Aunt Holly and Sweetie's Puppies

[RPCrowe]

Sweetie is a Maltese rescued by the American Maltese Association whom we are fostering. She was found running the city streets and covered with sores from a terrible flea and tick infestation. She was also pregnant with two puppies and had these puppies the day after she arrived at our home. Mom and pups are doing great in a warm, safe and loving environment. Sweetie's scabs and sores from the fleas and ticks have healed and her coat is growing back. The puppies are healthy and outgoing.

Holly, our sixty-pound Goldendoodle just loves the puppies and will spend hours next to their pen playing with them, kissing them and just keeping them company. Sweetie now accepts Holly as part of her extended family and will allow her to kiss and play with her pups. At first Sweetie was petrified of big dogs. We suspect that she might have been attacked by a big dog during her time as a stray. However, Holly's calm demeanor and loving disposition won Sweetie over in a very short time and the puppies absolutely love their "Aunt Holly".

BTW, a Goldendoodle is the product of an intentional breeding between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle (in Holly's case, a Standard Poodle; there are miniature Goldendoodles also). Goldendoodles were originally developed (along with Labradoodles; Labrador Retriever + Poodle) as service dogs for persons who are allergic to dogs. Goldendoodles shed very little or not at all, are quite hypo-allergenic and are extremely smart and easy to train. I have had numerous dogs but, none with all the attributes of my Goldendoodle, Holly.

[briarlow]

Aww very cute pups. Umm, heard differently re. training etc. of Golden Doodles and Labradoodles, the ones that I've seen are quite loopy and all look very different.

[RPCrowe]

Goldendoodles and Labradoodles have a variety of looks. Looks obviously depend on what the parents look like. Additionally, there are several versions of both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles.

The F-1 is a product of a Labrador or Goldendoodle bred to a Poodle. Most of the F-1 Doodles that I have know seem to be the product of a male Poodle and a female Golden or Lab. Holly is an F-1. Her mom is a Golden and her dad is a Standard Poodle.

The F-2 is the product of a Goldendoodle or a Labradoodle bred back to a Poodle. This increases the hypo allergenic properties of the F-2. However, the F-2 will usually have a more curly coat than the F-1.

The "Super Doodle" or "American Retriever" is the product of a Goldendoodle bred to a Labradoodle. I have never met one of these dogs in person.

Finally, there is the product of breeding two Labradoodles or two Goldendoodles. In this case, you have only a 20% chance of getting a "Doodle looking" dog. You have a 40% chance that your dog will look like a poodle or like the Golden or Lab.

We chose Holly because we had a great German Shepherd - Golden retriever -Wolf hybrid for over 10-years until we lost her to cancer. We loved the combination of Golden Retriever but, did not want the shedding involved. Holly, as an F-1, sheds just minimally, if at all.

I am prejudiced but, I think that Holly is a very good looking Goldendoodle. I am objective when I classify her as an extremely intelligent and easily trained dog. I got her at 7-weeks and she learned to sit for treats from her first day with me. She is extremely obedient and loves people. At first, she didn't like to swim but was soon swimming in our pool. She was, at first, scared of large dogs (Holly has been raised with our Maltese) but, is now comfortable around dogs of any size.

I have never owned a dog that attracts so much attention when I have her out walking. People just congregate around her; asking questions and petting her.

[ronmayhew]

adorable