Doodle Dogs For Dummies. Miriam Fields-Babineau

body. They’re highly energetic and intelligent and acutely aware of everything around them. Standard Poodles have been a hunter’s working companion for centuries because of their ability to work tirelessly all day and because they enjoy water (they were created to retrieve downed waterfowl from waterways). You can be most certain that your Standard-size Doodle will enjoy swimming — some are totally obsessed with it!

      

The classic Poodle coif of keeping the hair long on the chest, joints, and head aided in buoyancy and maintaining warmth when they were used as waterfowl retrievers. Their close-cut hind ends allowed them unrestricted movement while working.

      Regardless of which purebred dog is paired with a Standard Poodle, it will be tall and quite possibly very solid. They can weigh up to 100 pounds, even if one of their parents is only 70 or 80 pounds (such as a Golden Retriever). If the parent dog is of a giant dog breed (like a Great Pyrenees or Saint Bernard), you can bet on your Standard-size Doodle maturing to be even larger.

      Because of their high energy level and environmental awareness (which can translate to becoming reactive to certain stimuli), Standard-size Doodles are best-suited for suburban or rural areas. They need to run and require a securely fenced area to do so. Running a couple times a week isn’t enough — they require daily, high-quality exercise.

      Standard-size Doodles also need consistent training, using a positive approach. They may be large, but their personalities tend to be very sensitive. Standard Poodles aren’t hard-headed canines — they’re easily taught and directed, which is part of what makes them such high-quality working dogs. You can depend on their offspring, even when mixed with another type of purebred dog, to also be sensitive.

      

Positive training techniques, along with consistency and clear communication, enhances and speeds up the training process. Dogs trained in this manner are highly motivated to perform. With the forward-thinking Doodle, you’ll have a willing partner and close companion.

Doodle Personalities

      Both purebred and mixed-breed dogs (like Doodles) can have a huge range of behavior traits, from super-assertive to overly submissive. Some easily accept and remain calm in any situation, while others become highly reactive at the slightest movement. And, although early training and socialization can prevent any dog from becoming an excessive barker or jumper, all Doodles tend to have some typical behavior traits across the board. They can be super-sensitive, very intuitive, and, in the case of the Standard-size Doodles, hyperactive. Understanding your Doodle’s personality will help you take the right approach in every interaction.

      Super-sensitive

      Most Poodles are very sensitive, so you can count on your Doodle also having a sensitive personality. This means that they don’t handle aggressive actions or loud, harsh voices very well. It can also make them shy around strangers and other dogs they’ve never met.

      Standard Poodles also tend to be very reserved. Taking the time to allow your Doodle to make the first overtures will help prevent a fearful reaction, such as backing away or urinating. And, because Doodles are generally very friendly, you can count on their reaching out at some point. Just be patient.

      A sensitive dog requires a special approach to training and overall rule setting. Clearly explain your desires through a positive, consistent approach. Your Doodle will probably be quick to learn a new concept, but you may need to break it down into smaller parts and gradually add criteria to attain the ultimate goal. Repetition and clarity are key features of this approach.

      

Teaching your Doodle should involve capturing and shaping, not correcting. (You can find more about training in Chapter 10.) Overcorrecting your Doodle will cause the dog to be shy and shut down — you may see your dog lying down in a corner, facing the wall. Yes, Doodles are that sensitive!

      Being sensitive also means you shouldn’t flood your dog with a situation in which he’s insecure. Flooding means pushing your dog into something that’s frightening to him in order to teach him it’s no longer frightening. For example, your Doodle may be afraid of other dogs they don’t know. Flooding them would be to put them in a room with a bunch of other dogs and let them work it out to the point where they’re playing with all the dogs instead of cowering in a corner. With Doodles, that’s the wrong approach. They’ll be so overwhelmed that they will cower in a corner and then be afraid of that situation moving forward. Instead, meeting one dog at a time, in a relaxed environment, will give your Doodle time to adjust in their own way.

Regardless of which TV dog trainer you’ve watched, keep in mind that success doesn’t happen in 30 to 60 minutes. When the TV dog trainer puts a new dog in with a group of dogs and claims that’s the best way for them to learn manners, don’t believe it. That’s flooding, and it can backfire big time, resulting in a dog being injured and/or traumatized. Training takes time and patience, as well as understanding the dog well enough to read their signals. There are no overnight cures for inappropriate behavior.

      Sometimes a sensitive Doodle can be mistaken as fearful or having been abused. Lack of confidence can often appear similar to a dog who has had these emotions or experiences, but it doesn’t actually mean they’re accurate. It merely takes more time for an adult Doodle to warm up to a new environment, people, or other animals — especially if the individuals are outgoing and come at the Doodle, which can be intimidating.

      Sensitivity can often make the training process challenging. It may take a while to figure out how to motivate a Doodle when they would rather just watch the world go by and try to remain unnoticed. But every dog is motivated by something. And when you’ve discovered this key — the one thing that they’ll do anything to get — even a sensitive Doodle will gradually come out of their shell and discover a whole world of wonder, learning how to better understand their people and home. As this process progresses, your sensitive Doodle will become more confident and accepting of new situations.

      Because Doodles have a tendency to be super-sensitive, Doodle breeders should expose developing puppies to an array of sounds and experiences. Early socialization is very important. Exposure to people of all genders, ages, and attitudes will prevent the maturing Doodle pup from becoming intimidated later in life.

      And, as your Doodle passes through several important behavior development periods, you should continue to offer them varied experiences and exposure to people of all races, genders, and ages. A confident Doodle is much easier to live with than one who is easily intimidated or overly sensitive.

      

Between 2 to 4 months of age is an important family bonding time. This is when your Doodle will develop a sense of belonging to your family. But while this occurs, be sure to socialize them as much as possible. Let them meet other people and dogs in your community. Take them in your car to places that they’ll enjoy, such as a park, doggy daycare, or the house of a friend who also has a dog. This is especially important if you rarely have visitors or go anywhere. Try to become more social, at least for the next couple months as your puppy’s behavior patterns are forming.

      Very intuitive

      Doodles are highly intelligent. You can thank their Poodle parent for much of this. But many Doodle combinations with purebred dogs can enhance this attribute even more — examples include Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles. In these instances, both parents are already highly intelligent. Mixing them can bring two different types of intelligence