Looking for Miniature Labradoodle/Schnauzer

LittleT

Hi there

I am currently looking for a miniature labradoodle or a miniature schnauzer. I have seen some mini labradoodles online in recent weeks but I wasn't sure about their breeding...

I have contacted the IKC but they don't have any information currently. I happy to travel up anywhere in Ireland or Northern Ireland to find my little one!

Would appreciate any information or advice.

Thanks!

Whispered

LittleT wrote: »

Hi there

I am currently looking for a miniature labradoodle or a miniature schnauzer. I have seen some mini labradoodles online in recent weeks but I wasn't sure about their breeding...

I have contacted the IKC but they don't have any information currently. I happy to travel up anywhere in Ireland or Northern Ireland to find my little one!

Would appreciate any information or advice.

Thanks!

They don't have information about their breeding because they are not a breed. I can't believe some ass is now trying to breed mini labradoodles. As it the "doodle" bit wasn't bad enough.

:mad:

Nody

So you want a cross bread of dogs that are the runt of their litters to generate a smaller dog and likely to carry even more unhealthy baggage then a normal mut? Read the puppy farm sticky because those are the only once I can see supplying them for you (you're looking for a sickly breed mut combination; no honorable breeder would offer you that).

LittleT

Yes indeed Nody you're right

I came on here looking for a sickly mut breed combo dog, that's just why I posted as I did!

If you took the time to read my post, I had stated that I had already seen dogs online with questionable breeding, which was why I was looking to alternative sources of information. Having done my information on websites from the UK, Australia and the US, I am already aware that miniature labradoodles are being bred by ethical and legitimate means in all these countries. I know exactly what type of breeding I am looking for and thought I might find someone on here who had similar knowledge.

I know someone personally who uses a labradoodle as her guide dog. He is a wonderful, intelligent dog who is great with her children and I was simply looking for a dog with these qualities.

If you dont have anything helpful to add to my query, I would just prefer you didn't comment. Have a nice day

mitosis

There's not a lot of need for snippiness, as was pointed out, whether you like it or not, labradoodle is not a breed, so the IKC has no info - naturally. It is a cross, a mongrel to use the correct terminology. And as the kind poster noted, when breeding for small size from a medium dog they use the runt. Runt by definition being the genetically weakest offspring.

andreac

Theres no such thing as a Labradoodle and there certainly isnt such thing as a miniature version!! A labradoddle was a name given to the two breeds of dogs that were crossed for guide dog owners that suffered with allergies.

Actually the guy that started breeding these is sorry he ever did it.

Please stay away from anyone who is breeding such dogs as they are not reputable!!

The IKC wont be able to help as they are not a recognised breed...

blade1

If it was me,i'd pick the schnauzner.
then again i know nothing about labradoodles.
the schnauzer has the qualities you are looking for though.

DBB

If you dont have anything helpful to add to my query, I would just prefer you didn't comment. Have a nice day

Mod note: LittleT, if you have a problem with a post, report it. Your last sentence is back-seat moderating, which is against the forum charter, and it is not up to you to decide who's going to post here, it is a discussion forum.
To all: keep it civil, let's try to be helpful. It is far more effective to rationally and calmly make your point that to berate people.
Thanks,
DBB

Back on topic, I'm assuming a miniature labradoodle is the offspring of a Miniature or Toy Poodle, with a Labrador? I can only hope the Labrador is always the female in this crossing.
You're going to find it very difficult to find an ethical breeder of designer crossbreeds, particularly in Ireland: your friend's guide dog, which I presume is an IGDA dog, was carefully bred by people who really know what they're doing, and are not producing these crossbreeds for profit. They produce this crossbreed out of necessity. They also put enormous amounts of training and socialisation into their pups to make sure they turn out nicely rounded, like your friend's dog.
Unfortunately, people outside the service dog industry are rarely breeding designer crossbreeds for anything other than money: there is no escaping this fact. Outside the IGDA, there are so many extremely unhealthy, temperamentally questionable doodles. They're no more reliable, temperament-wise, than any other dog is, quite frankly.

LittleT

@ andreac

Thanks for your information. I appreciate I may have used some incorrect terminology. I come from a family who have always had pure-breds and I am about to get my own dog for the first time. So I am not an experienced dog breeder or owner but I am simply trying to decide what dog is best for me.

My other half has allergies and we live in a house with a small garden. My local vet advised me to go for any cross-breed with a poodle, because they are hypoallergenic and shed very little hair. So naturally we won't be looking for a St. Bernard or a Newfie!

You can see my trail of thought, I have always had dogs around and am simply looking for one that I can give a good home to. As I said I know a labradoodle who is in the full of his health and makes a wonderful guide dog. I'm not trying to endorse puppy farming or any other forms of sadistic animal torture!

Whispered

DBB wrote: »

Unfortunately, people outside the service dog industry are rarely breeding designer crossbreeds for anything other than money: there is no escaping this fact. Outside the IGDA, there are so many extremely unhealthy, temperamentally questionable doodles. They're no more reliable, temperament-wise, than any other dog is, quite frankly.

Just a thought, but do the IGDA rehome young dogs who may not quite make the grade?

It wouldn't be a mini -doodle OP but it would likely be a well socialised dog and well on its way to being well trained.

andreac

There is no such thing as a hypo allergenic dog im afraid. Most people who have allergies are actually allergic to the Dander that comes off the skin and not the actual hair.
All dogs will shed even some hair/dander so you will not find a dog thats totally shed free so just be aware of that.

LittleT

@DBB

Apologies for breaking any forum rules! I didn't realise I was going to upset people so much by simply asking where I might find a particular type of dog...

From the reading I have done, the dog I was looking for was a mix between a toy poodle and a lab. Yes the guide dog I have encountered is very highly bred, not sure where she came from actually but I'll definitely find out with all this new information in mind. You will see from my previous post that I have certain criteria which narrow my search for a dog quite a bit. I had also outlined that I was happy to travel to get a well bred dog.

DBB

LittleT wrote: »

My other half has allergies and we live in a house with a small garden. My local vet advised me to go for any cross-breed with a poodle, because they are hypoallergenic and shed very little hair. So naturally we won't be looking for a St. Bernard or a Newfie!

Oooh! Be careful of this advice: any cross of a non-shed dog with a shedding breed can produce pups which shed! But you won't know they're not non-shed until their puppy coat is gone after 6 months of age.
Are there other "guaranteed" non-shedders you'd consider? Bichon? Shih Tsu? Poodle (all 3 sizes)? You've already mentioned the Schnauzer.
The IGDA, as far as I know, only breeds normal-sized Doodles, they have to be big to be able to cope better with the physical, hands-on end of their role, so although Whispered's idea is good in theory, in practise you're probably not going to get a smaller dog from them.

LittleT

Okay thanks that's good to know about the shedding puppies...we previously had a corgi at my family home and now have a st.bernard. On top of all the work involved with a pup, I'm just aware of the additional housework that comes with a dog who is constantly shedding...

I had looked a bit into the IGDA re-homing scheme which is wonderful, but we are just not in a position to take a full sized doodle or a labrador etc.

My original query was also looking for a well bred schnauzer so that query still stands!

Thanks for all your advice DBB

ISDW

Why don't you just look for a poodle? In a cross with a lab, they would be the 'non-shed' part, so surely a well bred poodle, and you have 3 sizes to choose from, could fit the criteria? the benefit of that of course, is that you will be able to find reputable, responsible breeders, who will allow you and your family to meet and spend time with the dogs, and see how your OH's allergies fare with them. Am very surprised that a vet would recommend a poodle cross, rather than a pb poodle, did they give a reason for that?

Schnauzers again, would probably fit your criteria, have you contacted the schnauzer club?

DBB

LittleT wrote: »

My original query was also looking for a well bred schnauzer so that query still stands!

Miniature Schnauzers are fab, but (I feel like such a naysayer ) they are prone to a serious amount of inherited problems, they seem to crop up on list after list of breeds prone to this, that and t'other, so you'll need to tread carefully on this one too!
But, you do seem quite determined to do this the right way, so I'd hope there'll be others here who have sourced nicely produced Mini Schnauzers in Ireland, though my suspicion is you'll have to go to the UK for one.... though you may get a better quality of breeder in NI too.
I'm assuming you're keen to get a pup rather than an adult? If you went for a young adult, for example, you may open up some options with crossbreed dogs, in terms of knowing if they've turned out to be non/low-shed, and indeed how their temperaments have turned out too. I'm not pushing the rescue route on you now, just wondering had you considered the option of a young adult mutt?

tk123

I have allergies (antihistamines and steroids inhalers all year round)... and I have a golden retriever. His coat and dander aren't a problem because he's brushed regularly and always dried off with a blaster (hairdryer) after a swim or if he gets wet in the rain - living in Ireland and beside a park with a river in it this is most days lol! His bedding is washed regularly too and we have wooden floors so easier to clean. I know somebody with a doodle and they call him Bob Marley because of his dreadlocks - they do shed but the hair mats into a huge pelt if the coat is not taken care of and no offence to him but he STINKS!
Anyhoos the point I'm trying to make is that if a dog is brushed regularly you shouldn't have to worry about allergies. Also for garden size - our garden is small but we have lots of places in the area for our walks and he's an indoor dog so more interested in the couch than the garden!

Rommie

Far as I know it takes at least four generations of breeding before you'll be lucky to get a majority of non-shed pups (as in have the poodle wool rather than the lab hair) and they have to be tested before it can be proven they will not shed. I'd love to know how many breeders of these 'breeds' actually send the hair away for testing. There are NO responsible breeders of crossbreeds in Ireland, the word responsible and crossbreeding don't make sense in the same sentence unless its to combat a health issue. No one breeding these designer mutts is attempting to tackle health issues, they're doing it because the puppies look cute and they can charge whatever they so please because people are ignorant enough to buy them. Of course, there are plenty of ignorant people buying breeds that are completely unsuited to their lifestyle, so maybe it's just a problem with humanity in general. This impulsive attitude and greed for money is absolutely detrimental to the dog world and several breeds are in the midst of being ruined by these crosses. It's no wonder the original creator of the lab/poodle mix regrets it
Why not just get a poodle or schnauzer? And from an ethical breeder who knows what they're doing?

LittleT

@Rommie

In light of what you are telling me, I'm sure you are right, any labradoodles I have seen have had no mention of sending hair off to be tested to ensure they are non-shed!

It makes me sad to hear people such as myself called ignorant about these things, because my motives are certainly not ignorant. I just think it is fairer for me to do my homework at this early stage, instead of getting a dog and having to send it to the dog's home a month later because he is causing one of his owners to sneeze incessantly?!

@tk123
Thanks for letting me know you can tolerate your pooch even with your allergies...I'll be stocking up on a year's supply of antihistamines before puppy arrives!! That's great to know you have been able to cope with having him around

@DBB
I too was aware of the risk of health problems for mini schnauzers which was why I didn't restrict myself to one of them from the get-go. My poor corgi suffered with hip problems all his life and he spent his life in and out to the vet. I actually never considered getting an older dog but I'd definitely consider it. I'm from a border area so I've already been looking up north at options. I need to check if there is an Northern Irish kennel club. In saying that I'm quite happy to go to the UK too, it will be well worth it in the long run

Rommie

LittleT wrote: »

@Rommie

In light of what you are telling me, I'm sure you are right, any labradoodles I have seen have had no mention of sending hair off to be tested to ensure they are non-shed!

It makes me sad to hear people such as myself called ignorant about these things, because my motives are certainly not ignorant. I just think it is fairer for me to do my homework at this early stage, instead of getting a dog and having to send it to the dog's home a month later because he is causing one of his owners to sneeze incessantly?!

@tk123
Thanks for letting me know you can tolerate your pooch even with your allergies...I'll be stocking up on a year's supply of antihistamines before puppy arrives!! That's great to know you have been able to cope with having him around

@DBB
I too was aware of the risk of health problems for mini schnauzers which was why I didn't restrict myself to one of them from the get-go. My poor corgi suffered with hip problems all his life and he spent his life in and out to the vet. I actually never considered getting an older dog but I'd definitely consider it. I'm from a border area so I've already been looking up north at options. I need to check if there is an Northern Irish kennel club. In saying that I'm quite happy to go to the UK too, it will be well worth it in the long run

Sorry if my post came across that way, but I wasn't actually implying that you are ignorant about this, because you are at least on here doing some research. I meant the people who see something, decide they want it and an hour later have found a puppy farmer to supply it.

wolfpawnat

Whispered wrote: »

Just a thought, but do the IGDA rehome young dogs who may not quite make the grade?

It wouldn't be a mini -doodle OP but it would likely be a well socialised dog and well on its way to being well trained.

The ones that do not make the grade for Guide Dogs are now used for companions for autistic children for the reasons you have stated.

ISDW

LittleT wrote: »

@Rommie

In light of what you are telling me, I'm sure you are right, any labradoodles I have seen have had no mention of sending hair off to be tested to ensure they are non-shed!

It makes me sad to hear people such as myself called ignorant about these things, because my motives are certainly not ignorant. I just think it is fairer for me to do my homework at this early stage, instead of getting a dog and having to send it to the dog's home a month later because he is causing one of his owners to sneeze incessantly?!

@tk123
Thanks for letting me know you can tolerate your pooch even with your allergies...I'll be stocking up on a year's supply of antihistamines before puppy arrives!! That's great to know you have been able to cope with having him around

@DBB
I too was aware of the risk of health problems for mini schnauzers which was why I didn't restrict myself to one of them from the get-go. My poor corgi suffered with hip problems all his life and he spent his life in and out to the vet. I actually never considered getting an older dog but I'd definitely consider it. I'm from a border area so I've already been looking up north at options. I need to check if there is an Northern Irish kennel club. In saying that I'm quite happy to go to the UK too, it will be well worth it in the long run

As Northern Ireland is part of the UK, it is covered by The Kennel Club

tk123

LittleT wrote: »

@tk123
Thanks for letting me know you can tolerate your pooch even with your allergies...I'll be stocking up on a year's supply of antihistamines before puppy arrives!! That's great to know you have been able to cope with having him around

Chemist direct + parcel motel = 6 months supply for the price of 1 here.