Dog shopping: Help me choose the right puppy mill...

Relax, I'm just kidding. Yes, puppy mills are evil, etc...

We are thinking about adding a dog to our family. I always had dogs when I was growing up and I understand all the responsibilities involved. Our youngest daughter (7) has been petitioning for one for several years and I'm confident that she has the right stuff to take this on.

Of the three dogs from my early years, the first was adopted from a shelter, the second from a single woman who didn't feel that she had the time or space that the dog needed and the third was a neglected puppy that we got from a friend's neighbor and she was part of our lives for fourteen years.

But it's been a long time now and I'm not sure how to go about this. Other people who live in this house insist that it be some kind of "-oodle" mix, for allergy reasons. I fully understand that there are mixed opinions on the idea of hypoallergenic dogs.

My only requirements are that it be large enough that one of the local hawks can't carry it away once it's an adult, and that it be female, as I have an aversion to seeing dog penises when I'm trying to watch TV.

The problem is trying to sort through all the "Animal Rescue" organizations online. There are just so damn many and I don't know who to trust. How do you separate the good from the bad?

And, while I'm sure that someone will suggest the option of adopting an older dog, and I respect that, that's not the route we want to go with this one. We are ready to take on all the challenges and responsibilities of raising one from a puppy and having it as part of the family for the next fifteen years or so.

My wife has a shih-tzu/poodle mix. It is a profoundly silly little dog that is convinced it rules the universe, but she's really quite sweet. She also does not shed, seems to by hypoallergenic, and does not appear to feel pain. Very strange little dog, but my wife adores her.

I have loved every single lab I have ever met. I have loved every single poodle I have ever met. Every single labradoodle has been an insane meth-head nutcase. And it is about 50/50 on the golden doodles.

I do like Cockapoos and Cava-poo's, but frankly would just get a poodle.

I have no idea how you separate good from bad - but I had very good dealings with http://www.dixiepetunderground.org/ when rescuing two puppies. Their descriptions were accurate and the dogs came here healthy and up to date.

All of these places are a little kooky to deal with but they were reasonable once sure we weren't making Bosintang recipes out of the pups. They worked with me on the transport cost (from TN) because I was taking two brothers.

So, no help on the rest but I can recommend these guys as a statistical count of one satisfied customer 3 years ago.

Portuguese Water Dogs don't shed. I've just learned (from Wikipedia) that hypoallergenic dogs might not be a real thing. Wiki Linky

bonus is it'll be able to help your daughter with homework

For general use you can start with your county's animal control shelter. Beyond that you can look for breed specific rescue groups (my preference).

Personally I would be avoiding the "oodles" like the plague. They got popular, then overbred by crappy breeders and mills. Health problems are starting to show up left and right. Any of them at a shelter are likely there because of of a problem.

Try to match the breed or suspected breed(s) characteristics with your family lifestyle (don't get a herding dog for a sedentary person in an apartment). That's how a lot end up in shelters-people get something that's cute without understanding what the breed is about.

Labs are good.

My coworkers have adopted the expensive mutt trend. One has a golden-doodle, one has a labor-doodle, and another has a sheep-a-doodle. To me they all look like poodles but in different colors. I have spent a good amount of time around the golden-doodle and the sheep-a-doodle. The golden one is pretty chill, likes to be petted and will lean on you. He does have a lot of energy and is almost 4. The sheep-a-doodle is just a pup and has tons of energy, and is getting big fast. The labor-doodle is a crazy nutbag who bounces off the walls, and seriously needs some doggie meds to calm him down.

With that said hypoallergenic dogs still shed. FYI

Hey now, my border collie exhaust easily due to mental stimulation. Herding dogs require significant daily time commitment, but it doesn't need to be all, or even 30% physical. That being said even when behaving, not running around, jumping or being rambunctious, they still bring energy to everything they do.

GSPs and retrievers are great dogs as well, I've had a few retriever mixes (one half lab, half golden, and a half chessie, 1/4 GSP, 1/4 lab) and they both made for great dogs and great friends.

JThw8 to the white courtesy phone please. JThw8 to the white courtesy phone please.

Our current dog was part of a litter my MIL's coworker couldn't get rid of. As kids almost all my dogs came from a shelter except for a couple strays and one shepherd we got when the guard dog at my dad's plant had puppies. We got three from North Shore Animal League on Long Island http://www.animalleague.org and they were fine dogs that were exactly as advertised. We always had bigger dogs and my favorites were labs. I had a black lab that didn't know she was a dog. Wherever we went she hopped in the car to go and we never needed a leash for her. I have a Cocker Spaniel now and while he is the friendliest dog I've ever seen he can't be left loose or he will run after something and get lost.

just to echo Oct, There is no such thing as a hypo allergenic dog.

There's only dogs with hair-types or fur-types.

both shed, but just to varying degrees depending more on the dominant breed. Some shorthairs shed far worse than furballs...

RossD wrote: Portuguese Water Dogs don't shed. I've just learned (from Wikipedia) that hypoallergenic dogs might not be a real thing. Wiki Linky

Yup. No such thing. Some are worse than others, depending on the allergy. If it's the dander, than dogs with hair, as opposed to fur are better, dogs with heavy, thick coats that shed alot are worse. Some are allergit to things that are carried in saliva, so something that slobbs alot is not good.

RossD wrote: Portuguese Water Dogs don't shed. I've just learned (from Wikipedia) that hypoallergenic dogs might not be a real thing. Wiki Linky

Portuguese water dogs are just poodles for people who don't want to admit they have a poodle. After having poodles for 30 years of my life from imperials down to teacups they are great dogs. Poodle mix's are even better, but they have the intelligence of a poodle and the downright crazy of a lab all rolled into one. Just rescue a standard poodle.

In a perfect world I would love a shepipoo. German Shepard Poodle cross. Every single one of them that I have run across have been perfect. Do not mix an Australian Shepard with a poodle unless you want to go nuts.

i loved my poodle. he was FAST, and fat too. When he ran by, people would ask me why is that sheep in such a hurry?

That is a hilarious aversion, Woody

Pics are mandatory when there are actual puppies to be shown.

I never heard of a sheppipoo. I agree on labradoodles. They for the most part seem nuts. Friendly and entertaining, but crazy.

Tim Baxter wrote: My wife has a shih-tzu/poodle mix. It is a profoundly silly little dog that is convinced it rules the universe, but she's really quite sweet. She also does not shed, seems to by hypoallergenic, and does not appear to feel pain. Very strange little dog, but my wife adores her.

So, would you call that a shihtty-poo?

OHSCrifle wrote: That is a hilarious aversion, Woody

He needs a male dog to help cure his dog-dick-phobia

GameboyRMH wrote:

OHSCrifle wrote: That is a hilarious aversion, Woody

He needs a male dog to help cure his dog-dick-phobia

I think Woody is just jealous of the whole licking thing.

We have adopted our dogs from several different groups. Going to your local pound or Humane Society is a bit of a Crap shoot. They usually know very little of the dogs background or temperament as the animals are housed in cages most of the day. These are still good sources, who do good work, but you're sorta on your own. The next group is private rescue organizations. These are a mixed bag too but look for one that is willing to work with your needs. We have a local group that does a really good job of matching families to dogs. You may need to contact a few before you find the right organization. Don't be in a rush. The right dog will come along.

Let me recommend wheaten terriers. Good size, friendly, soft, hair not fur, and a little more masculine than a poodle (if you care). Good family dog. http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/soft-coated-wheaten-terrier/

images: https://www.google.com/search?q=wheaten+terrier&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMI1oPP_-n7xgIVA2g-Ch25Dw4J&biw=915&bih=335

I'll also second the "every 'oodle mix is usually a crackhead" experience. Only exception I'd make is for a golden-doodle. I have a 9 year old golden retreiver-husky mix and he steals hearts everywhere all the time. I've shared a few pics to #grmdog if you're curious about looks. Really hard to go wrong by mixing the usual golden personality traits into anything else.

Having said all that, you might have the best luck going to rescues and looking for the right personality fit in a puppy.

People who choose a dog based on it's name (something-doodle) should not have a dog.

Appleseed wrote: People who choose a dog based on it's name (something-doodle) should not have a dog.

Well then, I guess we're done. Back to cars...

In reply to Sky_Render:

We call it a shiz-n-poohs.