Should I teach my Doodle pup to “go-potty” in just one area, or allow him to use the whole yard?
Well, as smart as these creatures are, Hanna clearly did not intuit the emotional tone of a private moment. No worries. This couple survived Hanna’s faux pas. The answer was yes, and they are now married.
Where in the World is Shedless in Seattle/Spokane Labradoodles?
Complicated answer! We began in 2005 in Sammamish WA. In 2016 we moved to Spokane WA / Coeur d’ Alene area, Nine Mile Falls. We had a stint on Vashon Island. Now we are strictly eastern WA, since my husband began a career at the most amazing Whitworth University…..we followed two of our children to college. Visit and pick up your pup in Nine Mile Falls, 45 minutes from downtown Spokane and the CDA/Spokane airport, or we can bring your puppy to you in the Seattle area at no charge. We will do a 60 minute new-owner orientation with you at either location. . We are 4.5 hours from Seattle, and one hour to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We are two hours from Sand Point, Idaho. I will prepare you with safe and low-stress puppy travel tips at pick-up or visits, including where to stop with your new pup and avoid Parvo Virus.
To kiss or not to kiss....this is the question
Caught in action. This Labradoodle Mama has an extraordinary tongue as her superpower. The endorphins are flowing! I just can’t help myself! I know all the stuff you read about germs making your immune system stronger, and I believe every bit of it. Still, an infection specialist may say that allowing your dog to kiss you on the mouth may not be the best when you think about the interesting dead critters they run across in the yard. Maybe a kiss on the cheek?
Where in the World is Shedless in Seattle/Spokane Labradoodles?
Complicated answer! We began in 2005 in Sammamish WA. In 2016 we moved to Spokane WA / Coeur d’ Alene area, Nine Mile Falls. We had a stint on Vashon Island. Now we are strictly eastern WA, since my husband began a career at the most amazing Whitworth University…..we followed two of our children to college. Visit and pick up your pup in Nine Mile Falls, 45 minutes from downtown Spokane and the CDA/Spokane airport. We are 4.5 hours from Seattle, and one hour to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We are two hours from Sand Point, Idaho. I will prepare you with safe and low-stress puppy travel tips at pick-up or visits, including where to stop with your new pup and avoid Parvo Virus.
Will this breed be AKC recognized?
There is discussion within the Doodle breeder community as to whether this is the best route for the health of the developing breed. Some believe it will cause breeders to focus more on aesthetic conformation than on breeding incredibly trainable, loving companion dogs. An unbalanced emphasis on aesthetic conformation neglects temperament. However, the recognition of AKC is important to many and is sought after by many in the Doodle community. There are currently several Labradoodle organizations in Australia and the U.S. which provide leadership to the developing breed.
Why are Labradoodles so expensive?
When you buy a Labradoodle puppy, you will find they are more than other popular breeds. Breeders purchasing breeder stock pay great sums for their dams and sires. Multi-Gen breeders testing for genetic problems stack up large bills to ensure the integrity of their breeding stock. For instance, a breeder testing for hip dysplasia may have invested at least $800 in testing for preliminary results and one-year results before a dam is bred for the first time. These tests further the genetic health of the breed, but the costs are passed on to the purchaser. Perhaps never before has technology offered such extensive screening for the genetic soundness of a developing breed, but it is not free.
Why do Multi-Generational Australian Labradoodle Puppies cost more than F1s and F1Bs?
The F1 is a delightful companion. It is however questionable in its non-shedding quality. The F1 may have a wispy-hair coat, which can be coarse to the touch. The Multi-Gen and F1B have shown higher reliability with the desired low- or non-shedding coat. They are also known to have a more desirable feel, particularly the soft fleece coat. The Multi-Gen Labradoodle is the coat which breeders purposefully breed toward for a pure Labradoodle. This is the dog which will be recognized by the AKC if that event should come to pass. The public has placed a great value and a high price tag on this quality. The Multi-Gen Australian breeder has invested significantly more money and generations (time) in breeding stock than the breeder of an F1. Time being money, the investment is passed to the purchaser.
I raise only Australian Multi-Generational Labradoodles, registered with the ALAA, with pedigrees and heath testing provided. I do not raise F1(Lab x poodle) or F2 or F1B crosses. My pups are all produced by breeding two Australian Labradoodles together. I currently raise only solid colored ALD’s., some with white markings. I do not raise other poodle cross pups such as Bernidoodles or Newfidoodles or Goldendoodles. I have raised Australian Labradoodles since 2005, and am the longest continuing breeder of ALD’s in WA state, who is registered with the ALAA. My pups come with a 3 year money back Warranty and a “I will take your dog back at any time for any reason” guarantee.
Can we visit your kennel?
Absolutely. We actually are not a kennel—just a family who has developed a passion for Labradoodles. Our dogs live in our home, and our upcoming breeding dogs live with friends in a guardian home setting. We are an active family with four children in our home, which makes scheduling frequent visitors or drop-ins tricky. Additionally, constant visitors to our dogs can put them at risk of contagious diseases picked up from other kennels. We do invite new owners to visit our home when they put down a deposit or when they pick up their new friend. If you have further questions, please let us know. We hope that by viewing the photos on our site, you will get a comfortable feeling about the home in which our dogs are raised. We thank you for your understanding and will provide you with as many references as you request.
How long have you bred Labradoodles?
Our first two litters were delivered in December 2005. We were initially intimidated by the depth of knowledge in the breeding community. We soon discovered that even the most experienced of the U.S. breeders have only been practicing for a few years. The breeding community has been very open and supportive, mentoring one another via forums. Using the internet, we are all a click away from others as well as the vast resources of veterinary reproductive science. The Australian Labradoodle Association of America has presented ongoing breeder continuing education since I began breeding using annual conferences called Breeder Roundtables. A big THANK YOU! to all of the officers of this organization and to Heather Hale, long term president, for her energy. Currently the ALAA also offers zoom training with Reproductive specialists, Veterinarians who are leaders in their fields of health testing, OFA officers, and other leaders in the field of breeding dogs for health and longevity. Good Dog, which ALAA is affiliated with, also offers ongoing education for both breeders and pet owners. I began breeding in 2005 in Sammamish, and many of my puppy owners were from Seattle area. In 2016 I began breeding in Nine Mile Falls, WA. This is in the Spokane and CDA, Idaho area, when my husband took a career opportunity at Whitworth University. For a few years we offered owners to pick up their pups in Vashon, WA, but now are strictly breeding Australian Multigen Labradoodles in Nine Mile Falls. We invite you to visit your pups at 6 to 7 weeks of age, and pick up your pup around 9 weeks of age at our home near Spokane.
When can my puppy start jogging with me?
When runners buy a Labradoodle puppy, once of the first questions is, when can my puppy start jogging with me? Between 8 and 12 weeks of age, your little Dood is not yet physiologically ready to jog or walk on leash. He is ready to begin preliminary leash training, however. Begin leash training by attaching the leash to his collar, allowing him to drag the leash around freely. At first this will feel awkward to him. When he is comfortable with dragging a leash, you will begin to pick up the leash, move a few feet away, call him to you, and give him a treat. Repeat several times and practice daily. You can sabotage leash training by pulling on the leash or letting your children pull on the leash.
Another reason he cannot jog and walk at 8 weeks of age is that it would put stress on his flexible joints (hips and elbows) at a time when he is growing rapidly. Repetitive exercise stresses joints before the age of one year.
The third reason to wait on jogging and leash walking is that your little Dood is not yet fully vaccinated. Allowing him to walk on the street puts him at risk of parvo (a deadly disease to puppies whose germs are carried on car tires, etc.).
At 16 weeks of age, little Dood may go to leash walking boot camp. Training should be done by adults only. Children can join in only after little Dood is comfortable with leash walking. See more on leash walking at training tips (HYPERLINK) and at our Gentle Leader recommendation.
Which vaccines do you recommend?
Shedless in Seattle Labradoodles suggests this protocol for vaccinations. This is a safer, gentler approach than what has been normal for the last few decades in the U.S.
- Never do Leptospirosis shot unless there is an outbreak in your region. The side effects can be dangerous.
- Rabies shot every three years, required by law. This can be done by a licensed vet.
- DHPP every three years to eight years. To be exact, have the vet run a blood titer three years after last DHPP, which will tell you exactly how much immunity your dog has.
Why not give your dog booster shots every year? Do you want to put more junk in your bloodstream than is beneficial and necessary? Call me paranoid, but over-vaccinating has been known to lead to cancer, autoimmune weakness and autoimmune disease.
What about grooming?
Okay, the truth about Australian Labradoodle coats is that they vary in texture from dog to dog, even one non-shedding dog to another.
Here is the deal: In the beginning of the breed, the goal was a non-shedding, allergy-friendly dog. That was achieved, way back when, by the Australian breeders who pioneered the breed. As the breed develops, owners and breeders alike, have also valued the softer, silkier coat. With the silkier coat, comes the need for more frequent professional grooming. I think most groomers prefer their owners to come every six weeks or so. However, some owners like to have a more mop-like look. I know I do. I prefer the look of six months of grow out! But waiting six months between grooms would make me and my Labradoodle the enemy of the groomer. I do not want that! So, there is a nice balance somewhere. But I will say that an owner should never never never take a Doodle to the groomer matted. Cut those mats out gently at home with no pain to the dog. That is only fair to the dog and the groomer. That is humane, kind and responsible. I can show you how to do this. If you take your dog in matted, expect a short shot short shaved dog to come home from the groomer.
My favorite de-matting spray is Vellus brand, Tangle Out. If you have one you love, I would enjoy hearing from you. I pour it into a shallow bowl and dip my universal brush in it. I soak the mat with it, and wait five minutes. Then I work it out gently, only working on 1/8 of an inch or less area at one time. I prefer using a narrow pie- slice shaped universal brush for this purpose. If you get impatient trying to work it out, just cut it out. The Australian Labradoodle coat or Multi-Generational Labradoodle coat is forgiving, and your cut out area will not show much. The Vellus Tangle out product needs to be shampooed out after use.
To prevent mats, brush daily for five minutes. You can teach your dog to accept this by starting with only thirty seconds of brushing at a time. Use high value treats! A high value treat is what you use when your dog really needs motivation! All beef franks cut into 32 pieces (by length and then by width) will do the trick. Store bought favorites are Zukes mini naturals Salmon. Another favorite is Ziwi Peak food, which I use as treats. Do brushing when you are relaxing, and your dog will more likely relax. Watch a show together. If your dog is new to this, begin with thirty seconds and work up to five minutes a day.
Even with daily brushing, Doodles will still mat between the eight month and two year old period. They are loosing puppy coat and growing an adult coat at this time. This is a good period to keep your Doodle cut short to prevent frustration with mats.
What about raising puppies with kids?
Raising puppies and kids together is a challenge that not every person is up for. I prefer to be blunt and cautious about this. What is the issue? The energy, the immaturity, the impulse control, the chaos are a good start. Go into this decision thoughtfully and read several books and websites about it before applying for a puppy. Just because a breeder approves your application does not mean that it is a wise choice for your family at this particular time. You know your tolerance for chaos, and your ability to “stay calm and carry on” better than anyone else.
This being said, I raised my four young children in the sweet presence of three rescue dogs. There were so many adventures! One wise old boy would nose his way through the door every time a child opened it, and bolt toward the Seven Eleven a couple of miles away. He could smell the hot dogs! I know I have had three pups returned to me out of many hundreds sold in 17 years, because the challenge of young children and a puppy was more than the folks bargained for. If you have children, I will give you assigned reading by mailing you the book “Raising Puppies and Kids Together”, along with a couple of other books to help you have realistic expectations.
How long have you bred Labradoodles?
Our first two litters were delivered in December 2005. We were initially intimidated by the depth of knowledge in the breeding community. We soon discovered that even the most experienced of the U.S. breeders have only been practicing for a few years. The breeding community has been very open and supportive, mentoring one another via forums. Using the internet, we are all a click away from others as well as the vast resources of veterinary reproductive science.
The ALAA has been a wealth of information. The ALAA is the Australian Labradoodle Association of America. It has breeder members worldwide. The ALAA has provided structure to the developing breed, and a direction for the future. I have been a member for at least 10 years of my 14 years breeding Australian Labradoodles and have learned a great deal from the annual Breeder Roundtables. At Roundtables attendees hear from Trainers, Veterinarians, Geneticists,Behaviorists who guide us in best practices for the developing breed. Kudos to the Presidents and Board Members of the ALAA for excellent continuing education opportunities. I want to give a special thanks to the Presidents who have given unique leadership to the ALAA: Krista Waitz, Dixie Moore, Rochelle Woods, Heather Hale. Each of them has uniquely imprinted the breed. Also, a special thanks to Maggie Palmblad and Judy Albertson, who have offered additional education for Doodle Breeders through the Northwest Breeders Gathering.
