every 3 to 4 days. For those who are truly allergic to dogs, and think the cross is the answer to their ills, the Poodle Schnauzer cross (the “Schnoodle”) seems to be the best bet. Both breeds are known to produce less dander.

Today, those who breed the Labradoodle want to see it recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, this can only happen if there are generations of the same style of breed and the puppies in each litter actually look alike. While the doodles have been around for about 10 or 15 years, it will take many more years for the various combinations to be recognized as a standard breed. As it stands now, in a “doddle” litter, none of the puppies will look like their parents or like each other. Typically, their hair will be anywhere from long and wavy to short and curly.

There seems to be no end to the combinations that breeders will try in order to produce something desirable. For example, the miniature Goldendoodle involves a male miniature poodle and a female Golden Retriever.

Of the combination dogs, Goldendoodles are the most loved and adored--and the most popular. They are highly intelligent, have a fine sense of hearing and smell, and are usually quite attached to their families. Goldendoodles can even take care of their invalid or handicapped family members, if properly trained. Some owners train their Goldendoodle dogs to be therapy dogs, assist dogs, rescue dogs, or narcotic dogs. However, they are not the best guard dog due to their extreme friendliness. Training the Goldendoodle in an obedience class can help with some discipline issues and enhance their positive natural tendencies.

Goldendoodles have not been around long enough to have a lot of facts written about them. In about 1997, the “Goldendoodle” was initally bred and recognized. The hybrid was first created by Australians who were looking for a low shedding, low dander assist dog for those who had allergies. There are only three coat types for the Goldendoodle dog: shaggy, curly, and smooth. Since 1999, the Goldendoodle hybrid has gone through about 10 to 15 different coat changes. The shaggy coat and smooth coat Goldendoodle have the best temperaments of all three coat types. The curly coat Goldendoodle tends to pick up some of the quirky traits of the Poodle.

Shaggy and curly coated Goldendoodles have the most grooming needs. The Goldendoodle will lose a strand or two of hair, but not a bunch of hair or clumps of hair. Unlike a dog with a double coat, the Goldendoodle dog has a single coat and sheds very little, however this “combo” breed does indeed shed and requires care just like any other long-haired dog. As the Goldendoodle dog changes from a puppy to an adult, his coat changes. Most of the shedding occurs during this time, and when the dog turns one-year old, the shedding will cease somewhat.

Goldendoodles do not learn well with negative training, and positive reinforcement works best for training them. They are typically not independent dogs, and can become lonely if left for long periods of time without human companionship. Goldendoodles who come from a first generation breeding seem to be the hardiest of dogs. Just as the Poodle is the longest lived dog of all dogs, Goldendoodles can be a long-lived dog under the best circumstances.

Each purebred dog was originally created with a particular purpose. For example, the Poodle was used for retrieving, swimming, and just being a good companion. Depending on the history and lineage of the Goldendoodle, he can have a wonderful combination of traits that would be suited for multiple tasks or would simply just make a wonderful pet.

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