Fern's corner
What does a doodle puppy need?
By Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM. Small-animal vet since 2000.
Your host
Fern, a Bernedoodle puppy
This corner is for
Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, Bernedoodles, Cockapoos and other poodle mixes, plus any long, hairy-eared dog.
Mixed breed? Read the corner that fits his body, not just the name on the paperwork. An 80-pound Lab-Shepherd mix belongs in Moose's corner.
The short answer
- Ears: look and sniff inside once a week, and dry them after every bath or swim.
- Coat: start brushing now and get to a groomer early. Curly coats mat, and grooming belongs in the budget.
- "Hypoallergenic" isn't real. No dog is allergen-free, doodles included.
- A doodle inherits from both parents, so both should be health screened.
Ears: once a week
Long, floppy ears with hair growing down inside are warm and damp, which is exactly what ear infections like. Make the weekly check a treat-filled habit while he's little: lift the flap, look, sniff, praise. A clean ear is pale pink and doesn't smell.
Tap what you see
Fern's weekly ear check
Pale pink and no smell? All clear until next week.
Not sure which one fits? Call your vet. General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
The coat: groomer early
A curly or wavy coat doesn't shed much, which is why people love it. But that hair has to go somewhere, so it mats. Brush a little every day at home and book short, happy grooming visits early, while he's young and it's easy. For many doodle families, grooming is one of the biggest yearly costs, so put it in your Two-Bucket plan.
Myth or fact? Tap the card
Are doodles hypoallergenic?
Myth.
In a 2012 study that measured dog allergen in coats and homes, the so-called hypoallergenic breeds, Labradoodles included, had more allergen in their coats than other breeds, and no difference in the air at home. Some allergic people do better with some individual dogs, but no breed is safe for every allergic person. If someone at home has dog allergies, talk to their doctor first.
Parent screening
Poodles, Goldens, Labs and Bernese Mountain Dogs can all carry hip, elbow and eye problems, so the same health tests apply to both of a doodle's parents. Ask the breeder for both parents' registered names and look up their results in the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) database.
Itchy doodle?
If your doodle starts licking her paws, scratching her ears or chewing her belly around age 1 or 2, that's a whole other book: The Itchy Dog. Biscuit's in it.
Questions I get every day
Are doodles hypoallergenic?
No dog is allergen-free. In a 2012 study that measured dog allergen in coats and homes, the so-called hypoallergenic breeds, Labradoodles included, had more allergen in their coats than other breeds, with no difference in the air at home. If someone in your home has dog allergies, talk to their doctor before counting on a coat type.
Why do doodles get so many ear infections?
Long, floppy ears with hair growing down inside trap warmth and moisture, which is a perfect setup for infection. Look and sniff inside once a week, and dry them well after baths and swims. Head shaking, scratching one ear, redness or a smell are reasons to call your vet today.
When should my doodle puppy start going to the groomer?
Early. Curly and wavy coats don't shed much, so the hair mats instead. Start brushing at home now and book short, happy grooming visits while he's young and it's easy. Put grooming in the budget too; for many doodle families it's one of the biggest yearly costs.
Where this comes from
- Vredegoor DW, Willemse T, Chapman MD, Heederik DJ, Krop EJ. Can f 1 levels in hair and homes of different dog breeds: lack of evidence to describe any dog breed as hypoallergenic. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2012;130(4):904-909.
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), ofa.org (parent health screening).
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.