Doodle Versus Poodle: A Paw-fect Obama Choice

Who will be the Obama family's new "best friend?" In a recent interview, president-elect Obama said in a joking manner, "This is a major issue. And we have 2 criteria that have to be reconciled." One is that the dog be hypoallergenic because Malia (Obama's 10 year old daughter) is allergic. Their 2nd criterion is to get a shelter dog. But Obama then humbly said, "...shelter dogs are mutts like me." The gist of this somewhat self-deprecating comment is that choosing a shelter dog might be a bit too risky for Malia's allergies.

From the interviews so far it looks like the competition is between a golden doodle and a poodle for the first family. Shelter dogs seem to be out of the race. And I understand that the 2 Obama girls, Malia and Sasha, are voting for a doodle. Golden Doodles are a carefully chosen mixed breed of a golden retriever and a standard poodle. They are bred together to maximize the benefits of each breed's personality, body shape and minimize health issues that dogs of one breed can bring to a family. Of course, it's still critical to find a reputable breeder who has certified both parents of the puppies as "healthy".

And as a proud owner of 2 -- almost 2-year-old golden doodles named Micha and Maggie; I am behind the girls' vote all the way. I have owned dogs my entire life and I have never found an animal that's sweeter, gentler and more loving than a golden doodle. As a mother who has 3 boys who are also allergic to pet dander and a woman who has her own allergy problems, we decided to go the doodle route and we have not been sorry. Doodles shed less, so there's more dander control, so people tend to have fewer allergies around them. Plus it makes cleaning up their hair less of a hassle. But most importantly, doodles have incredible personalities, which is critical when you have kids and their friends around. Because doodles are a mixed breed they can be a bit hyper (at times) like a poodle but they can also be incredibly docile like a golden retriever. Doodles can act like clowns as poodles often do but can be trained easily because they have the retriever side to their personalities. Basically, they are big, loving lap dogs.

The bottom line is golden doodles are lovely family dogs. And once the dog is past the puppy phase he/she will give the unconditional love the Obama family so deserves. In fact studies show that dogs (not puppies) lower blood pressure, improve mood, are good for the heart and reduce stress in the house...umm the White House that is.

The joys of having a dog are summed up nicely by the following quote from an anonymous author: "My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am."

Comments

[spinstahbabe]

Doodles and other "designer dogs" are an abomination. If you want a mixed breed, go to your local shelter or rescue organization and find one of the many sweet mutts that need a loving home. Don't create them in backyard laboratories where the resulting monstrosities often have the worst characteristics of both breeds. There is no such thing as a "reputable doodle breeder'--it's an oxymoron. Truly reputable purebred breeders have spent generations breeding dogs that are true to their standard in conformation and temperment. Go for the real thing (breeder or rescue organization) or go to a shelter, but don't support these Dr. Frankensteins of the animal kingdom.

[MarsAmbassador]

Every dog breed out there with the exception of wolves is the result of targeted breeding practices and mixed heritage. Your attitude of trying to enforce upon the world your particular brand of ignorance marks you as a mental midget with cognitive dissonance issues. And if you knew what you were talking about, but clearly don't, then you would know that many so-called pure breeds have horrible congenital conditions such as German Shepherds with hip displacement, Bichons with skin irritation, Australian Shepherds with practically everything, pyruvate kinase deficiency in Basenjis resulting in lifelong anemia, missing hair parts of the jaw for the Peruvian Hairless, American Boxers have a predisposition to congenital heart defects, Bulldogs have a slew of issues, a MULTITUDE of breeds have congenital disposition issues and so it goes.

[MarsAmbassador]

Every dog breed out there with the exception of wolves is the result of targeted breeding practices and mixed heritage. Many so-called pure breeds have horrible congenital conditions such as German Shepherds with hip displacement, Bichons with skin irritation, Australian Shepherds with practically everything, pyruvate kinase deficiency in Basenjis resulting in lifelong anemia, missing hair parts of the jaw for the Peruvian Hairless, American Boxers have a predisposition to congenital heart defects, Bulldogs have a slew of issues, a MULTITUDE of breeds have congenital disposition issues and so it goes. And if you had allergies, you would understand the appeal of hypoallergenic breeds. There's nothing monstrous or sinister about them. They were 'created' the exact same way that virtually every breed of domestic dog, cat, horse, cow, goat, sheep or fish ever has in the history of mankind. Through selective breeding.

[max08]

PART 2:

So my method of discipline became cooing words when he did something wrong, and laughing and hugging him while I called him "bad boy" for something unacceptable. I simply loved him to bits. I never had a discipline problem after that. He was puppy-trained in less than 90 minutes, and could heel at fourteen weeks without a leash walking on a busy street. I used 4000% love and it worked. And a consistent calm soothing voice for every command. I also designed one uber-command that meant 'get your ass over here and sit still at my feet, no questions asked, and dont budge until I release you'. I practiced it every time I took him out and he loved meeting the goal. It saved his life a couple of times...and the strange thing is that he knows it.

[max08]

PART 1:

Standard poodles are incredibly non-hyper as long as no one ever EVER hits them. A poodle is voice-controlled. Even spanking a young poodle is unacceptable. They are far too intelligent to put up with it, and they will resent you the way an elephant will resent unacceptable care. You can control a poodle by the sound of your voice. You can calm him down or tell him when there is cause to be concerned. It's the sound not the meaning of the word that counts.

I own a standard poodle and everyone is constantly amazed at how calm he is. How serene. I tell them I learned when he was three months old and ran into the street for joy. I spanked him with a rolled newspaper because it made noise instead of hurting him. He laid on the floor for a week staring straight ahead in a kind of depression. A three-month-old puppy!!! I was thunderstruck by this reaction. He thought I hated him, I guess.