[cindyareed]

Hello,

I recently placed a deposit on a 3 week old goldendoodle pup. I just found out that the dad (standard poodle) is AKC registered and the mom (golden retriever) is APRI registered. Should I be concerned? I've read several posts about APRI registered dogs, and am still so confused as to whether or not it really does matter. We are simply wanting to have a puppy come join our lives as a family pet, and lifelong family member. We aren't interested in breeding or showing this dog. (We are mainly interested in the breed.) Anyway...I just thought I'd throw this out there and see what kind of advice or suggestions I may get. Some have said to "run" and others seem to say it shoudn't matter. Help!

Thanks!

 

[anndi39]

I have a goldendoodle and am absolutely thrilled with everything about him...
Woa, did you read the next post below? It's all about the APRI. It looks like its not a very reputable registry. Our doodle comes from AKC registered parents, that have undergone all of the testing that is so important. You would want hip testing, von wilabrand testing, eye testing, and heart testing at the very minimum done on both parents. I guess I would be leary after reading about the APRI....I get a feeling that people just register their dogs thru there since they can't be AKC registered but it sounds good to have some sort of registry.
A goldendoodle obviously is a mixed breed so you could never AKC register your puppy though.

 

[LeRoymydog]

Attacked? We don't attack, just nip sometimes. The thing with Goldendoodle is it's not a "breed"- it's a mutt. I'm soo glad that you're just planning on keeping him for a pet. Kudos to you!!!!


I'm not sure what APRI means, so sorry about that. I just wanna say the mixes sure make great pets and "Goldendoodles" are very cute. I've seen quite a few and they all look pretty different.

 

[anndi39]

your right, maybe nipping is a better word for it I actually edited that post but you replied before I could finish..

 

[Snowshoe]

Please take the post below as constructive criticism.

First off, a golden doodle isn't a breed. A breed is a dog that can breed true for several generations. A golden doodle is a mutt.

Secondly, APRI is a puppy mill/back yard breeder registry. Buyer beware.

Thirdly, you're right, you can't show your dog, and you should not breed it, ever.

Please consider a rescue dog or a pound puppy. Basically, you'll be paying the designer price tag for a common mutt. If you're ok with that, then so be it. I would not be, as a potential puppy buyer.

If you're dead set on buying from this breeder, make sure they test OFA, CERF, Von Williebrands, epilepsie, etc.

If they don't, you're getting your dog from a back yard breeder. If you don't know what I just said to you, then you have more research to do.

 

[Shalva]

you are spending alot of money on a mutt.... and there is a question amongst breeders and dog people about whether anyone deliberately breeding mixed breed dogs could EVER be considered responsible.....

I have not met any goldendoodles that I have found to be nice family pets.... all that I have met have been high energy difficult to train whacky dogs.... they do not get the best from the mother and father.

APRI is a made up registry that will register any dog.... it was designed because nobody else will register these mixes.... and is not a sign of quality... but then again neither is AKC registration....

as far as health the issue is that generally when dealing with mixes the parents are generally not good quality dogs as no reputable breeder will sell a dog to someone they know is going to breed mixes ... thus the quality of the parents of these dogs is usually questionable.....

so look for health clearances..... and keep in mind that there is no health clearance for epilepsy as of this time.... while the genetic marker has been isolated there is no clearance for that....

however, you should have hip, eyes, elbow and heart clearances for goldens and that would be true for this mixed breed as they can inherit all of the golden health problems and all of the poodle health problems I am not sure what clearances poodles need.

and don't believe the low shedding hypoallergenic stuff.... its not true.....
S

 

[Ginny01OT]

In speaking with a reputable standard poodle breeder the problem with "goldendoodles" besides the name is that Golden Retrievers have health issues specific to their breed as do standard poodles--a goldendoodle will be susceptible to the health issues of both a standard and retriever so you are getting double the risk of something popping up.

 

[lovemygreys]

You are buying a mutt...what's the BFD whether one or both parents is registered with the AKC, APRI, or the CFA (that's a cat registry...but just as relevant ).

 

[anndi39]

I have not met any goldendoodles that I have found to be nice family pets.... all that I have met have been high energy difficult to train whacky dogs.... they do not get the best from the mother and father.


and don't believe the low shedding hypoallergenic stuff.... its not true.....
S

Are you sure you have enough first hand experience to make those claims? I actually own a goldendoodle, as does my best friend...and we are both members of a doodle forum, as well as a doodle club in a city of 4 million. We have tons of interaction with tons of goldendoodles and their owners and as of yet, I can honestly say I have never met an owner that is disappointed. In fact, the main topic of conversation is how incredibly easy they are to train and how gentle and sweet they are.... and to top if off, how little, if any they shed.... I know its a hot topic... I know that people who breed pure bred dogs and people who run shelters are sure its the dog from hell...but I can attest, that indeed they are wonderful.
I own a pure bred standard poodle, and a goldendoodle. I have owned standard poodles all my 40 years of life and think they are awesome, easy to train and incredibly intelligent, but I can say that my goldendoodle is equally as wonderful as my poodle...and a whole lot easier to groom. My doodle is a gentle boy that shepherds the cats, even letting them nurse on his fur, he lets the children in my home do anything with never a growl, he potty trained by 3 months old, he was never a "high energy difficult to train whacky dog". And the hundreds of doodle owners in my club and forum will be happy to back that up. Feel free to message me or email me.

 

[Snowshoe]

Anndi, I think you're missing the point.

No one is contesting that they are good pets. All dogs are good pets. All breeds are different. That's why there are 1000000000 types of dogs.

BTW, random, do you know what a Portuguese water dog is? They're very similar in looks to a "doodle" and yet they're a pure bred dog. Very handsome dogs, too! Very trainable! Non-shedding. Hypoallergenic.

If I wanted a dog that looked like a doodle, I'd go with one of those guys.

However, did your breeder test for Von Willebrands? What about epilepsie? What about PHPT (common in goldens)? What about hip displasia? And cataracs?

If you paid 1000 for your dog, don't you think your breeder SHOULD be testing for those things?

I know that if I were going to spend that much on a dog (especially a mixed breed) that the breeder d*mn well better test for those things, and provide me proof of each test and what the tests found.

Plus, from my experience, if a person cares enough about their personal breed of choice to show and otherwise title, they're not going to use that dog to breed common mutts.

So, they dogs they use for breeding aren't quality. So, what is that 1000 for? Where does it go?

That's what I would want to know.

At least if you adopt, you know where your money goes. Maybe I'm a different type of consumer then most people, I don't know.

 

[anndi39]

Yup Yup Yup and Yup, my breeder did test for ALL those things...and my breeder owns and shows both standard poodles and golden retrievers...The parents of my goldendoodle have both finished their championships....

 

[Snowshoe]

Oh really? Because the PHPT test is still in its infancy. If she told you she tested for that specifically, I'd be wary.

If she really does do all of those things, then I'm glad you got a dog from her. That's pretty much my only argument with them.

It just gets on my nerves when people ask what their doodle puppy will look like full grown, or how it will act, or whatever. I'm like, "It's a mutt. It will behave and look like a mutt" LOL!

MOst doodle breeders are super shady.

BTW- what purpose does your doodle fulfill that another kind can't? Did you look into the Portuguese water dog, for example?

I'm just trying to figure out what people see in them. All of the ones I've been around at our all breed training club have been similar to Shalva's experiences.

They are not laid back, and they are practically untrainable.

 

[Ginny01OT]

To say a goldendoodle is comparable to a standard poodle is just not right, for shame. I have seen many goldendoodles that became rescues because the original owner didn't get what they thought they were getting and sent them off to the animal shelter.

 

[anndi39]

Ok, I should be more specific.. sorry. My breeder tested and gave me copies of all the test results for Hip displasia, cataracts, Von Willebrands, heart, and PHPT. PHPT is a test for hyperparathyroidism...I wasn't aware that the testing is still in its infancy...she didn't say that, but anyway I appreciate that she tests for it. It is most common in Keeshonden...but also common in Golden Retrievers. Epilepsie...I don't think you can get health clearance on yet....

I really appreciate your willingness to talk civily about the doodle...I usually find that people only attack and never respond to my defenses... thank you!

As far as your question on why I felt I needed the doodle... I can only say this. I have had standard poodles all my life. After years of tight tight curls, I wanted to have a large dog with loose soft waves..and still the chance of non-shed. ( I know there is no guarantee) I chose a doodle...it fit the bill. I like portuguese water dogs...but they are smaller and still very curly. I like the wheaten terrier look, but not neccessarily the terrier personality... I really like large dogs which removes all the little soft wavy haired dogs from the list of possibilities...and I finally began research on goldendoodles.. lots and lots of research. I think from the time I heard of them, I waited 2 years before I actually started looking for a breeder. Then it took almost a year before I found one that I approved of. I love Toby. I only wish they were a real breed so I didn't always have to defend my love for him. Oh well thanks again for a real conversation about goldendoodles, I appreciate it tons!

 

[anndi39]

Ginny, I own both of them... I think I can compare them quite safely. I do adore my standard poodle, he is amazing... but my goldendoodle is easily as nice and he is easier to groom. Yes I know he is a mutt, but no there is no shame in comparing my own two dogs. Please be specific about the "many" goldendoodles you know that are in shelters. Im still looking for real stories of real people and real doodles that people sent off to shelters. I'm guessing they would be goldendoodles that were bought from any back yard breeder with no testing done.... which can certainly happen to any dog at all, even a pure bred one.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

Yup Yup Yup and Yup, my breeder did test for ALL those things...and my breeder owns and shows both standard poodles and golden retrievers...The parents of my goldendoodle have both finished their championships....

What I would look for in a breeder is very strict. Probably more strict than most. Your breeder may have done all the testing, and set up these dogs for a wonderful life. However, your breeder's ethics are still in question. If the AKC were to find out that your breeder was breeding mixes, he or she would be disciplined. To me, it's a red flag that a breeder would violate the AKC's rules of conduct, and I personally would have avoided them. You may have your personal reasons to choose a dog based on a superficial qualitity like coat texture, but IMO finidng the best breeder possible is paramount to personal choice. I always like to recommend to people to find 3 breeds they have studied to fit their needs, and to find 2 or 3 of the best breeder within those three breeds, irregardless of the specific breed, and to choose the breeder they are most comfortable with. That's how important I believe finding a good breeder is to the dog, it's breed, and you.

Great dogs come from all places, shapes, and sizes, but if you're going to spend your hard earned money on a dog, reward those that are doing their best to follow all the rules as we know them. No offense to you or your doodle, but he or she wouldn't have been considered in my search.

 

[Ginny01OT]

I met two people at the dog park that got their goldendoodles from animal shelters and another at my sisters block party who also got their dog from a shelter as the owners didn't want to deal with them any more. They did seem a little more hyper--we both know poodles can by a little hyper but this was above and beyond. If you are comparing the grooming between a standard poodle and a goldendoodle then I can accept that....

 

[anndi39]

curbside....Of course that theory doesn't really take into account that you are going to spend many years with the pet.... and if thats a fact....then finding one that meets your personal taste is pretty important. Coat texture wasn't my only consideration... read my post. If coat texture was the only consideration a wheaten terrier would have fit the bill.

 

[Laurelin]

Anndi, I have a few questions, please don't take these the wrong way, I'm genuinely curious.

I've looked and looked at doodle breeders nad never seen one that health tests or is remotely responsible looking except for a single labradoodle breeder that bred dogs imported from Australia for a guide dog program. So naturally my thought was that all doodle breeders were indeed as everyone has said back yard breeders. Of course many purebred breeders are the same way, but you can at least find the ones that are not.

So if you have proof otherwise, I would love to see it. (As I'm sure others would as well) Does this breeder have a website? I'm also curious as to why she'd begin crossing the breeds in the first place. Is she a member of her breed's clubs, because I'm pretty sure the poodle breed club forbids the production of designer dogs. I know our breed club forbids it. I'm just curious because the people involved in showing are generally highly protective of preserving their breed and improving it.

 

[anndi39]

Ginny, so coming from a shelter...we still do not know how these were bred. Im just saying this can happen to any poorly bred dog, even a pure bred dog. Even a standard poodle...

I must have been lucky...my standard poodles haven't been hyper... my Dante likes a good play, but he is content to lounge on the couch as well. my doodle pretty much has the exact same personality...