10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Double Doodle
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Like its name suggests, the Double Doodle is a mixed breed. To be exact, it is a mix of the Goldendoodle and the Labradoodle, which in turn, are mixes between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle as well as the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle respectively. Due to this, the Double Doodle tends to be a mix of characteristics from the three breeds, thus making it a very interesting canine companion for a lot of people out there. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Double Doodle:
1. Doesn’t Have to Come from a Goldendoodle and a Labradoodle
As stated, the Double Doodle tends to refer to a mix between a Goldendoodle and a Labradoodle. However, it is important to note that the term can be used to refer to any dog with Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and Poodle in its heritage for sheer convenience if nothing else.
2. Can Be Rather Unpredictable
On a related note, this means that a Double Doodle can be rather unpredictable when it comes to its exact combination of characteristics. Interested individuals can expect the breed to share the characteristics of its ancestors, but the exact proportions can see significant variation from dog to dog, particularly if their heritage is more complicated than just the offspring of a Goldendoodle and Labradoodle pairing.
3. Descended from the Golden Retriever
Like their name suggests, Golden Retriever were bred to be gun dogs, meaning that they are responsible for finding and then retrieving waterfowl as well as other game-birds that have been shot. This is the reason that they have an instinctual fondness for the water, which is helped by their water-repelling coat. With that said, while the Golden Retriever might have started out as a gun dog, the breed has managed to make a smooth transition to being a family dog as well.
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4. Descended from the Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is another gun dog with an instinctual fondness for the water. It is named thus because it sprung into existence on the island of Newfoundland, which is now considered to be a part of the Canadian province called Newfoundland and Labrador. Labrador Retrievers are very popular as family dogs as well as hunting dogs, but it is interesting to note that they are popular assistance dogs as well.
5. Descended from the Poodle
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Poodle started out as a gun dog as well. However, it is interesting in that it became less popular as a hunting dog in the second half of the 20th century, with the result that it was bred to emphasis its use in circuses as well as for companionship. Amusingly, more recent times have seen an effort to revive the breed’s use for hunting with a fair amount of success.
6. Comes from the Designer Dog Trend
The Double Doodle is a product of the designer dog trend that started up in the 1970s and 1980s. In short, designer dogs are mixes between two or more breeds, created for the purpose of introducing special characteristics into dogs that would otherwise not have them.
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7. Smart Dog
All three of the breeds that went into the creation of the Double Doodle are famous for their intelligence. As a result, it is natural for the Double Doodle to be a smart dog as well, which makes them quite good at learning new things.
8. Friendly Dog
On a related note, the Double Doodle is also a very friendly dog, which makes it well-suited for families. With that said, their lack of caution when it comes to strangers means that they are not good watchdogs as well, though they will start barking if they feel the need to do so.
9. Watch Out for Joint Issues
Most mixes tend to be healthy when compared to their purebred ancestors. However, tendencies are not guarantees, meaning that Double Doodle owners must watch out for all of the health problems that can pop up in in their ancestors. In particular, be careful about the joint issues that can be found in all three breeds.
10. Needs Regular Exercise
Naturally, the Double Doodle is an energetic dog. Due to this, members of the breed need regular exercise as well as regular playtime to keep them both physically and mentally stimulated so as to maximize their well-being.