Double Doodle

Pippa Elliott
Dr Pippa Elliott (BVMS MRCVS, University of Glasgow)
 
Photo of adult Double Doodle
Shelley Groomer / Flickr.com

The Double Doodle is a hybrid of hybrids. This fun-loving fellow is the result of breeding a Goldendoodle (a cross between the mild-mannered Golden Retriever and the quick witted Poodle) with a Labradoodle (a cross between the family friendly Labrador Retriever with, again, the highly trainable Poodle). Both parent dogs share many wonderful character traits, so the Double Doodle is sure to be an intelligent, eager-to-please dog of medium to large size.

The Double Doodle has the disposition a potential pet parent would look for in a family dog. However, they can be boisterous and their large size means they could accidentally bowl over a small child. Also, although they have a reliable character, they are highly food motivated, meaning you will need to undergo a lot of training to keep them from stealing things off your counter – or from your child's hand! But for the owner prepared to put the time and effort in to training their dog and give them plenty of exercise, the Double Doodle has potential as the ideal family dog.

About & History

Hybrid dog breeds are phenomena that have taken off in the past few decades. Therefore many of these breeds have a relatively short history. However, the Labradoodle is arguably one of the founding father breeds as they are one of the first hybrids, created to fulfil a need.

The Labradoodle

The Labradoodle was the brain-child of an Australian named Wally Conrad. He saw a need for service dogs that were 'hypoallergenic', making guide dogs accessible to people with canine allergies. Since the Poodle is a low shedding breed of low allergenicity, Conrad’s idea was to breed a Labrador Retriever – the usual guide dog candidate – with a Poodle, resulting in the Labradoodle. Of course both of those breeds have a history all of their own, which can be found on the respective breed pages. The outstanding personality of the Labradoodle was soon widely recognised and in the 1990s the breed took off in popularity. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

The Goldendoodle

The origins of the Goldendoodle are linked to that of the Labradoodle. After the success of the latter, it occurred to breeders it was possible to create other low shedding hybrids, making dog ownership possible for some people with mild allergies. Also with an outstanding temperament, the Goldendoodle – a result of crossing the Golden Retriever with the Poodle quickly became popular as a family dog.

However, it should be noted that no dog is truly hypoallergenic and there’s no such thing as a dog guaranteed to be compatible with a highly allergic person. These so-called 'hypoallergenic' breeds gain that moniker because they shed less dander than high-shedding breeds. Since it is the dander (shed hair and skin cells) that usually trigger the allergic reaction, so a low shedding dog is less likely (but not guaranteed) to trigger an allergic reaction.

Appearance

Double Doodle Large Photo
Shelley Groomer / Flickr.com

The Labrador, Golden Retriever, and Standard Poodle are approximately the same stature and average weight, so it no surprise the Double Doodle is also a large dog. The coat is usually of medium to long in length, tending toward the curly hair of the Poodle. The coat texture is quite variable, depending on which side of the family they take after, but can be wavy or curly, soft or wiry. The most common coat colour is golden or yellow, but black, chocolate, white, cream or tan is also possible.

The Double Doodle has a well-shaped skull with a classic medium-to-long snout. They have expressive drop ears, and a sweet face. Again, they all have in common a long tail, which is almost guaranteed given their sweet demeanour to be in constant wag-mode.

Character & Temperament

All the breeds that contribute to a Double Doodle have a great reputation for being friendly, attentive, loyal, and intelligent. They especially love to be around people and nothing makes them happier (except for food) than praise and attention. They usually get along well with other dogs and other pets.

The Double Doodle is intelligent and enjoys using their mind to solve problems. They thrive when given tasks to do and love the one-to-one attention provided by training. Their size also means they are well suited to active doggy pastimes, such as agility or Canicross. As with all dogs, it is best to supervise even a Double Doodle around small children.

Trainability

Photo of Double Doodle puppy
Shelley Groomer / Flickr.com

The Double Doodle is descended from working breeds that were adept at taking instruction from their handler. This trait, combined with their intelligence and eagerness to please, makes them highly trainable.

It is a rare Double Doodle that is not food motivated, which means they respond readily to reward-based training. This method encourages the dog to listen and be obedient, by praising and rewarding good behaviour. Thus, the dog learns that doing as requested makes good things happen, whilst playing up does not.

Health

There are no statistics related to the Double Doodle’s predisposition to health problems. However, the parent breeds do share a number of inheritable conditions in common, so it is reasonable to assume these may also affect a Double Doodle.

Hip & Elbow Dysplasia

Dogs with hip or elbow dysplasia have poorly shaped joints, often as a result of hereditary factors. Dysplasia can be managed with pain relief, but in the worst cases joint replacement surgery is required. Ideally, only dogs with healthy joints would be used as breeding stock in order to reduce the risk of passing the gene on down the generations.

Addison’s Disease

The Poodle side of the family tree has a predisposition to Addison’s Disease. This condition means the dog doesn’t produce enough natural cortisol to cope with the stresses and strains of life.

The symptoms can be vague initially, including stomach upsets and lack of energy. These occur in episodes that became more severe with time. If left untreated, the dog may eventually collapse and go into shock, which can be life threatening.

Hypothyroidism

This condition refers to an inability of the thyroid glands to produce sufficient thyroid hormone. This results in a dog that lacks energy and gains weight easily. They often have a poor coat, characteristic of which is hair falling out to give the tail a ‘rat’s tail’ appearance. Once diagnosed, hypothyroidism is easily treated with a daily supplement of thyroid hormone.

Diabetes Mellitus

Also known as sugar diabetes, this occurs when the blood sugar levels run too high. This occurs either when the pancreas fails to produce insufficient insulin or the target cells fail to respond to insulin. Keeping the dog slim goes a long way to reducing the risk of diabetes developing. Most dogs with diabetes require daily insulin injections to correct their high blood sugar.

Exercise and Activity Levels

The Double Doodle needs a consistent amount of exercise and long walks. Ideally, they need time off the lead to sniff, chase, and retrieve objects, which makes playing ball an ideal occupation. They need the opportunity to do this every day, not just at weekends. This makes them a great match for active families who like outdoor activities and hiking, or for the owner who wants a dog to take part in dog-centric sports, such as agility, flyball, or Canicross.

The Double Doodle likes to be kept busy and doesn’t appreciate being left alone for long periods of time. When at home, they need space to move around, which means a good sized house with a garden is essential.

Grooming

The Double Doodle generally is a low shedding breed, although there is individual variation within this. Those long curly locks should be checked over daily for twigs and leaves that could cause knots, and indeed to locate and remove ticks. To keep that shaggy coat tidy can require professional grooming, so be prepared for this as an expense.

Avoid over-bathing as the use of shampoos will strip out natural oils that condition the coat. As with any dog, daily tooth brushing is gold standard to prevent the plaque that turns into the tartar and causes dental disease.

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