Dogs have been bred over the centuries to carry out tasks and for companionship. In fact mankind has been living with dogs for some 14,000 years, using them as hunters, guards, soldiers, herders, guides for the blind, and pets. The friendly Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever and poodle breeds were bred to create a dog with a no-shed coat that was smaller in size; they were reduced in size more by producing a hybrid from a mini poodle, resulting in the miniature and petite Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. The minis weigh between to 35 pounds and the petites weigh between 12 to 18 pounds.
The retriever and poodle cross dubbed Labradoodles and Goldendoodles were first bred in 1989 by the Australian Guide Dog Association for Seeing Eye dogs that were also fairly hypoallergenic with no-shed or low-shed coats that would be comfortable for owners with allergies. Soon thereafter their reputation as healthy and low-maintenance pets spread to North America. The cute and friendly small dogs can live happily in confined spaces so apartment dwellers would do well to consider the miniature Goldendoodle and Labradoodle breeds when shopping for a pet. The petite Goldendoodles are even less complicated to care for with low food consumption and clean-up.
The coat types and shedding qualities of these hybrid classes has been formalized into a table by owners and breeders. Done in numbers, 1 to 6 is the "no shed" category, 7 to 15 is "very light shed", 26 to 35 is "moderate shed", and over 36 indicated "heavy shed". The coats come in flat, wavy, or curly. As for allergies, family members should check for sensitivity to dog dander, saliva, or urine before making a purchase. There are really no 100% hypo-allergenic dogs, but the Lab and Golden Doodles are very close. A method of testing the amount of shedding is to brush the dog thoroughly then the following day you would put your hand in water and shake off the excess. Then stroke the dog from neck to rump three times with your wet hand, using gentle pressure. Then see how many hairs have come off in your hand.
To test for aggression you can roll the pup on its back and gently stroke or scratch its belly. There will often be some struggling at first but as the puppy becomes accustomed to the petting and should relax and become calm. When you stop the stroking, the puppy should stay there for a short time before getting back upright and rushing off to play some more. If the puppy has picked up aggressive traits it will continue to struggle and won't get into a relaxed state.
Poodles and Golden Retrievers share a common feature: they come in a wide variety of colors. Poodles come in shades of dark brown, white, red, cream, and gold. Similarly, Golden Retrievers come in gold, copper, red, and light cream. Color and size depend on the parents; the size is primarily determined by the Poodle parent, and the smaller sizes would result from miniature Poodles rather than the standard sized. Whatever the size and color, these dogs are uniformly adorable, affectionate, and intelligent.
By: Patrick Boardman
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Choosing a Pet for Your Family--Mixed Breed or Purebred?
Trying to choose between a mixed breed and a purebred dog as your pet can be very difficult. Here is some information that may help you decide which would be best for you and your family.
Mixed Breed Dogs
Unfortunately, there is a huge selection of mixed breed dogs at your local animal shelter. You may be able to give a dog a good home and give him his only chance of being adopted. There are adult dogs, puppies, and older dogs in all sizes and variations of breeds. The advantage of a shelter dog is that they have already have been wormed, received their shots, have had a general health exam, and most shelters have already had the dog neutered. You can usually adopt one of these dogs for free to $100, depending on the shelter.
With some of the dogs that were left at the shelter by their owners, you may be able to get some information about the dog, such as their health history, temperament, and habits before you take it home. Some people may prefer an adult dog or older dog to avoid the puppy "chewing" stage, and many of these dogs are already house trained.
Many people like the individuality of a mixed breed, as they may be part shepherd and lab, and have some characteristics of both, which results in their own unique look and disposition. In each mixed breed dog there can be two or even more purebreds.
Purebred Dogs
The main reason for choosing a purebred dog is the expectation of specific characteristics of a certain breed. Most purebred dogs have certain attributes that some pet owners may be looking for. As an example, Border Collies are known for their herding skills, Labs are known to love the water and have a sociable nature.
In purebred dogs, their ancestors are members of the same breed, and usually conform to a specific breed standard, meaning you will have a good idea of their size and what general physical and behavioral characteristics they will have. They are generally very predictable in terms of what you can expect as they are growing up.
Many purebred dogs may cost from $200 to $1500, depending on the breed. Be sure to find a responsible breeder. Many puppies for sale in pet stores are obtained from inhumane puppy mills.
There are also dogs at the animal shelter that have been left because someone moved and could not take them, or they were unable to handle the responsibilities of owning a dog. Many shelters do have purebred dogs due to these reasons. Always check your local shelter before purchasing a purebred, because there may be a dog at the shelter that is the breed you are looking for, and they need a good, loving home.
In Conclusion
Some breeds of dogs, such as Labs, are prone to health problems such as hip dysphasia, but this can also be true in mixed breeds. Even though purebreds are bred to have certain characteristics, the dog you choose may not inherit these traits.
Both mixed breed and purebred dogs can have different health problems, different temperaments, and characteristics. It is recommended to take a trip to the animal shelter before choosing your new best friend to see what they have to offer.
By: Barb Mueller
Mixed Breed Dogs
Unfortunately, there is a huge selection of mixed breed dogs at your local animal shelter. You may be able to give a dog a good home and give him his only chance of being adopted. There are adult dogs, puppies, and older dogs in all sizes and variations of breeds. The advantage of a shelter dog is that they have already have been wormed, received their shots, have had a general health exam, and most shelters have already had the dog neutered. You can usually adopt one of these dogs for free to $100, depending on the shelter.
With some of the dogs that were left at the shelter by their owners, you may be able to get some information about the dog, such as their health history, temperament, and habits before you take it home. Some people may prefer an adult dog or older dog to avoid the puppy "chewing" stage, and many of these dogs are already house trained.
Many people like the individuality of a mixed breed, as they may be part shepherd and lab, and have some characteristics of both, which results in their own unique look and disposition. In each mixed breed dog there can be two or even more purebreds.
Purebred Dogs
The main reason for choosing a purebred dog is the expectation of specific characteristics of a certain breed. Most purebred dogs have certain attributes that some pet owners may be looking for. As an example, Border Collies are known for their herding skills, Labs are known to love the water and have a sociable nature.
In purebred dogs, their ancestors are members of the same breed, and usually conform to a specific breed standard, meaning you will have a good idea of their size and what general physical and behavioral characteristics they will have. They are generally very predictable in terms of what you can expect as they are growing up.
Many purebred dogs may cost from $200 to $1500, depending on the breed. Be sure to find a responsible breeder. Many puppies for sale in pet stores are obtained from inhumane puppy mills.
There are also dogs at the animal shelter that have been left because someone moved and could not take them, or they were unable to handle the responsibilities of owning a dog. Many shelters do have purebred dogs due to these reasons. Always check your local shelter before purchasing a purebred, because there may be a dog at the shelter that is the breed you are looking for, and they need a good, loving home.
In Conclusion
Some breeds of dogs, such as Labs, are prone to health problems such as hip dysphasia, but this can also be true in mixed breeds. Even though purebreds are bred to have certain characteristics, the dog you choose may not inherit these traits.
Both mixed breed and purebred dogs can have different health problems, different temperaments, and characteristics. It is recommended to take a trip to the animal shelter before choosing your new best friend to see what they have to offer.
By: Barb Mueller
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