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Saturday, April 7, 2012

Goldendoodle

I would like to introduce you to one of our dogs, Mortimer.  He's an 85 lb Goldendoodle, and as you can see, he is not a paradigm of the breed.

Mortimer as a puppy
My husband and I found him in a pet store.  I'm not a huge fan of buying dogs from pet stores, but in a way, I feel like he was a rescue dog.  We stopped at this place on our way to look at an English Sheepdog.  This was a store that specialized in birds and small breeds.  Think Yorkies, Westies, Pomeranians.  How a black Goldendoodle ended up there, I have no idea.  We saw him, laying in the back of his kennel.  Apparently he had been there a while, as no one came to this shop to look for large dogs.  We asked one of the attendants to let him out of the kennel, which really meant that we were going to take him home that day.  In the car we named him Mortimer.  I'd been reading Terry Pratchet's Mort, the story of DEATH's apprentice, and it seemed appropriate for a big, black dog.

What can I say about Mortimer (Moe for short)?   Goldendoodles are a cross between a Standard Poodle and a Golden Retriever.  Typically their hair is the color of a Golden with the texture of a Poodle, meaning they are not supposed to shed.  Mortimer obviously got the coloring from the Poodle.  He doesn't shed, but his thick hair can get pretty unmanageable, so we keep him trimmed pretty close.  Goldendoodles are also supposed to be very smart.  I think Mortimer has the potential, but I blame the crowd he runs with.  He's picked up too many traits from our wired-hair fox terrier. Sometimes it's hard to have an 85 lb lap dog with a tail that swings like a whip.  We don't have anything breakable on level with his tail, and I can't wait for Sam to grow just two more inches so his face will be above the line of fire.  Still, Moe's gentle and loving and a great cuddler.  My children hug him, climb on him, use him as a step stool, and he simply allows it.  It's hard to imagine our household without him.



Mortimer today

13 comments:

  1. I bet he keeps you busy. Lovely dog.

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  2. We have an 85 lb Black Lab named Trilby. My son was recently trying to convince me that there was such a thing as Goldenoodles! I thought he was teasing me, as he does, and didn't think they were real. I haven't had time to Google them.....LOL, did my son put you up to this???

    Great & informative post!

    Texas Playwright Chick

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    1. Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are both such great dogs. I hadn't heard of them until we met Moe, and then my husband and I started seeing them everywhere.

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  3. Totally in love with Mortimer :D The tail like a whip thing--I sympathize. We have four dogs, all rescued from the street--where I live, there's one animal shelter and they overcrowd very easily, so I rescue dogs and then try to find homes for them. Most of the time that "home" ends up being mine :) Anyway, this one is a Rottweiler-Labrador mix. How do I know that? Rottweiler coloring, Labrador attitude (aka intelligence). And there must be some Poodle in there somewhere, because all 100lbs pounds of her sincerely believe she's a lapdog. She has a long tail, very whip-like, and she doesn't just swing it back and forth--it also *circles*, like helicopter blades. And yeah--we love her to death :)

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  4. You can't beat a dog like that! I'm trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month.

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  5. Aww he's lovely! I love anything-doodles, they're so sweet. My friend once had a bearded collie mixed with a poodle and she was CRAZY.

    Nikki – inspire nordic

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  6. Pets are so great - especially for kids. I'm sure he'll be their best friend.

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  7. Hi, sounds like fun for the kids! Beautiful dog. Retrievers have such a wonderful temperament. Sweet post. Best regards to you, Ruby

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  8. Never had a dog - I'm a cat person, however, really enjoyed the story on Mortimer! I'm sure hes happy you stoped in the pet store that day and gave him such a loveable home!

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  9. He doesn't even look like the same dog! What a cutie!

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  10. Oh my goodness! He is DARLING! I hear the best thing about this breed of dog. They are supposed to be wonderful. He probably likes to be shaved too! I think my pom likes it better that way. :) So nice to meet you! ... & Mortimer too!

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  11. Well he's adorable, that's for sure! And what a great name! "Mortimer." Such perfect clownish dignity.

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  12. He looks like a lovely dog. Great post
    :)

    All the best,
    Jack

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