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Are Doodles More Controversial Than Pit Bulls?
Doodles are an intelligent, friendly, and low-shedding dog with a devoted following, but they’re very polarizing . Those that love them ask, how could anyone hate such a cute, goofy, cuddly, and sweet dog?
But if you ask a pet professional about the dog they don’t want to work with, doodles top the list. Every one I know has at least one horror story of a matted, hyperactive, mouthy doodle.
What’s going on here? Why is there such a big disconnect?
Designer Dogs Have Hidden Costs
Labs and goldens are family favorites because of their sweet, easygoing nature. It was easy to find them and their mixes in shelters, but they’ve been replaced by bully breeds and huskies. Although bullies in particular make great family dogs, they’re intimidating for first time pet owners, unlike a doofy lab mix. Nowadays it’s easier to find a non-bully mix from a breeder.
When you have a specific dog in mind, like a doodle, it’s easier to find a breeder than risk the behavioral crapshoot with a rescue. Personally, I’m an “adopt, don’t shop” girlie, but there is a need for breeders committed to producing litters of healthy, stable puppies that thrive in family homes.
A designer name comes with a hefty price tag, which means the dog has to be irresistible, and doodles are adorable. Even the most jaded pet pros lose their minds over large dark eyes and curls. Those puppies are next-level cute!
But pros know the doodle’s dirty secret: most buyers get their dog from breeders who care more about profit than the dogs they produce.
Doodles Are Marketed as a Product, Not a Pet
Doodles are sold as a low-maintenance, trainable dog that’s good with children. Websites feature children hugging puppies with teddy bear faces or wearing service dog vests, promising the perfect family companion. Like Amazon, they’re set up to lure you into impulse shopping.
They don’t tell prospective buyers about their upkeep or potential pitfalls. That’s for you to discover on your own to a chorus of “You didn’t do your research!”
They call themselves a “family operation”, but having three or more whelping mothers and no pictures of their living conditions means this is a business, not a home. Health testing is optional, and if it’s mentioned, used as proof that they’re not one of those guys.
Enthusiastic reviews are prominently shown, while unsatisfied customers quietly disappear.
Doodles sold through puppy brokers or pet stores aren’t any better. They’re removed from mom, transported, and isolated in cages during a critical socialization period. It’s a recipe for lifelong behavior problems.
When the perfect puppy is anything but, owners are told that it’s a buyer beware market and they fell for one of the bad ones. But when doodles are sold the same way you’d buy a kitchen gadget from TikTok, is it any wonder when things go wrong?
Doodle Problems Begin in the Puppy Mill Pipeline
Aesthetic websites hide a dark reality of overbred, neglected mothers used until they are no longer profitable. Stressed out moms have anxious puppies, who are sold with no one the wiser. Diseases like parvo, distemper, and kennel cough spread quickly in overcrowded conditions, and buyers, not breeders, pay the vet bill.
Health falls to the wayside when looks are everything. Exclusive coat colors like merle bring in more money than a boring chocolate brown, but a double merle dog is a walking vet bill. They want a wavy coat for the perfect teddy bear cut while ignoring genetic diseases. Both the dogs and their guardians pay the price.
Yes, a dog from a puppy mill can be a great pet. I have one: Kyleth. Her previous owner raved about how lovely the Amish family that produced her was, but I instantly knew that I had my work cut out for me. I love her, but she’s a handful with emotional and health problems that I’ll be managing for the rest of her life. None of that stops her from being a silly, cuddly little gremlin I adore.
This isn’t to say that everyone breeding doodles is a backyard breeder or running a puppy mill. There are many breeders dedicated to breeding great family dogs. It’s expensive, with pre- and postnatal care for mom, vaccines and deworming from the vet for everyone, and health testing in addition to early socialization in a home environment.
A Low Maintenance Doodle Doesn’t Exist.
Doodles need regular grooming every four to six weeks, an expense that gets downplayed. If a family is not prepared for it, their dog’s neglected coat tangles into painful mats that cover their entire body. Groomers usually shave them, both for the dog’s comfort as well as their safety. Shaving a matted doodle isn’t a shortcut, it’s a tough task! Ever try to shave a hyperactive, stressed out 60-lb toddler with sharp teeth and no way to tell you if something hurts?
Pet parents get upset when their doodle has to be shaved, putting the groomer or salon on blast on social media. Bad behavior from both dog and owner is a major reason that groomers refuse to take them on as clients in the future.
When it comes to their daily care and puppy raising, women take on the bulk of that responsibility whether or not they want to. It’s hard enough to juggle a busy family and a full time job without the added stress of a high maintenance dog. Ten minutes of backyard fetch isn’t a replacement for a walk, but when she’s exhausted after a long day, I get it.
Neglected Doodles Are a Nightmare for Pros
Across social media, people looking for help for their doodle’s behavior issues are met with enthusiasts telling them it’s somehow their fault. Professionals, worn thin by years of out of control dogs, get resentful and dismissive. Everyone’s pointing fingers, and no one’s helping.
Trainers, vet techs, and daycare attendants walk away with bruises, scratches, and more resentment, even when the pet guardian is doing their best. Working with an untrained, hyperactive doodle is like wrangling a kangaroo hopped up on Red Bull. It’s exhausting and very hard on the shoulders!
People know when their dog’s behavior is too much, so they seek out help from trainers. Group training classes are cheaper, but when it’s so overstimulating that managing the doodle class clown bogs down the lesson, you find yourself in more expensive private lessons, or worse, the trainer dropping you from class.
Love the Dog, Hate the System
Doodles are not bad dogs, but they’re not for everyone. They thrive in homes that can afford their upkeep, give them structure, and make them the center of attention like the teddy bear divas they are.
Bad breeder websites, pet stores, and puppy brokers encourage impulse shopping instead of thoughtful consideration. Online groups can be dismissive of genuine behavior problems, and professionals bear the brunt of bad behavior from both dog and owner. It’s the system, not the professionals or the people who fall in love with doodles, that fails us all.
Next time, I’ll talk about how to spot the difference between puppy mills and reputable breeders.
If you have a doodle, what have you struggled with? Let’s help each other in the comments below.
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