What is the best dog breed for your family & why we chose a Goldendoodle!

If you know me or follow me on Instagram you know I LOVE dogs, puppies, pretty much anything that is furry and barks :) and it was always my dream growing up to have a dog. My parents weren’t dog people (which is totally fine, I respect that! You should only get a dog if your ready to care for one as it’s a huge commitment) so I had to wait until my adult life to become the dog mom I always dreamed of. Our first pup Ruby was a ‘mini golden doodle’ we lived in a small house at the time, and she was the perfect little addition to our family. We loved her for 8 good years, and in her later years as she started to get many health problems we knew it was time to think about getting dog #2 as we weren’t sure how much longer we would have her. Once you get used to having a dog in the house, it’s hard to imagine your house without one, as they become such a big part of the family.

  When researching breeds I was always very drawn to Golden Retrievers, they are the quintessential family dog (think ‘Comet’ from Full House!), and I love their easy going and sweet personalities.  The only thing is they shed, A LOT and both my husband and I who are allergic to cats weren’t sure how we could handle a very furry dog allergy wise.  I knew I really liked doodles because they were mixed with poodles and were very low shedding.  They are also SUPER CUTE (let’s be honest!) how can you look at a picture of a Golden doodle and not say “awwwwwwwwww” (if you can your stronger then me!)  In researching their breed I also really liked their personality traits, they are known for being friendly, loyal, intelligent, gentle and affectionate.  They are actually one of the perfect breeds for comfort or therapy dogs as they really love people, and are very trainable.  They love being active with you, but they also love to settle down and snuggle.  They really want to be doing what their humans are doing, which was perfect for me as I love having that companionship from my pet.

  All these great personality traits and knowing that they would be low shedding, and less people would be allergic to them had me hooked.  We just needed to find a good reputable breeder and hope that a litter was in the near future.  Now I know a lot of people would say ‘adopt don’t shop!’ and I do totally agree with that method if it works for your family.  We have kids and sometimes an older dog that hasn’t been exposed to children or grown up with our specific children wouldn’t be used to their crazy monkey ways.  Our house is loud and busy and the kids are always running around here or there and making loud noises, which isn’t necessarily the best environment for many rescue dogs who have been through some trauma.  So we decided on raising a puppy at this time so that we could acclimate them to our family, children and lifestyle as they grew.  When our kids get older we do plan on adopting next time we welcome a dog into our family, as we know that is a wonderful thing to do also!

  When your looking for the right dog breed for your family make sure to do lot’s of research online.  There are so many good websites that outline the personality traits and tendencies of different breeds and that is so helpful.  If you are an active family that loves to be outdoors, then you’ll want to look for a breed that has good energy and drive to keep up with you.  If your looking for a quiet companion to hang out indoors with you, or if your like us and you need a breed that works well with children then make sure you choose a breed that lines up with your needs.  This way you set you and your dog up for success together.  When your dog is in it’s best environment he will listen better and be a better companion for you.

If you are looking for a dog who will love you wholeheartedly then a Golden doodle is for you!  They love their ‘people’, and being with them all the time (though following me into the bathroom is a BIT much, good thing he is so cute :)) so if you have a job where you will be out of the home often, then you may want a dog that is not so people oriented.  Since we homeschool we are home the majority of the time, so our dog is spoiled with pretty much 24/7 love from all of us (and he laps it up daily!)  We hope for many more years with Forest to spend loving him. Even though he’s still learning and has plenty of naughty moments, the bond I have with him is so special and I am thankful for him everyday, my pup brings me so much joy. If you’ve ever had your dog come lay his head in your lap and close his eyes as you pet him you know what i mean.

What kind of dog do you have, and what do you like best about them? if your a fellow #doodlemom I salute you ;)

stay cozy,

-Shelley