Are you looking for a pup that's as cute as can be and has the perfect combination of three desirable purebred dogs? Then look no further than the Double Doodle! Because just one degree of doodle isn’t enough for those who really love doodles.
These adorably fluffy pups are gaining popularity and it's easy to see why. So let’s take a look at the origins of the Double Doodle, learn all about their unique coat and color varieties, and dive into their temperament so you can decide if they are right for you.
Get ready to find out all there is to know about these cuddly cuties! Double the doodle, double the fun! That’s obvious, isn’t it?
What Is a Double Doodle?
So what is the incredible Double Doodle, exactly?
It’s a combination of two popular designer breeds, which are hybrids of two purebreds. The ones used in the cross are the Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle.
As mentioned, the Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. The F1 Goldendoodle is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.
Imagine the traits of all three of these purebreds in one adorable, energetic puppy body. That’s the Double Doodle!
This crossbreed combines the intelligence and friendly nature of both parent hybrids into one pup. The result is an intelligent, loyal companion that loves to play, cuddle and spend time with their family.
The appearance of the Double Doodle can vary widely — they are hybrids of hybrids after all. Most feature a mix of colors from their parents. They may be black or brown or white or cream and have markings in other colors, particularly white. And their generally curly, thick coats are perfect for snuggling up against!
The Origins of the Double Doodle
The concept has only existed for a couple of decades, so despite the catchy name, you may not have heard of it.
What you probably have heard of is the regular doodle, right? The doodle craze started when Walter Conron crossed a Labrador Retriever with a Poodle in his search for a hypoallergenic guide dog. And it has exploded from there.
Yep, Walter Conron unintentionally set off the doodle craze in the early 90s with a marketing gimmick he used to get his “crossbreed” accepted as a guide dog. Suddenly, everybody was crossing Poodles with all sorts of other dog breeds to create adorable, low-shedding dogs with a variety of desirable traits.
The exact origin of the Double Doodle itself is not documented — and no one has stepped forward to take credit. But the first cross probably happened in the late 90s amid all the hubbub.
Double Doodle Coat
Let’s talk about the luscious Double Doodle coat some more. This beautiful pup is blessed with an incredibly soft coat.
The most common coat type seen on these dogs is the curly coat, but they can also have wavy and straight coats as well. Double Doodles are often low-shedding, meaning that you won't need to vacuum every day in order to keep your house clean.
While a truly hypoallergenic dog is rare, the Double Doodle has a good chance of not bothering someone with allergies. Technically, half of its lineage is Poodle since two of its four grandparents were Poodles.
Double Doodles tend to have long, somewhat wiry hair which will require regular brushing one or two times a week.
They tend to have Poodle-type hair that grows continually like human hair. The benefit of this is that they won’t constantly be shedding fur like other dogs. But their hair will need to be trimmed on occasion and you can give them a variety of adorable haircuts.
Plus, the hair around their ears and eyes should always be kept nicely clipped to help avoid infection. Their long floppy ears can be prone to harboring moisture which may lead to infection. A weekly ear cleaning and inspection will help stave off this unpleasantness.
The Size of the Double Doodle
In addition to being available in various colors and fur types, Double Doodles come in various sizes too. Due to their hybrid nature, even pups from the same litter can grow to dramatically different sizes.
However, in general, the Double Doodle is considered and medium to large-sized dog, weighing between 30 - 70 pounds. Both Labrador and Golden Retrievers are large dogs, so the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle are generally on the larger side.
The wild card is the Poodle. Poodles come in three sizes — Toy, Miniature, and Standard. Which type of Poodle was used in the cross will affect the adult size of the Doodle pups.
The combo starts getting really crazy if there’s a Toy Poodle or two thrown into the mix. This is where you’ll start getting siblings who end up being considerably different sizes.
The Double Doodle Temperament
Aside from their delightfully adorable appearance, their personality is a big reason why they are capturing hearts right and left.
These pups are incredibly smart, friendly, and loyal companions that will quickly become a part of your family. They love spending time with their humans and have an uncanny ability to sense when someone needs a cuddle or some extra love.
Because of the influence of the Labrador and Golden Retrievers, they are generally very friendly and good with children. Their Poodle heritage can peek through sometimes and they can also be shy when meeting new faces. However, it doesn’t take them long to warm up!
With proper training and socialization, these pups come out of their shells in no time. And once you've earned their trust, you'll never want for another canine companion –- as this breed loves nothing more than being right by its human's side!
Their intelligence makes them great candidates for learning tricks or competing in agility trials. And both of these activities are great for the mental stimulation they need.
Activity Level and Exercise Needs
Though Labradors can be more laid-back, Goldens and especially Poodles are known for their boundless energy and hyperactivity. Thus, if the Double Doodle doesn’t get enough exercise and mental stimulation — watch out! Your furniture could be in danger!
Exercise needs among individuals will vary, but Double Doodles are generally not couch potatoes. If you plan to bring one into your home, you should ensure he will get 1 to 2 hours of exercise each day to stay healthy and happy.
For this reason, regardless of which size Doodle you get, they will be happiest with a large backyard. Even if you get a pint-sized dog for apartment living, be prepared to spend hours at the dog park. If you don’t, your Double Doodle will start going stir-crazy and getting himself into trouble.
A large backyard gives the Doodle a chance to exercise himself. But don’t think you’re off the hook completely. He still needs plenty of affection, attention, and exercise activities with you. Because of their highly social personalities, they won’t do well for long periods by themselves.
Dog activity trackers, like those on the Fi GPS collar, can help you keep track of how often you are taking your dog for potty breaks. Since the collar monitors walking, it's easy to find out when you last took your dog out. If you are having trouble knowing how long your dog has been holding their pee, this is a great tool to avoid making your dog hold their pee too long.
You will be able to get accurate data on how much exercise your dog is getting, their sleep habits, and their bathroom habits, which can be extremely valuable in detecting, preventing, or treating health concerns.
Health
It is generally believed that hybrid dogs are less prone to health problems because of a fresh mix of genes. While this can be true, it isn’t always the case. In some instances, the hybrid can be prone to whatever troubles plague all of its parents!
The Double Doodle, in general, is a healthy pup. But it’s always a good idea to be aware of health issues that run in your dog’s family. Poodles can be prone to bloat and digestive issues. Retrievers struggle with hip dysplasia and cataracts.
Double Doodles may be prone to suffer from any of these maladies or they may avoid them altogether due to the mix of genes they received. It depends on the individual dog.
It’s always a good idea to feed your Double Doodle high-quality dog food and avoid foods high in fat. This will help avoid exacerbating the digestive issues that Poodles are known for.
The main thing, as with any dog, is to make regular trips to the vet to help ensure your pup’s health and happiness.
Since there aren’t a lot of Double Doodles and their popularity is quite recent, there isn’t a lot of data on their average life expectancy. However, by taking an educated guess based on the parent breeds — a well-cared-for Double Doodle is expected to live between 12 - 15 years.
Loving Your Own Double Doodle
In conclusion, the Double Doodle is an amazing breed, with a unique history and identity. The hybrid mix of Goldendoodle and Labradoodle gives them a low-shedding, generally hypoallergenic coat that comes in many colors and patterns.
The personality of the Double Doodle is friendly, playful, and loyal — making them perfect family pets that can get along well with small children and other animals as well. If you are looking for an amazing canine companion to add to your family, be sure to look at the impressive Double Doodle.
Just imagine coming home after a hard day at work and snuggling into that luscious curly hair. Whatever is stressing you, there’s no doubt that hugs and snuggles from these delightful creatures will lift your spirits!
For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi.com.
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