Help me find a Non Shedding or Low Shedding Dog

Snowshoe

Retired greyhounds, I've always heard, are great dogs. Once I get Orchid titled properly, then I'd consider adopting one.

I met one at PetSmart the other day. He was SO CUTE! Just a large, and very gentle dog.

In fact, my boyfriend wanted a lab (sorry lab lovers, I talked him out of it) and I'm trying to steer him towards a retired greyhound, if he chooses to get a dog.

As for the whole doodle thing- personally, I'd stay away. Yeah, originally they were bred to be hypoallergenic guide dogs, but that's ONLY in Australia. Now, they're just byb fodder.

Since no one can show a doodle, the only purpose they serve is to make money for their breeders. Plus, it's nearly impossible to find a breeder who breeds mutts, and also does health testing.

And, should you find a breeder who does those things, you'll be paying over $1000 for a straight up mutt, who will be hyper (as most dogs are) and may end up shedding like crazy.

Anyway, I just wanted to put in a few encouraging words for your thoughts on a retired greyhound.

I mean...look at ilovemygrey's avatar...how could you NOT love that face?

anndi39

F1B doodles have a very low incidence of shedding...of course this is 75% poodle and 25% retriever so you mostly have a poodle. Even so, I love mine and would recommend the breeder I got it from also. No they aren't a breed, and yes, people make money off of them, but I wish people would give a little grace to us doodle owners who love our mixed breed dog. People tend to try and shame us into thinking we are evil doodle owners. And yes, our breeder does do testing on all her dogs...there are people who are good people who breed doodles.

I also have a standard poodle...and love him as well. There is no shame in owning a poodle. He is very athletic and sporting, and there are haircuts they can have that don't look poodle at all.

Snowshoe

In regards to random doodle genetics- your post illustrates why these dogs will probably never be recognized by any credible kennel club. I mean, even in the "serious" breeding community there are different ideas about what constitutes a doodle- is it 25% lab, is it 50% lab, or should it be mostly poodle- what about the coloring, the size, the texture of coat, etc.

Even when as the above poster said, the dog is 70+ percent poodle, it still could shed.

So basically, you're paying over $1000 for a dog between 30 and 70 lbs, that could shed, may not shed, could have long hair, could have short hair, could have curly hair, could have straight hair, could be white, cream, black, red, or brown...

sounds like you'd get the same thing from going to the humane society and paying $100 to rescue a dog that would other wise be put to sleep.

But, that's just the part about the doodle/ designer dog fad that confuses me.

Also, someone could be a really great person, and still not have great breeding practices. The judgment call was not on anyone's character. The least a breeder should do is CERF/ OFA/ Pennhip and Pennheart testing on their breeding stock.

My post was not meant to insult, I simply posted the facts as I have seen them as is my perogative on a community forum.

anndi39

Is there anyone here that does NOT like their golden retriever/poodle mix? I would be really interested in hearing them speak.... yes, they are a mutt, Im not in denial. It's a mutt I really love, and I easily love him as much as I love my pure bred standard poodle....

Snowshoe

IMO, "liking" a dog does not make it worthy breeding stock.

However, I'm glad you love your pup.

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RonE

I think we need to cut the doodle-owners a little slack.

I suspect that Esther is the product of a breeder in Wisconsin who is cranking out Plott hound mixes and selling them to anyone who has $40. A lot of these dogs end up in shelters because people have no idea what they're getting into.

The breeder might be disreputable (okay, this one most definitely is) but, regardless of her origin, this is a great dog and I'm glad we found her.

Criticise the breeder, but acknowledge that the owners love their doodles just as much as the rest of us here love our purebreds and shelter mutts.

Snowshoe

Yup. I do agree.

lovemygreys

I don't think anyone has accused oodle/poo owners of not loving their dogs. I would hope whether you spend $10 or $1000+ on a pet, that you love and care for it properly. But that still doesn't negate the other arguments put forth that these dogs have no guarantees or predictablity as to temperament, health, size, etc.....If someone is looking to purchase a puppy that will grow to be a dog with X, Y, Z qualities, the designer mutts are not the best route to go.

As for judging someone who chooses to purchase an expensive mutt from a breeder who is ONLY contributing to pet overpopulation for personal financial gain vs saving a life...well...I imagine if I did all breed rescue and spent my time/money/heart rescuing mutts who have been dumped, I'd probably have a hard time not judging someone who jumped on the fad bandwaggon to get a doodle or a poo when so many of those same dogs are dying in shelters. I don't understand the mentality that shelter dogs aren't "good enough" for someone who wants a mutt to begin with!

anndi39

if I could have gotten a golden retriever/poodle mix at a shelter I would have been more than happy to have gotten it....i made my rounds to every shelter in my area and the Phoenix metro area, and what i found was pit bulls by the dozens and dogs with short course hair that fell out in bushels. That doesn't mean those dogs don't deserve homes, Im just saying that for a person who is looking for a doodle type dog....well, I couldn't find any rescues like that in a city of 4 million.

Anyway...to each their own I guess. Im happy that atleast one here agrees that I should be able to own mine without people trying to shame me into hiding.

blackrose

It isn't the owner of the Goldendoodle we are mad at, persay. I have to mutts, and I love them too. I think what irks us to no end is when a person who has a mutt gives it a fancy name (why can't I call my mutts by a fancy name? Because they didn't come with a price tag? I can't I call them a Rottador [maybe...he may be pure. We aren't sure] or a Gerban Rottle Dog?) and then they promot buying mutts from a breeder. So it isn't just the 'Doodle owners we would jump on the case of...if someone was breeding Cattle Dog/GSD mixes, a person bought one, and then they were promoting the breeder that bred them, we'd be just as mad. Nothing personal.

anndi39

So....if I lied and said I got it from a rescue everyone would love me....thats the part I don't get....if I couldn't find one at a rescue...and I really wanted one....then y the heck....can't I have one? And if people like me also want one...y can't someone breed them so we can have one? I don't need or even have a desire to give them a fancy name.... Im perfectly willing to call them a golden retriever/poodle mix. Im not disillussioned into thinking they are a new breed. Its a mix I like. I like that his coat doesn't shed, but it isn't as tightly curled as my poodle. I like that he is obedient and extremely intelligent...I love his retriever color...I love his big bear look. And he is loyal and loving, I dunno y I can't pay to have all that if there isn't a rescue around that does have it.

Snowshoe

I think that you are very lucky to have gotten a doodle that worked out so well for you.

About a month and a half ago we had two now 8 month old labradoodle puppies turn up in our shelter.

Suprised?

Here is why the woman got rid of them: she said that they shed all over her house, that they were too much for her to handle, and some other stupid reason.

We found out shortly after we got them, that one of the puppies had hip displasia. Currently, they are both being fostered.

When people buy these doodle, they're under the impression that they're getting a dog that won't shed (obviously, that's not what happened here) and that they'll be healthier then pure bred dogs.

Perhaps, like you said, if the dog is 75% poodle, then it probably won't shed. However, whether it's 20% poodle or 99%, it's still a "doodle." And people can still sell them as such, and most people who are looking for a "doodle" won't know the difference.

My point is that it sounds like you got really lucky.

Pinnacle

The more I learn about retired greyhounds, the better choice they appear to be for my family. Currently, I am reading the Dummies book, and I just received the other retired greyhounds book from Amazon yesterday. I have plenty of time still to read these books since we still are going to need to get a mini-van and a fence for the backyard before we get a dog.

My family and I went to see two greyhounds at a nearby PetSmart over the weekend. A local greyhound organization frequently takes them out to meet people.

http://www.afgwm.org/

threedognite

"As for judging someone who chooses to purchase an expensive mutt from a breeder who is ONLY contributing to pet overpopulation for personal financial gain vs saving a life...well...I imagine if I did all breed rescue and spent my time/money/heart rescuing mutts who have been dumped, I'd probably have a hard time not judging someone who jumped on the fad bandwaggon to get a doodle or a poo when so many of those same dogs are dying in shelters. I don't understand the mentality that shelter dogs aren't "good enough" for someone who wants a mutt to begin with!"

In response to this quote:
I have two dogs that were rescues and my doodle that I purchased from a breeder. Every dog I have ever owned (and I have had several) came from either shelters or rescues and none of these dogs were puppies, they were all adults. I know all too well about byb "jumping on the band wagon" to make a few bucks from these dogs and that's why I did a lot of research before I decided to buy a puppy. Every time the word "doodle" is mentioned, a flurry of negative comments usually follow. People need to remember that many of the pure breeds of today started out as mixes of two or more different breeds of dogs. I am in no way saying a doodle should be considered a pure breed nor am I saying a doodle should be recognized by the AKC.
The person asked about low shedding dogs. My Goldendoodle does not shed. That doesn't mean ALL doodles don't shed. I wouldn't care if she DID shed!!!
My other two dogs shed enough hair to 'build' a new dog!
I love the personality of my doodle and how easy she is to train. Yes, she gets into mischief, she is super curious about everything and bothers my other two dogs to death. She is also very clownish, loves to play, run and jump and apparently is a site to see in public because people stop and stare at her. They aren't quite sure what to make of her. They can't figure out what kind of dog she is and everyone wants to pet her soft hair.
Did I pay too much for her? Probably. I'm sure my German Shepherd's previous owners paid a tremendous amount for him when he was a puppy but he wound up in a rescue. Lucky for me.

o0starstruct0o

I might have to agree with Laurelin and suggest a Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier. They are a medium sized dog that sheds very little. Actually, they have "hair" rather than fur, making them good candidates for people who suffer from allergies. They're coat would be more similar to you losing a few hairs a day rather than shedding. With regular brushing to remove loose hairs, there shouldn't be a problem around the house. They are sweet-tempered dogs and get along with other dogs as long as you socialize them early (as with most dogs). From what I've researched, they are extremely intelligent and generally catch on to training quickly.

blackrose

Not to sound harsh or anything but....the reason you can't pay for all of that is this:

When you support a backyard breeder for your own selfish reasons (why can't I have this dog, that acts like this, that looks like this, and I want it NOW instead of waiting to purchase one responsibly) you are taking the life away from another dog and contributing to the pet over population problem.
People who want a dog that looks a certain way and acts a certain way should take the time to purchase their dog responsibly. We don't have a big deal that your dog is a doodle, a mix, many people have mixed breed dogs. I have two of them and I love them to death. What we have a problem with is that people are breeding mixed breed dogs irresponsibly and then people are purchasing these dogs irresponsibly. That is the main problem.

And since your doodle is a mix, that traits in him that you like is NOT going to be consistant with the next doodle dog. I have a Lab/Cattledog/GSD mix. Who wants to bet that the next Lab/Cattledog/GSD is going to look like Rose and act like Rose? Any takers? Anyone?

anndi39

""Not to sound harsh or anything but....the reason you can't pay for all of that is this:""


Funny thing is I did pay for all that! And I'm tickled pink with everything I paid for!


""When you support a backyard breeder for your own selfish reasons (why can't I have this dog, that acts like this, that looks like this, and I want it NOW instead of waiting to purchase one responsibly) you are taking the life away from another dog and contributing to the pet over population problem. ""

I have adopted dogs from shelters, and all my cats have come from shelters. I did look for a retriever/poodle mix in the shelters...they aren't there atleast in my area. I didn't take any lives from dogs in shelters by buying my retriever/poodle mix...lay the blame where it belongs...on the fool who impulsively bought those poor dogs without any research in the first place. I didn't say I want it NOW. I have researched for a year.... and what do ya know? Im 100% satisfied with my purchase.

lovemygreys

****wading through all the OFF TOPIC arguing****



That is AWESOME!!!!! I've never heard of that particular group, but they've got some greyt looking hounds! I have to say...Subway Ginny, JNJ Summer and Boc's Lilhemie all caught my eye....Of course, they are all great, so choosing just one is always really hard!

luv4gsds

Finally I made it through all these waisted post. For a minute I thought it was the good, the bad and the ugly.

Greyhounds are a good breed to own. When I was living in WV. (birth place) I helped out with a greyhound rescue for a while http://www.almost-heaven.org/home.htm but from the greyhounds I helped I found out that they didn't really know a whole lot like you think a dog would know. Considering they spend most of the time in kennels. They didn't know really how to play, they didn't know how to climb stairs, They didn't know any house manners, one didn't know what to think about the grass in my yard (he wouldn't step foot on it). And some of them had very high prey drive. Its best to look at greyhounds that have already went through the foster home process.

These are some books I recommend.
Care of the Racing Greyhound- by: Blythe, L., Gannon, J., Craig, A.M.
Playtraining Your Dog- by: Patricia Gail Burnham
Greyhounds Complete Pet Owner's Manuals- by: D. Caroline Coile Ph.D.
Adopting the Racing Greyhound- by: Cynthia A. Branigan
Living with a Greyhound- by: Cynthia A. Branigan

lovemygreys

Retiring from racing and moving into pet life is probably the most stressful time in a greyhounds life. They've been taken from the routine they know and, basically, been dropped on Mars as far as they're concerned.

Some greyhounds never play with toys. It's not that they don't know how...it's that just have no interest in them. Most others, once they learn all about being a pet instead of a professional athlete, will play with toys. We had 6 dogs in our kennel straight from the track and they were ALL nutso over the stuffies. For many greyhounds playing = running Its still playing (to them), just different than other breeds. One reason they love greyhound playgroup, but may not necessarily enjoy all-breed dog parks.

Since most of them have probably never been in a house, you do have to teach them what things like ceiling fans, stairs and sliding glass doors are. It's kinda like having a puppy for a few days. LOL The vast majority of them take to pet life in no time at all. They are smart dogs that learn quickly...I think the key to success is the proper home acclimation method to minimize stress and confusion for the dog. The Dummies book explains it pretty well...and I'm sure the adoption group will also have advice on the subject. For first time greyhound owners, a fostered hound is usually a great choice. Personally, for my first, I wanted to "whole expeience" of adopting a retired racer and wanted one as fresh from the track as possible. Turns out, with my first, there wasn't a whole lot of "work" to do...she was like: what's that? A TV, cool....What's that? A ceiling fan. cool...Stairs? Hmm...ok, I'll give it a whirl. LOL Very, very easy to home acclimate.

Care of the Racing Greyhound is not necessarily a great book for someone contemplating adopting a greyhound...the current version is written for trainers and racing owners and is pretty technical in terms of how to condition the dog and diagnose/treat injuries/illness. It IS a GREAT reference book to have once you've adopted a greyhound...I'd definitely want my vet to have a copy since there are a few peculiarities to the breed (i.e. blood values). There is a newer version: Care of the Racing and Retired Greyhound due out in a few months. If OP adopts a greyhound, I'd wait to buy the new, updated version.

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