I don’t know if there is really such thing as coincidence.  I think there is a whole lot more to it than that!  I don’t know how it all works, but I am thankful that someone is watching over me, and that guardian angels surround me when I need them… even if they’re the kind of angels without wings.

Take today, for instance.  It’s not a big thing, but it has to be more than a coincidence.  I was having a day with a lot of stress coming at me from several directions… probably my own self induced being the biggest problem!  I stopped to check my e-mail.  An e-mail from my husband!  That’s always good!  What?? A forward?  Oh well, I will read it.    And so I read it, and just felt like I had to share it with the world!  It hit me to the core, that I needed to take a lesson from my friendly 4-legged friends.  And so I share it with you in case you have some lessons to learn from our canine friends.  I also had to share the picture above with you.  I received it from one of my “families.”  This is Katie…   Life is truly a journey!

A Dog’s Purpose

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolf hound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ‘I know why.’

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, ‘People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?’ The Six-year-old continued, ‘Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.’

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride

.
 

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily

 
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

 ;

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY

My daughter, Tiffany, and I arrived in Amsterdam on October 1st with six labradoodle puppies!  We were met at the airport by  the puppies new families.  It was so nice to meet these kind people.  We knew the puppies were in good hands.

We headed over to Belgium, to the medival city of Brugge.  We had both been there before, and were excited to have some more time exploring.  We walked the city, rode the canals, took the bus tour and trotted along the cobblestone narrow, winding streets in a horse drawn carriage.

After a couple of days in Brugge, we caught the train to Bruseels where we were met by our favorite Belgian, J.P.  J.P. spent some time in our home as a foreign exchange student, 9 year earlier.  We had a wonderful time visiting with him and his mom, Anne.  We enjoyed seeing familiar sites of the city.

Early Sunday the 5th, Tiffany and I took an early train to Amsterdam and then to Heerhugoward.  Here we held the first Pine Lodge Labradoodles Round-Up!

We had a hard time counting the dogs that attended… but we think there were 18 of our labradoodles there.  We have sold a total of 27 puppies to Holland and Belgium.  We had 55 to 60 people come with their doodles. 

It was an amazing day for me.  I never thought I would ever have the opportunity to meet these Dutch families, let alone see my puppies again.  It was totally a dream come true!  The people were all so friendly.  And the dogs were hilarious!  They played and ran and barked.  By the time the round-up was over, there were some very tired puppies!

We held the round-up at the dog school of Yvonne van den Meer in the town of Heerhugowaard.  It is a lovely facility that held us all very comfortably.  I am so greatful to Yvonne for opening up her wonderful building to us.

I would like to also give a BIG thank you to three wonderful ladies who helped at the labradoodle round-up.  These very lovely ladies helped serve refreshments and also helped with the dogs.  We could not have had such a successful time without them.

I also owe Tiffany a huge thank you!  She put together our cute western packs that we gave to each dog.  These were purchased from a great company we found called Pawsitively4pets (www.pawsitively4pets.com)  They included a bandana that you can see on the dogs in the group pictures, a horsey toy and a cowboy boot name tag to put on their dogs collar.  Tiffany was also a lot of fun to travel around with.  We had fun!   She did an excellent job navigating the train systems.

I feel very blessed to have had this opportunity to meet “my” Dutch families.  Though we have no relation by blood, I feel a very strong bond to these wonderful families, through the dogs.  Thank you so much for coming to the round-up and thank you for being such great families for my doodle pups!

After spending some time and introducing all the various puppies to Sydney, I asked her what she thought.  Which puppies she liked the best.  She said, “The soft and squishy ones.”  Sydney is 4 years old.  She has very good taste…. she liked the youngest ones.

Cate and her family came over also to the Pine Lodge.  They got the “grand tour.”  Right now we have 4 litters of puppies.  We started with some of my regular “followers”, Sydney, O My, Annie and Mazy.  Then we went to the nursery and saw Sydney’s puppies, then Judy’s.  Last we went upstairs and saw O My’s pups.  Cate looks at me and said, ” I’ll bet if you are ever sad, you just go and look at your puppies, and you feel all better.  You must always feel happy.”

And Cate about has it down!  Puppies and dogs do make me feel happy.  It is a proven and a truly amazing concept, but a dog can bring such joy and peace to a person’s life.

By the way, Cate is around 8 or 9 years old.  I am so greatful for these wise people that come into my life and teach and help me remember the important things in life.

A highly recommended book for training labradoodles is “How to be Your Dogs Best Friend.”  It is written by the Monks of New Skete.  They have written at least one other book and put out some videos too I understand.  They have a good website with some helpful ideas on it.  This is the site:  http://dogsbestfriend.com/puppies/dgalp.html#approach I would recommend checking this page out and also going to their home page.

Good Luck!

Where did Labradoodle dogs originate?

In 1989, the Australian Guide Dog Association was run by head breeder Wally Conron. He bred the first Labradoodle dogs that year. The reason that Labradoodle dogs were bred was a need for a guide dog that were considered to be allergy friendly dogs for use in those households with family members who had severe allergies to dog hair.

The Labradoodle was the beginning of a trek to develop hypo allergenic dogs for use as guide or service dogs. The idea was to take a Standard Poodle (a breed known for low shedding) and breed it with a Labrador Retriever (a breed known to be great for service use) and produce an allergy friendly dog that was capable of being trained for service work.

The result was a litter of three Labradoodle puppies named Sultan, Sheik, and Simon. Sultan was the only one of the three who qualified as having the temperament of the Labrador and the coat of the Poodle that would not shed. Sultan went on to a life of service work with a blind woman from Hawaii.

What do Labradoodle dogs look like?

Labradoodle dogs are normally a little heavier than a Standard Poodle. It is a very muscular dog.  The coat ranges from 4-6 inches long and is very low shedding in most cases and with most coats. The Labradoodle dogs coat colors include chocolate, black, silver, cream, chalk, black and white parti, brown and white parti, tan and white parti, and apricot.

What does the term “generation” mean?

Labradoodle dogs are divided into generational terms. First generation Labradoodle dogs are a direct cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle. Backcross Labradoodle dogs are produced by crossing a Standard Poodle with a Labradoodle. Multigenerational Labradoodle dogs are crosses between Labradoodle dogs with other Labradoodle dogs of three generations or more.

What is the temperament of Labradoodle dogs?

Labradoodle dogs are great family dogs because they get along so well with other dogs and children. Training is easy and they are very smart animals.

When you see an ad listing “Labradoodles for sale” or Allergy friendly puppies for sale”, you might want to consider the miniature Labradoodle puppies. Some advantages to the mini Labradoodle are  - they can stay crated longer and can go longer between feedings. Their coat and size are more predictable than the full size Labradoodle.  And of course, miniature Labradoodles take up less rom, so fit better in some homes!

The Labradoodle dogs were first bred in Australia. The idea was to produce a dog that would be low to non-shedding, that also had a good temperament. Because the Labradoodle is a cross between and Poodle and a Labrador retriever, they are low to non-shedding dogs.  They make wonderful pets for people who suffer from allergies or from asthma. They are intelligent, sociable and are confident and easy to train. They can learn special or unusual tasks easily and are often used as guide dogs or special needs dogs. They are not aggressive and therefore, are very good with children. They make a wonderful family pet and are very loyal to their owners.

Miniature Labradoodle puppies need to be exercised regularly and is not a dog to be left alone or crated a lot. If left alone or crated very long, the dog will get into mischief and possibly develop behavior problems, like any dog.

The coats on the Labradoodle dogs can be hair, fleece or wooly - wave or curl.  The fleece coat is the easiest to care for and requires a medium amount of grooming by the owner. It is soft and usually doesn’t shed. Curly or wooly coats require more regular grooming by the owner and/or groomer.

Miniature Labradoodle puppies come in red, apricot, cream, chocolate, silver, blue, black, cafe au lait, black and white parti, brown and white parti, tan and white parti, and chalk.

The average life expectancy is 13 - 15 years.

Miniature Labradoodle puppies will grow to stand 14 to 16 inches high and weigh between 14 and 25 pounds as an adult dog.

It is important to start training your miniature Labradoodle puppies as soon as possible. Make sure that he has a time to roam and explore (always supervised), a time for play and a time to just cuddle up to you and be loved. House training usually goes very quickly and can be accomplished in as little as three weeks. Miniature Labradoodle puppies are best when they have a schedule to follow. There should be a regular feeding time, a regular play and training time and a time just to lay beside you.

Labradoodles

Labradoodle dogs are a cross between a standard poodle and a labrador retriever. The Labradoodle is not a purebred dog and is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. This is an intelligent, very trainable dog and makes a good family pet. It is one of few breeds of allergy friendly dogs that have a  coat that has a non/low shedding coat  that provides very little doggie odor. Its coat is curly or wavy and it can be wiry or soft. This dog is slightly heavier than the standard poodle and has strong front limbs.

Labradoodle dogs were first bred in 1989 by Wally Cochran in Australia. With the first mating, it produced three pups that were low allergy dogs. As more breeding was done, there was no consistency - some dogs were low shedding and some were not. Two research facilities were set up to research and refine this process and try to come up with consistently low allergy dogs.

There are three sizes of Labradoodle dogs -

• The Standard Labradoodle is 21-24 inches high and weighs between 45 and 77 pounds.

• The Medium Labradoodle is 17-20 inches high and weighs between 25 and 45 pounds.

• The Miniature Labradoodle is 14-16 inches high and weighs between 13 and 25 pounds.

Labradoodle dogs come in seven different colors - black, chalk, cream, apricot, chocolate, cafe au lait and silver. They also may come in parti, which is white and one other color, such as chocolate, black, apricot, tan, etc. The coat is usually four to six inches in length. Labradoodle dogs come in three different coats - fleece, wool/curly and hair. The straighter the hair, the more tendencies there is for shedding.

The breed is still developing. Appearance and behavior are not consistent yet. Some shed and some do not, but there is less shedding and odor than before. Great strides have been taken towards creating the ultimate allergy friendly dogs.

Labradoodle dogs are friendly and energetic and make a good family pet. They are a non-aggressive dog, but temperaments can vary depending upon the dog. Most Labradoodle dogs are very patient with children. Because they are intelligent and can be easily trained, they make good guide dogs, therapy dogs, police dogs and hunting dogs. This breed of dog loves to play and have fun and particularly enjoys the water and usually is a good swimmer. Most Labradoodle dog breeders will tell you that it is important to exercise these dogs. They are a high energy dog and if left by themselves or in a crate, they can develop behavioral problems.

Given proper exercise and lots of love, these allergy friendly dogs will make a good family pet and provide years of enjoyment.

Labradoodle Puppies

Labradoodle puppies are full of energy, so it is very important to start training as soon as possible. Many Labradoodle dog breeders will offer some training as part of the initial purchase. Beyond that, it is important to continue your training at home. Important things that Labradoodle puppies need to learn are basic obedience, house training, crate training and socialization with other animals, as well as adults and children.

• Labradoodle puppies must not only be able to listen, but the owner must know how to respond to the needs of the puppy if it is to become a good family pet. The person who cares for the puppy the most is the leader for the puppy (only an adult should do this). The leader applies the rules and makes the schedule until the puppy is an adult. The leader should make sure that other members of the household understand the rules and needs of the dog so that there is consistency in what you are trying to teach him. The leader must teach the puppy how to live in the house. This means providing for its basic needs, so it doesn’t have to hunt for it in an incorrect manner. The leader will provide time for the puppy to explore (this should be monitored). During this exploring time, the puppy should not be played with and it should be relatively quiet in the home. Make sure that you have a time to cuddle your puppy, love it and pet it. This will also provide for basic bonding and makes for a good family pet. After this is established, teaching the children how to behave around the dog is the key to his training. If the kids are excitable, the puppy will be too.

• Keeping a regular schedule is important. There should be regular feeding times, exercise times and crate times. Along with this should come time for just cuddling the puppy.

• Training Labradoodle puppies is a process of give and take. The puppy must earn his privileges and toys. He also should be rewarded when he follows through with what is expected of him. This provides the concept that the people in his household are in charge of his needs and environment. Control is important, not only on the owner’s part, but the puppy’s. The puppy must learn to listen and to control himself, without the owner always being involved. Teach a dog to sit and wait is basic - reinforcement and punishment. Reinforcement means that if he does what he is supposed to do, he gets a reward. If he doesn’t, he’ll lose something he likes (this is the punishment).

• Socializing your Labradoodle puppies is important because it will teach him to interact with members of your family as well as other dogs and make him a good family pet. Touch, feed and play with your puppy every day. Introduce him to dogs and to other people. Don’t react to frightening noises. Your puppy will pick up on this and be afraid.

So, the next time you see a sign that reads “Labradoodle puppies for sale”, be aware that along with the joy of owning Labradoodle puppies comes a responsibility to train them correctly. If you do this, Labradoodle puppies can be a great addition to your family and a good family pet.

Grooming your Labradoodle dogs

Labradoodle dogs make a good family pet. They have been billed as hypo allergenic dogs. Because of this, they have become very popular with people who suffer from allergies or asthma. However, the dog’s hair is not always the reason for the allergy attacks. Sometimes it is the dander and can even be an allergy to the dog’s saliva.

Grooming Labradoodle dogs will make them more allergy friendly dogs, but not necessarily hypo allergenic dogs. It depends upon the coat. The fur on the Labradoodle dogs can collect dust, mold and other allergens. Sometimes cutting the fur shorter helps, but not always. How a groomer would trim your dog would depend upon your needs or wants. Obviously, a show dog would be trimmed differently than a family pet.

If your Labradoodle dogs have a wooly coat, he will need to be brushed on a regular basis to prevent matting. If it has a wavy coat, you won’t have to brush it as often. Labradoodle dogs with fleece coats are wavy and don’t need a lot of care and also shed very little. It is important to keep the hair under the ear flaps trimmed. Usually, around 8 months of age, your Labradoodle puppy will need a good trim. This will help to prevent matting and will allow for the adult coat to come in.

• It is important to get close to the skin when brushing Labradoodle dogs. Don’t just brush on top - it will look good, but will not get underneath. If this happens, matting will occur. If your Labradoodle dogs are short-coated, brushing over the top is effective. But long-coated Labradoodle dogs need each layer brushed.

• The wool-coated Labradoodle dogs should be brushed once a week. This will prevent them from matting and reduce the amount of shedding your dog does.

• The Labradoodle dogs should only be bathed when dirty or smelly. The coat will repel moisture naturally and will stay fairly clean. You can use a regular dog shampoo. When shampooing the Labradoodle dogs hair, don’t rub it through their coat - squeeze it through. Rinse the coat, let it dry and brush it thoroughly when dry. If your dog has some mats, use a dog conditioner and comb or brush those while the conditioner is still in.  Rinse thoroughly when done.

• The nails of Labradoodle dogs should be clipped every two to three weeks with dog nail clippers.

• Make sure to keep the inside of the Labradoodle dogs ears trimmed. This will help to keep ear infections down and allow for air to go through.

• The hair around the Labradoodle dogs eyes and muzzle should be kept trimmed.

• Offering Labradoodle dogs a raw, meaty bone will help to keep their teeth free from tarter and shiny.

• Make sure to trim the bottoms of the Labradoodle dogs feet and between the pads. This will prevent mud and dirt from getting caught in the feet.

• The hair under the tail and the belly of your Labradoodle dogs should be kept shaved. This will prevent mats from forming and keep these areas clean.

• The hair under the chin of Labradoodle dogs should be kept short to keep the face cleaner and drier.

Goldendoodle

The Goldendoodle is a medium to large sized dog that is a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle. It is also referred to as a Golden Poo, Goldie Poo or Groodle. The Goldendoodle is not a purebred dog; and it is not recognized by the American Kennel Club.

It was first bred in North America in the 1990’s. Since the cockapoo was such a popular dog, there was a need to come up with a larger version of this dog. This is why the Goldendoodle was bred.

The Goldendoodle makes a good family pet because of its good disposition. It is very devoted to the family, is good with children and strangers and is very eager to please you. This is a goofy and fun-loving dog. The Goldendoodle is friendly, intelligent, affectionate, obedient and easy to train. However, even though this dog would bark, it is not recommended to be used as a watchdog because it would not respond properly if it was put in an aggressive situation.

The Goldendoodle is a breed of allergy friendly dogs because of their non/light shedding coats. This makes it a good dog for families with allergies and asthma. This dog can be shaggy looking or have relaxed curls. The coat of a Goldendoodle is usually four to eight inches in length and needs to be groomed often to prevent the problem of matting. The color of the coat can be cream, gold, apricot, chocolate, grey or black. The straighter the coat is, the more likely it is to shed. The curly coated Goldendoodle is a wonderful example of hypo allergenic dogs.

The size of the Goldendoodle can range from 45 to 65 pounds, with some reaching 100 pounds in size. The Miniature Goldendoodle ranges in size from 25 to 45 pounds.

The Goldendoodle is a social animal and needs to be with people. If it is left alone a lot, the dog will get into mischief and behavior problems can develop. This dog needs moderate exercise. Because of its Golden Retriever line, it loves to fetch sticks and balls. It is important to keep the Goldendoodle on a leash. Its keen sense of smell will cause it not to listen to commands if it is distracted. Because of its size, it could hurt someone even if it is only playing.

The Goldendoodle is good for someone who lives alone as well. The puppies are generally calm and love to curl up in your lap for a nap.

It is important to do your research when you are shopping for a Goldendoodle. This dog can be prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts and intestinal problems. When shopping for a Goldendoodle, be sure to ask for health certificates. Reputable Goldendoodle dog breeders will be happy to provide this for you. If the breeder is hesitant to provide this for you, you should seek out another breeder.

To sum this up, the Goldendoodle is a breed of hypo allergenic dogs that will make a good family pet. The good nature of the Goldendoodle will make it easily adoptable into a family situation.