Please reach us at joanne@capitaldoodles.ca if you have any questions
Doodles and Poodles come in a wide variety of colours . Many Doodles will fade over time, how much and when all depends on what genes they have inherited from the poodles. A great site to learn about coat genetics is Dog Coat Colour Genetics (doggenetics.co.uk).
Doodles can range in size from tiny to large. Many aspects impact how large your Doodle will be. Some of these include gender, the height and weight of the parents, and which generation your dog is.
The combination of all of these factors make it somewhat difficult to predict exactly how big your dog will be, but it helps us come up with a general estimate. We also utilize the results from Embark to help predict the finished size.
The poodle comes in 3 official sizes, but there are intervariety breedings . An intervariety litter is the result of breeding a standard poodle to a miniature poodle or one from a miniature poodle bred to a toy poodle . A moyen or medium poodle in Canada or the US may be an intervariety poodle that was breed to create a smaller standard. In Europe Moyen (France) or Klien (Germany) is a 4th official size.
The standard Poodle is typically 18-24 inches in height at the shoulder and weighs 45-70 pounds. Small Standards or Moyens , are typically 15-20 inches and under 45lbs. The Bernese Mountain Dog is usually slightly larger at 23-38 inches in height, and 79-110 pounds in weight.
Standard Bernedoodles can range in size from 50 to over 100 pounds.
Small Standard or Medium are typically 45 -60 lbs.
Doodles require regular grooming to keep their coats matt free and healthy. Doodles can have a wide range of coat types, and all need regular grooming. The more poodle in the doodle the less they shed but all doodles can shed. Grooming can be done either at home or by professional groomers, but either way, you can count on having to get it done every 8 weeks and it is important to brush regularly in between. Your pup should get use to nails being clipped, brushing, and the clippers so that grooming isn’t a stressful situation for both of you! Introducing your pup to regular grooming early is an important part of puppy socialization.
All dogs big and small require exercise for a healthy mind and body. However, It is important to not over exercise young growing pups. Repetitive movements are hard on growing bones and joints. Finding activities that allow your pup to stop and rest is important. Low impact activities are better until your pups growth plates have closed. Most growth plate injuries happen from twisting and fall . Fast-moving activities and too much repetition are also common causes. Don't let them jump from the couch or other areas as it can damage young bones.
Introducing mental stimulations such as Kong’s, slow feeders, puzzle boards and basic training are great ways to bond with your puppy and encourage interaction.
Ensuring healthy joints is good breeding practices plus ongoing proper nutrition and exercise. Always follow the advice of your vet and minimize high impact activities until they give the go ahead.
These articles provide some information on exercising growing pups:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/puppies-how-much-exercise/
https://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/5-signs-your-dog-getting-too-much-exercise
All our dogs have been health tested via EMBARK. Embark Dog DNA Test: Most Accurate & Highest Reviewed Dog DNA Test (embarkvet.com) . We utilize the results to help ensure we are providing healthy pups clear of any testable genetic conditions. There is a link to each dogs results under their profile, any questions on results please get in touch.
The main difference in the PennHIP procedure versus the OFA procedure is the (x-ray) technique. OFA uses one x-ray of the hips for certification. PennHIP uses three separate views of the hips in different positions.
The “OFA” method of evaluating the hip joint uses an xray that shows the extended view of the pelvis. A preliminary evaluation can be attained before 24 months of age, or a permanent evaluation on or after 24 months of age. Evaluation of hips done by the OFA falls into seven different categories. Those categories are Normal (Excellent, Good, Fair), Borderline, and Dysplastic (Mild, Moderate, Severe). Once each of the radiologists classifies the hip into one of the 7 phenotypes above, the final hip grade is decided by a consensus of the 3 independent outside evaluations.
The PennHIP method can be performed on animals as young as 16 weeks of age. The PennHip report includes information on the owner (name, address, etc.), information on the dog (breed, age, sex, microchip number, etc.), qualitative evaluation including evidence of dysplasia, etc. and quantitative measurements including distraction index (DI). There is also a line graph at the bottom of the report, which demonstrates where the dog’s DI falls in a percentage comparison amongst other dogs of the same breed. In PennHIP the two hip joints are rated separately with their own score, but the percentile rating is based on the worse individual hip score.
There are many articles related to OFA vs PennHip and many opinions on what is best. Here is a link to one article that demonstrates some of the pros and cons.
Pros and Cons of PennHip and OFA Hip Radiographs: Review for Vet Students (vetprep.com)
From Raw to packaged commercial there are lots of options to feed your dog. The key is proper nutrition for the appropriate stage, but for me convenience also comes into play and of course costs.
A raw dog food diet is made from a combination of uncooked foods and bones. You can make these at home if you are certain you have the right nutritional balance for your pet or you can buy prepared raw meals. There are also numerous freeze dried raw or dehydrated raw available that make feeding raw easier. If you decide on raw ensure you are working with a board certified veterinary nutritionist. With raw you do need to be concerned about proper nutritional balance and with any raw food, bacteria and contamination.
Here are a couple of links on raw food, the first video done by Dr. Em has numerous other links in the video. They are very educational.
https://youtu.be/eXiqSKUWp0c?si=0KlUMmkgypRHibJZ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_m8PrwQjnw
Commercial dog food is your typical kibble and in theory is designed to meet your pets total nutritional needs. There are 100s of dog food brands and not all are equal or meet the needs of your pup. Just like us, if we eat cheaper processed food everyday for years it has an impact on health. Ingredient lists can be misleading and most sites that review dogfoods are not "experts". There are two standards that help ensure the kibble you are purchasing really does meet the nutritional needs of your pets, WSAVA and AAFCO.
Here is a great video, from Dr. Em on choosing the right food for your pet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXiqSKUWp0c
For me, I feed the dogs a combination of a vet recommended commercial dog food, Royal Canin, and top it with freeze dried raw and also add omega 3 and at times bone broth. For treats I use a wide range of treats, including freeze dried raw nuggets, liver and a range of commercial treats. I mix it up and give the dogs a variety. And yes, I also give them scraps and leftovers! I don’t give them anything that has ingredients such as onions or raisins that are toxic to dogs, but I do give them leftover meat and veggies.
Ask your vet for a recommendation on what is right for your pet and the specific stage and health condition of your pet. Ensure any food you pick meets AAFCO and WSAVA.
WSAVA nutrition toolkit: https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/
AAFCO: https://www.aafco.org/resources/startups/
WSAVA Guidelines: https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf
There are various training methods and trainers available, in-person and on-line, to help with introducing a new puppy to your home and help with basic training. The key is consistency with all family members. I recommend aligning on some key items and the entire household agree to follow. Of course, you can change these if you decide but the whole household should be aligned.
Some examples:
Is the dog allowed on the furniture?
Is the dog allowed on the beds?
Does the dog sleep in a room with you or somewhere else?
Agree on key words. For instance, if “down” is used to lie-down don’t use it to get off the furniture. If you have a trainer, you usually use what they do.
I provide access to Baxter & Bella , https://www.baxterandbella.com/, at a discounted rate. there are also many other options available.
Zak George has had great reviews and is also an option. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZzFRKsgVMhGTxffpzgTJlQ
The key is to have a plan ready prior to bringing puppy home.
For every person you ask this question I am sure you will get a different answer, and it can spark a very heated debate. From my perspective there is no correct answer. The real question is which one is right for your family. I love both and see advantages to both. Poodles come in a variety of sizes and colours, and though can be CKC/AKC registered many can’t due to the breed standard requirements. They don’t accept various colours as example, though a colour doesn’t take away from the quality of the dog. The standard does give you some consistency in regards to size, movement, colour . Many breeders are now breeding inter variety poodles to create poodles of different sizes, and many breed colours not accepted by the breed clubs. Doodles come in a wide variety of sizes and colours and can not be registered with CKC/AKC as they are basically a mixed breed and not purebred. The size of the dogs aren’t as consistent as you are mixing genetics from multiple breeds. The outcome may not be as predictable, but you get lovely dogs with less shedding then some of the parent breeds. It is said that Doodles are more genetically resistant to defects due to their greater genetic diversity, and there is truth in that. However genetic testing and good breeding practices are really the key to ensuring a healthy pup. There really isn’t one defining quality that makes a doodle better than a poodle, or poodle better than a doodle. Both make excellent family pets and each family needs to look at pros and cons and determine what is right for them.
Ticks are becoming more and more common and carry a variety of diseases. Dogs can show no symptoms or can be impacted.
I live in a high risk area and my dogs spend a lot of time in the woods and fields so proper Tick control is key.
Please follow the advice of your vet for proper tick control based on your lifestyle.
The main difference in the PennHIP procedure versus the OFA procedure is the (x-ray) technique. OFA uses one x-ray of the hips for certification. PennHIP uses three separate views of the hips in different positions.
OFA radiographs document anatomic abnormalities and natural laxity, while PennHip radiographs document distractibility under force. This difference in technique also is reflected by differences in sensitivity .
Here are a couple of links regarding the two options.
Pros and Cons of PennHip and OFA Hip
Radiographs: Review for Vet Students (vetprep.com)
Study compares PennHIP vs OFA hip dysplasia tests (aaha.org)
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