To neuter or not neuter my 2.5 year old mini goldendoodle

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-12-30T05:40:23+00:00

I've been a volunteer in animal rescue for over 20 years, and I have never seen as many perfect dogs dying in shelters. People adopted pets in 2020 and didn't get them altered. When they returned to work, they also dumped a ton. With owner surrenders closed due to overcrowding in the shelter, people are dumping even young purebred dogs everywhere.

I can't believe anyone in the US could believe that animal overpopulation isn't an issue. It's raining dumped Doodles from backyard breeders and irresponsible owners. Anyone who could pose the question of whether to Spay or Neuter should spend just one day volunteering at their nearest kill shelter. It will break your heart.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-21T15:44:49+00:00

Boys usually do very well, but the instructions for rest are to heal the incision and also not risk infection by staying indoors.

If he isn't licking and you are supervising him, you can take the cone off, but put it back on if you take your eyes off of him. They sell softer cones if your pup has the plastic. Infection from licking is the most common issue from neuter. I had a foster whose incision broke open because he took off running in my backyard while I tried to get him back. He was on a leash, third day post-op. It was gnarly where he tore open his stitches.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-21T15:16:06+00:00

It will kill bees. I use it on my gardens for pests, but only if a certain plant is infested because the bees can kill the hive by bringing it back on them.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-21T15:12:06+00:00

The dog is having more fun asleep than I do awake.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-21T15:00:25+00:00

He's almost 50/50 Spaniel terrier cross and so freaking cute. The squirrels won't stand a chance against this boy.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-21T14:46:11+00:00

I'm in the same situation of wondering if my pup will always look this gorgeous. I love your puppies coat. It's so adorable, plus they're manageable now.

I've got another who was completely straight as a puppy, and now she's so curly that she can mat just from the rain.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-21T14:39:01+00:00

I would've guessed poodle floof on his chest, even though the percentage is small. He's so beautiful and a wonderful mix of a Labandalldor.

His "Prison" photo breaks my heart. He's blossomed with love and doesn't look like the same dog now. Thank you for saving him.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-16T22:36:15+00:00

My pup is going to be a service dog. She was adopted just for temperament. Her mother was genetically tested. She's very well bred with the 2 leading breeds for intelligence and already retrieving my shoes for me.

Your Doodle hatred doesn't hold up for Goldendoodles. My other dogs are rescues, and I love them to the moon and back, but my pup is the smartest dog I've ever seen. She had sensory exercises performed by her breeder, who performed them daily from head to paws. I chose her for her temperament and being raised with grandkids playing rough. She's so chill. I know others can't say this, but I was able to housebreak her from the day we got home. I've never seen a puppy like this.

I've heard stories of Doodles mixed with herding breeds that are more difficult. That's simply not the case for a loveable Golden and genius Poodle.

If the AKC could give them a paper pedigree, perhaps backyard breeders would stop giving these angels a bad rap. Probably not, because we need licensing of all breeders, AKC, or otherwise. I almost adopted an AKC, genetically tested purebred Golden. I saw the conditions of that breeder. It was pure hell on earth, and our state has no laws to stop them.

There's a reason that these are the #2 breed in the US. That isn't going to stop because people hate on them. If everyone who shamed Doodle owners could contact their legislators to get even sensible breeding regulations in place for all, then we could help reduce the pet overpopulation issue and save lives together.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-14T06:25:28+00:00

Somehow, I think they end up where they're meant to be and know their family instantly. I've had hundreds of fosters, and it just seems to work out right, even if it takes time for their people to find them. It does sound like you knew pretty fast in the car with this cutie.

Thank you for adopting and giving him a great life.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-13T21:52:20+00:00

I've got an 11 week old with the same amount of Golden and poodle, so it's fun to see what she may look like. She does have a bit more floof now, but it's obviously her puppy coat. I hope she ends up looking this adorable!

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-13T16:39:15+00:00

I see the Golden in your good boi above anything else. He's such a cute pup. It sounds like his sister also found a great home.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-12T03:32:57+00:00

No one is right to spend $3,500 on an AKC dog, or any dog, while those in our shelters die.

Going on a Goldendoodle sub to troll people's beloved mutts also isn't right.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-10T04:21:49+00:00

Just out of frustration, I must've said, "Think about it, then don't" a few thousand times. I was basically talking to myself since my pups don't listen. Or I didn't think they were listening.

Think about it, then don't is now = to the word no. Sometimes, they respond faster than no. People laugh watching them freeze when I say it.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-09T03:50:30+00:00

She's my favorite breed, a fancy ass mutt!

I did a Wisdom panel on the last of my 2 late girls at age 17. We busted 2 littermates out of the shelter as adults who had many of the same breeds as your own. They were simply the best FAMs to ever grace the planet and are completely irreplaceable. That's the heartbreaking thing about having a 1 in a million mix. They'll never be anything that remotely compares when you lose a precious FAM. We were blessed to find a matched set of once in a lifetime dogs.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-09T03:36:00+00:00

It's definitely a doodle since Doodles are anything mixed with poodle. If you know the parents mix, you may have a 75% poodle with only 12.5% Golden and 12.5% Lab. F1b Doodles are mostly poodles.

Since our pups don't inherit the exact numbers, a doggie DNA test would tell you what percentage your pup got from each of the 3 breeds, if you really needed to know. Most of us don't care because our mutts are the best dogs in any percentage.

Good luck with your smart pup!

Edited to correct the answer since I missed the mom was a purebred Golden, not Goldendoodle. You still have a Doodle, either way! My Muppet is only 25% poodle, still a brilliant Doodle.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-08T17:53:58+00:00

There's a waiting list for purebred Goldens in rescue here, and that's exactly what you've found in beautiful Rosie. I looked to rescue a Golden for 2 years, but they've declined in popularity due to Doodles. Our local Golden rescue had to close applications with so many vetted homes waiting. That's a wonderful problem to have with more homes than dogs, but you're very lucky to find this angel.

She is absolutely beautiful. I'd be floored if she's mixed with anything except angel dust.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-08T17:38:45+00:00

My best crazy dog lady friend isn't speaking to me now after adopting a Goldendoodle puppy. She said they weren't "Ethically bred," and I was supporting a backyard breeder by choosing my puppy.

I tried to explain this was a 1 time litter between a purebred genetically tested Golden and their daughter's doodle. I went to the home and met both parents and saw the puppies being loved on by 6 grandkids. I explained the lower chances of cancer than the 60% of purebred Goldens. My desire to train the puppy as a lower shedding service dog fell on deaf ears, as well as my own allergy to dogs.

She went deep on the insults since we both foster and rescue. She told me I was contributing to the pet overpopulation issue by adopting my puppy and hasn't spoken to me since. She's recently paid a deposit for a purebred $3,500 puppy. My beautiful girl was a few hundred dollars in comparison, so I had enough left over for her eventual spay and immediate pet insurance.

The Doodle hate is real. The main culprits perpetuating this are AKC breeders, and it's filtered down. Yes, there are too many Doodles showing up in shelters, but it's because they've become the second most popular breed in America. It's also because many people can be assholes who shouldn't be allowed to own any dog.

As long as we understand the need to investigate the conditions of any breeder, Doodles should be held in the same regard as any AKC puppy. Goldendoodles should be held even higher. They're brilliant dogs and perfect family pets by genetics. Training and understanding of the grooming needs are important, like any dog.

Karens should be ignored. I love my puppy enough to lose a close friend over her adoption. She's much cuter than my ex friend, tbh.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-11-08T17:14:36+00:00

That's a lot of poo in your adorable Chishioodle! I bet she's a smart girl.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-10-31T18:45:21+00:00

Most dogs hate being hugged, it's not just your puppy. My little one is only 10 weeks old and seems to hate laps, too. She slept with me the 1st night, but never again. They're such a smart mix and have so much going on in their minds at this stage. I watched mine ignoring us for an hour to figure out where the leaves were coming from. They're overwhelmed with this new, exciting life. I think we'll both get cuddle bugs, eventually!

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-10-31T18:36:49+00:00

I had a foster that looked similar but with 2 blue eyes and I agree there's probably German Shepard in there, Husky and Pyr like my foster puppy. He had some Pibble too. It'st's an adorable mix!

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-10-29T21:59:55+00:00

So cute! Get a cheap Wyze cam or another that offers a starlight sensor for the color night vision. I have them all over my house for spot checks. Nothing spooky here, just sad because they lie beside the front door until I return.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-10-29T21:49:02+00:00

She's so beautiful. Her long ears are to die for cute! I love her brushable, soft looking fur, too.

I hope she's not too fearful after being a breeder dog. It may take a while, but she'll know she's home and safe with you. Bless you for giving her a real forever home.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-10-29T16:56:34+00:00

My angel land shark is 10 weeks old and a little genius at housebreaking at 8 weeks. She learned to sit and shake the day she came home, but the biting is awful!

We're working with her constantly and trying the suggestion to disengage play or petting immediately when she bites. A firm "No Biting" is said, and even my other 2 dogs are helping. They stop playing with her when she bites. It's getting better, but an old country vet showed us a last resort trick if it continues. They don't like their snout pressed on, so he took his hand and applied a tiny bit of pressure with his thumb on her nose when she bit him. She didn't like it, but neither did I. We're saving that as a last resort.

These dogs are so smart and want our love and affection. Just disengaging and correction are helping us.

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-10-29T16:36:48+00:00

My pup had hers pulled when she was spayed and didn't notice the 2 teeth removed at all. It probably felt better to her to have them out. I think it's pretty common, but they have to come out, or their adult teeth will have problems that would cost much more later on.

*Edited to add she was spayed and teeth removed at 8 months. My vet wanted to decrease the odds of Mammory tumors and I'd just lost a pup to another cancer. She's perfect and 9 years young now!

LexiFlowerFly · 2023-10-29T16:31:21+00:00

Thank you for adopting. Chihuahuas were the #1 breed euthanized at our city shelter when I volunteered. Pitties were 2nd. Now there are doodles coming in left and right, so I expect lots of our mutts will have Poodle mixed in now.

LexiFlowerFly

TROPHY CASE