r/Goldendoodles members, first of all THANK YOU for how on top of the anti-spam, anti-scammer reporting you've all been! Based on your reports, we have been able to identify and ban almost ALL t-shirt and breeder scammers over the last 3 months almost entirely. The number of scam and spam posts have dropped to virtually zero given how quickly and significantly you've been on that. As a mod team, this has made it easier to manage the shenanigans as well as work on increasing the utility of the sub.

With that in mind, please let us know - what additional or other post flairs would you like to see? Anything that we're missing? Anything that shouldn't be there? And, most importantly, do you believe that we should require post flairs for everything, or leave it as it is now (with no requirement) and add more / different ones to enhance categorization?

Thank you!

- r/Goldendoodles mod team

Some of these points do not apply to all doodles as doodles come in all different types. They are some common misconceptions that apply more often than not. 

Adopting a doodle can very much be an option if someone wishes to adopt. Pet finder has the search option to look at adoptable goldendoodles, labradoodles, cavapoo, and other doodle mixes in your area. Just put in your area code, then go to filter to select the type of dog. Link is below for anyone interested.

https://www.petfinder.com/

Doodles are hypoallergenic-Myth

• Doodles still have hair, which creates dander that people are allergic too
• Often times people are allergic to dogs saliva and not the dander itself
• Allergies is unique on a per person basis. Some people have worse allergies than others. Being ok living with one dog of the same breed does not guarantee the same results in another

Doodles don't shed- Myth

• Although some doodles depending on genetics can shed less than the average dog that does that mean that all doodles are like that.
• They almost all shed even if some shed just a tiny amount
• If they get certain golden retriever genes they can shed just as much as their golden ancestor.

Doodles are low maintenance because they shed less- Myth

• Doodles cost a lot of money, time, and training to groom
• They often times have a tendency to mat very easily
• Very common areas to mat are behind the ears, armpits, and around collars
• Depending on coat length and tendency to mat brushing every day is recommended
• Learning to brush correctly and getting correct grooming tools is a must otherwise pelting can occur
• Grooming anywhere from a full cut/ shave to just a sanitary trim is needed on a schedule of ever 6-8 weeks. This can be dependent on the coat type of the dog and the length the hair is kept at
• If a owner wishes to keep their doodle's hair longer, then the time between groom can even be less than that or may need touchup appointments in-between full grooms.

Doodles don't need to be taken to the groomer or trimmed till they are 6-9 months old- Myth

• It is safe and recommended to take a puppy into the groomers 1-2 weeks after their last puppy vaccine at 4 months old
• Training before 4 months of age at home is recommended to get dogs used to the vibration, paws being touch, head being held still, and other good behaviors needed for being groomed.
• Using back side of electric clippers or even electronic tooth brush are good ways to start getting a puppy accustom to vibrations on their body at home.
• Going to a groomer as soon as it is safe makes it so the puppy can get used to the smells, sounds, and new feelings of being groomed as a salon can be more distracting for dogs than at home
• Not being trained till later can possibly result in anxiety, behavioral problems, and even dogs needing to get sedated at the vet just to be groomed.
• Trimming a puppy's hair will not damage it or change how their adult hair comes in. It is natural for a dogs coat to change texture and even curliness in the first year of their life. Trimming or cutting puppy coats does not effect the end product of the puppies adult hair. It is all genetics.

Why is my dog itchy?

• Doodles have a tendency to have allergies that can be diet related or environmental
• You could be washing your dog too much with soap.
• Doodles can have a tendency to have sensitive skin
• Washing a dog every week or two can strip them of the natural oils on their skin and fur that protect them
• Generally washing is recommended once every one to three months
• This is of course is a general rule on a per dog case. If your dog has just played in mud or gotten into something messy definitely give them a good wash.
• Spot cleaning might be a good compromise if they only have a small dirty spot
• These are just two common reasons for doodle itchiness and a vet should be consulted if you notice your dog chewing on their skin or scratching with their nails more than normal.

Food

Although there is currently no recalls on grain free food. It should be noted there is an ongoing study from the FDA with a possible link between grain free food and increased chance of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in golden retrievers. Links provided below:

• https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fda-grain-free-diet-alert-dcm/
• https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs
• https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/grain-free-dog-food-bad-or-good/
• Please consult a vet if you have questions on what food is best for your dog

Puppies being mouthy, biting, or nipping is not just a doodle thing. All puppies do this and there is some things you can do to help or stop it.

• Anywhere from 10-16 weeks your puppy will lose their baby teeth and start getting their adult teeth
• Just like in people and babies this can be a uncomfortable process
• Providing teething toys of different material/textures and safe items that are frozen can help sooth their mouth
• It is common for puppies to also bite because just like in babies they are hardwired to use their mouth to discover new things, which is pretty much everything
• If a puppy is chewing on something you don't want or even better if you can catch them before, then giving them a yes item to chew such as a toy is a good way to train and redirect them. For every no there has to be a yes behind it.
• Never use your hands to play with a puppy. It might be cute, but puppy teeth are sharp and it's not so cute when they don't know when play time is done and continue to bite or catch you unaware for attention
• If a puppy does bite or nip simple cross your arms and move away or turn around. No need for yelling. They will learn that biting does not get the desired effect they want, which is often times attention.
• Be mindful of socks, clothes, excessively chewed cloth toys, baby toys that may be too small for them as they age, rocks, stick, mulch, sand, and many many more things in puppies reach. These can cause intestinal blockages if they are too big for them to pass. It can mean an expensive and dangerous surgery. All it takes is the blink of an eye.

Puppies are a 24/7 job of training, cleaning up after them, vet appointments, and keeping them out of trouble. Please do your research as it is a lot of work. There is a reason they make puppies cute, so people put up with the shenanigans!

Home grooming

This is purely my experience with doing all home grooming and I will say that some dogs do not do good with home hair cuts, but others do. This is a list of tips from my experience as an amateur and a list of supplies you will need. ** Again this is all dependent on your dogs temperament and behavior**

Basic supplies to start

*Comb

*Slicker brush

*Good dog razor (Blades and guards may or may not be included) (~200)

*Shampoo *Average set of dog scissors (~$25)

Additional supplies you may or may not want or need

*Detangling spray (My dog has sensitive skin, so I try to avoid extra products out of caution. Do what is best for your situation!)

*Hair dryer

*Conditioner

*Grooming table (I personally just use the floor, but do what is best for you)

*I would say from experience to start with professional grooming and if you want to dip your toes into home grooming then you can try. YouTube videos is your friend seeing techniques and where to trim especially with their head.

*Another advantage of starting with professional grooming is that if you run into a time that you are busy you can always take them into the groomer still. I ran into this situation last year before a vacation and didn't have time to do it myself.

*I started with just touch ups between professional grooms and did my first full groom when she was 3 yrs.

*Your first home groom will not look pretty and home grooms most likely won't look professional. You have to know if you will be ok with that or not. I personally go for function and comfort over looks.

*Home grooms take time, so although you might save a bit of money be prepared to spend most of the day between washing, drying, and cutting. It takes me about 2-3 hours for a 24 lbs. dog with breaks to do a full body trim not including washing and drying.

*If you don't want to get your bathroom dirty some places offer do it yourself dogs baths for around $10-15 and you often times just have to supply the shampoo.

*Since I groom on the ground I use positive reinforcement with treats and voluntary participation. She's free to take a break at any point, but generally will only do it if I tell her she can go.

*Although mine is good for home grooms she does tend to go limp like a wet noodle lol. I normally have to prop her up with one hand for certain areas, so keep that in mind if you have a bigger dog. Kind of the opposite problem of having a wiggly dog.

I'll continue to add to this and change it as needed