Doodle Dogs For Dummies

Fall in love with a Doodle Dog! This guide tells you everything you need to know about this popular cross-breed.

With their cute names and curly coats, Doodles have become popular pets. And why not? They’re more than just cute—they’re generally affectionate, playful, and highly trainable dogs. They also don’t shed much, so they’ll ideal for people with pet allergies. In other words, a perfect family companion!

If you don’t know exactly what a Doodle is, they’re a cross breed of a poodle with another kind of dog; think Labradoodles (Labrador and poodle), Aussiedoodles (Australian shepherd and poodle), Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever and poodle), or Sheepadoodles (English Sheepdog and poodle). You get the idea. The possibilities are endless and no matter the crossbreed, they all live in the cuteness zone.

If you don’t want to resist—and who can?—Doodle Dogs For Dummies is the ultimate guide on all things Doodles. You’ll find helpful information within its pages whether you’re just considering a Doodle, or you’ve already brought one home.

• Learn how to identify breeds
• Find the Doodle that's best for your family
• Pick a breeder or go the animal shelter route
• Keep your Doodle looking their best with proper grooming
• Acclimate your Doodle to your home, including to other pets
• Get expert tips on training and healthy treats for your Doodle

From long walks on sunny days to cuddling on the couch, you have a lot of quality time to look forward to with your furry best friend. And Doodle Dogs For Dummies will ensure that your Doodle is happy and healthy for their lifetime.

Miriam Fields-Babineau has been a professional animal trainer since 1978 and an animal writer since 1986. She has authored 47 books, including Mixed Breeds For Dummies and Training Mixed Breed Dogs. She is Human Mom to 6 animals. Although only one is a dog, the three horses and two cats think they are, too.

Introduction 1

About This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 4

Part 1: From Poodle to Doodle 5

Chapter 1: Meet the Doodle 7

Doodle Sizes 7

Toy-size Doodles 9

Miniature-size Doodles 10

Standard-size Doodles 11

Doodle Personalities 12

Super-sensitive 12

Very intuitive 14

Hyperactive 15

Doodle Health 15

Life span 15

Potential health issues 16

Doodle Training 17

Puppies: Up to 4 months old 17

Adolescents: 4 to 8 months old 17

Adults: Over 8 months old 18

Chapter 2: The Amazing Poodle 19

Meet the Poodle 20

Big, Small, Poodles Have It All 23

Poodle Personalities 23

Common Health Concerns 24

Chapter 3: Considering Your Doodle Options 25

Considering Your Lifestyle 26

Doodle Commonalities 28

Grooming requirements 28

Early socialization requirements 28

Behavioral quirks 28

Trainability 28

Dietary requirements 29

Exercise requirements 29

Separation anxiety 29

Meet the Doodles 29

Aussiedoodle 30

Bernedoodle 32

Cavadoodle (Cavapoo) 34

Chidoodle (Chipoo) 36

Cockapoo 38

Goldendoodle 40

Havadoodle 42

Jackadoodle (Jackapoo) 44

Labradoodle 46

Maltipoo 48

Pekapoo 50

Pomapoo 52

Pugadoodle (Pugapoo) 54

Pyredoodle 56

Sheepadoodle 58

Shihdoodle (Shihpoo) 60

Sproodle 62

Whoodle (Wheatenpoo) 64

Yorkipoo (Yorkidoodle) 66

Part 2: Your Very Own Doodle 69

Chapter 4: Pick a Doodle 71

Finding Your Doodle 71

Searching the web 71

Doodle owners 72

Groomers 72

Identifying a Reputable Breeder 73

Looking at the different kinds of breeders 73

Asking the right questions 76

Visiting a breeder 77

Getting health clearances 78

Reading the puppy purchase contract 81

Temperament Testing a Doodle 82

Be gentle: Testing for touch sensitivity 82

What’s that? Testing for movement and object sensitivity 84

Who’s the boss? Testing for confidence or passivity 86

I’ll get that! Testing for possessiveness and retrieval ability 89

Follow the leader: Testing for social skills 91

Chapter 5: Doodle on the Way 93

Before Doodle Day: What to Know Before Bringing Your Dog Home 93

Financial considerations 94

Time considerations 95

Space considerations 97

Puppy-Proofing Your Home 97

Removing chewing hazards 98

Protecting your furniture 99

Safety first 101

Setting Up Sleeping and Eating Areas 102

The crate: Your dog’s first place to sleep 103

Thinking outside the box: Letting your dog sleep outside a crate 103

Buying bedding 104

Giving your dog a place to eat 104

Stocking Up on Supplies 105

Collars, harnesses, and leashes 105

Dishes and bowls 105

Toys 106

Chapter 6: It’s Doodle Day: Picking Up Your New Puppy 109

Travel Considerations 110

Flying with your puppy 110

Traveling by car 112

Poop, Pee, Eat, Sleep, Repeat: Setting Up a Feeding and Potty Schedule 113

Giving Your Puppy the Guided Tour 114

Showing your pup around 114

Greeting the family 115

Meeting other pets 116

Taking your Doodle out to do their business 119

Helping Your Doodle through the First-Night Blues 120

Planning Activities to Keep Your Doodle Entertained 121

It Takes a Village: Making Sure the Whole Family is Onboard 122

Feeding times 122

Potty breaks 123

Training and exercise routines 123

Chapter 7: Doodle Care 125

Giving Your Doodle the Nutrition They Need 125

The basics of nutrition 126

Types of dog food 127

Going to the Veterinarian 131

Choosing a veterinarian 131

Spaying or neutering 134

Going for regular checkups and vaccinations 135

Controlling parasites 138

Recognizing and Addressing Health Issues 139

Itches, bumps and spots: Skin disorders 139

Food allergies 140

Finicky or piggy: Eating disorders 140

Born with it or accidental: Skeletal issues 141

Common food sensitivities 142

Itches, bumps and spots: Skin disorders 143

Offering First-Aid to Your Doodle 144

Assembling your canine first-aid kit 145

Knowing what to do in an emergency 146

Nature’s Way: Exploring Natural Foods and Supplements 153

Vitamins 153

Herbs 154

Oils 154

Chapter 8: The Dapper Doodle 157

The Better to Hear You With: Cleaning Your Doodle’s Ears 157

Mani-Pedi Time: Trimming Your Doodle’s Nails 159

Say Cheese!: Keeping Your Doodle’s Teeth Healthy 161

Lookin’ Good: Coat Maintenance 163

Professional Doodle Grooming 165

Doodle cuts 166

Which cut is right for your dog 170

Preparing for grooming 170

Part 3: Doodle Training 173

Chapter 9: Doodle Rules and Regulations 175

Setting the Rules 175

Being Consistent, Praising Frequently, and Exercising Patience 176

Being Observant and Harnessing Good Behavior 177

Facilitating good behavior 178

Capturing behavior 179

Shaping behavior 180

Housetraining Your Puppy 181

Crate training 181

Finding the right outdoor relief area 183

Observing and directing your pup’s behavior 184

Training your Doodle to potty on cue 184

For whom the bell tolls: Training your Doodle to tell you when they have to go 186

Chapter 10: Basic Doodle Lessons 187

Buying and Using the Right Training Equipment 187

Targeting and Marking 192

Teaching Your Doodle the Basic Cues 195

Sit 195

Come 196

Heel 198

Down 202

Stay 204

Finish 208

Stand 214

Chapter 11: Advanced Doodle Lessons 217

Increasing the Duration and Distance of Stays and Recalls 217

Increasing the distance during stays 218

Getting your dog to come from a stay 221

Walking at Heel without a Leash 224

Phase 1: Dragging the leash 224

Phase 2: Using a pull-tab leash 225

Distraction-Proofing Your Doodle 226

Toys 228

Children 229

Dogs 231

Other animals 233

Enhancing Focus by Capturing Offered Behavior 234

Capturing heeling off lead 234

Voluntary stays 235

Putting on the Finishing Touches: AKC Rally 236

Puppy Playground: Doodle Agility Fun 238

Chapter 12: Doodle Don’ts 241

Four on the Floor: Stopping Jumping Up 242

Understanding why dogs jump 243

Keeping your Doodle’s feet on the ground 243

Curing the insistent jumper 244

I’m Not Your Supper: Stopping Mouthing 247

Understanding why dogs nip and mouth 247

Preventing the problem 247

Curing the problem 248

Chew on This, Not That 248

Understanding why dogs chew 249

Solving the problem 250

Oh, the Noise! Getting Your Doodle to Stop Barking 253

Keeping your Doodle occupied while you’re gone 254

Helping your Doodle to be confident on their own 255

Stopping barking on cue 256

All Mine: Teaching Your Doodle to Share 256

Surf’s Up! Stopping Counter-Surfing 257

Part 4: Doodles with a Purpose 259

Chapter 13: Doodles as Assistance Dogs 261

The Better to Hear You With: Hearing Dogs 262

Assistance Doodles 263

Emotional Support Dogs 264

Chapter 14: Doodle Sports 267

Participating in Formal Competitions 267

Looking at the different kinds of competitions 268

Preparing for your event 275

Hunting with Your Doodle 277

Having Down-Home Fun with Your Doodle 278

Part 5: Senior Doodles 281

Chapter 15: Recognizing the Changing Needs of Aging Doodles 283

Physical Changes 285

Worsening allergies 285

Bad breath 285

Lumps and bumps 286

Weight gain 286

Incontinence 286

Aches and pains: Changes in your Doodle’s joints 286

Blindness and deafness 287

Mental Changes 288

Chapter 16: Enhancing the Life of Your Aging Doodle 291

Move It or Lose It: Keeping Your Senior Doodle Active 291

Walking not running 292

Keeping the games light 292

Feeding Your Senior Doodle 293

Understanding how your dog’s needs have changed 293

Feeding more often to aid digestion 294

Old Dog, New Tricks: Training Your Senior Doodle 295

Exercises for the body 295

Exercises for the mind 296

Chapter 17: Double Doodle: Adding a Second Dog to Your Family 299

Looking at Common Reasons to Get a Second Dog 300

To give your current dog a companion 301

To prevent separation anxiety 301

To Doodle or Not to Doodle: That is the Question 302

Knowing What to Look for in a Sibling 303

Helping the New Duo Get Along 304

Setting up a positive initial meeting 304

Acclimating to a new life 305

Preventing resource guarding 307

Working with the dogs in tandem 308

Part 6: The Part of Tens 319

Chapter 18: Ten Reasons to Get Your Doodle from a Reputable Breeder 321

They Know What They’re Producing 322

They Provide Health Certifications 322

They Let You Meet the Parents 322

They Care Who Buys Their Puppies 323

They Offer Health Guarantees 323

They’ll Take Your Dog Back if You Can’t Keep Them 323

They Can Help You Pick the Right Puppy 324

They Provide Proof of Vaccinations 324

They Can Give You All Kinds of Guidance after You’ve Taken Your Pup Home 324

They Care about the Puppies They Produce 324

Chapter 19: Ten Reasons to Share Your Life with a Doodle 325

Doodles Are Adorable 325

Doodles Are Extremely Intelligent 325

Doodles Are Easy to Train 326

Doodles May Not Shed as Much as Some Other Breeds 326

Doodles Love People 326

Doodles Love Other Dogs 327

Doodles Are Very Sensitive 327

Doodles Are Entertaining 327

Doodles Come in All Sizes 327

Doodles Fit in Any Climate 328

Index 329

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