Labradoodle Rescue & Goldendoodle Rescue
city doodle? opinions please!
Hi All!
I have been doing a lot of research on what dog would be a great fit for my home. Right now a Doodle is at the top because of their friendliness, intelligence and their potential to shed less. Plus my boyfriend's sister has a Doodle, which I love. And, s/he must be a rescue.
I would like opinions from Doodle owners. I currently live in a city. There is a fenced-in dog park at the end of my block. There is also a long walkway along the waterfront as well. I grew up in the suburbs where our dogs and I played in our backyard. Our family dogs LOVE the backyard and spend hours just lounging in their "own space."
For this reason, I want to ask if you all feel a Doodle would be happy in a city environment, as long as there are places to exercise and play? This is my first city-dog experience so I'd love to hear opinions from other city dwellers and Doodle owners.
Thank you! Kate
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karen & Jack on -
Unfortunately, Kate, experience has shown us that most adult doodles (and many adult rescue dogs in general) do not do well in an urban environment. While there are certainly a lot of doodles living in urban environments, when placing a rescue dog the priority is to stack the deck in the dog's favor, and it is much much easier for most adult rescue doodles to adapt to life in the country or the suburbs than to an urban environment. Here is our adoption policy regarding urban environments:
URBAN (CITY) ENVIRONMENTS POLICY
While we know for a fact that there are many wonderful pet owners and pet-friendly families that happen to reside in large, busy cities, DRC does not generally adopt our rescue doodle dogs to families living in urban areas and/or within city environments.
To a doodle who has not previously been exposed to the constant stimuli, crowds, sights, sounds, smells and hectic pace of a metropolis, a sudden and extreme change in environment can confuse, overwhelm, and frighten them and ultimately create even more stress for an already insecure dog.
While there are always exceptions to every rule, we have seen that many doodles over the age of 4-5 months that are used to more rural or suburban environments, do not readily and easily adapt to city life. Young puppies are more likely to adapt to an urban environment than young adults and older dogs. Especially those who have had no experience of city life prior to coming into rescue. Whether they come to us from a shelter, puppy mill, reputable or disreputable breeder or a re-home situation,the majority of the doodles that come into the DRC program are over one year of age and come from rural or suburban origins. When they arrive in foster care their stress levels are already high and their emotional states compromised from either having suffered the loss of the home and family they were accustomed to or from being in a shelter environment or unfamiliar surroundings.On occasion, exceptions are made to this policy on a case by case basis depending on the dog and/or: • If a particular doodle in our program has previously lived in an urban environment.
• If the dog happens to be a young puppy under 4 months of age.http://www.doodlerescue.org/notes/DRC_ADOPTION_POLICIES_AND_PROCEDURES
Remember that doodles are sporting dogs. They absolutely must have the opportunity to run on a regular basis. It's not so much the size of the dog as the breed and the previous life experience.
Have you considered a purebred poodle, especially a smaller one? There is no smarter breed, and unlike doodles, they are absolutely guaranteed not to shed. Many of the terriers do not shed, either, and do not need as much exercise as sporting breeds.
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Permalink Reply by Deborah & Emmett on -
Kate: I have a doodle - Emmett that loves just to walk on a leash. He goes to the leash off dog park but doesn't play with the others but stays with the people where he knows he's going to be petted and talked to (except to chase the MARTA bus from the otherside of the fence and he's taught most of the other dogs to do the same). I really think that it depends on each dog's personality. I've since moved to a house with a small fenced in back yard. Emmett still doesn't play in the yard. He lays on the patio in the sun and waits to go for walks. I've had a lot of different "breeds" of dogs and the Doodle is definately a great dog. I've also fostered 4 Labradoodles through the DRC (Emmett was from a breeder and he's a goldendoodle - but I just didn't know at the time about the possibility of a rescue) and they've all had different levels of activity but all are smart enough to adjust to their environments.
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Permalink Reply by Karen & Jack on
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Jack also does not play with other dogs and doesn't play by himself in the yard. But he goes nuts if he doesn't have a chance to chase a ball at least 30 minutes daily, and that means a lot of running. In bad weather, we play fetch indoors with soft stuffed balls.
He also came to me with many fear issues, and was terrified of normal outdoor things: Trash cans, garage doors opening or closing, lawn decorations, a crow cawing, the wind blowing a paper across the street, etc. And I live in a fairly quiet suburban neighborhood. There is no way he could have adjusted to a noisy, busy, high-traffic urban environment, and he was only 14 months old when I adopted him.
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Permalink Reply by Amy, Cubbie, & Ollie on -
I got Cubbie from a breeder as a puppy and he was raised in the suburbs and I thought a fairly well adjusted dog. I decided to take him into Chicago for a Canine Good Citizen class and didn't really think anything of it, until we got downtown. He completely freaked out whenever the elevated train rattled overhead and buses zoomed by, All in all, it was a good opportunity to teach him to focus in a different situation, so it worked out. But my rehomed doodle, Ollie, would NOT do well in an urban situation. He is afraid of sudden movements, loud noises, you name it. He is a great little guy, but he has his issues. I can't imagine taking him downtown with all that noise.
If you want to adopt a dog, I would consider adopting a dog from an urban shelter because those dogs might be more comfortable with the noise and action than a dog from a suburban shelter.
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Permalink Reply by Andrea Johnston on -
I applaud you for wanting to adopt a rescue, but I agree that they often come with issues that are not well suited to a city environment. That being said, the right rescue might just do fine; I think it has to be taken on a case by case basis. I have to say that I had a great experience when I lived in the city with a breeder purchased Great Dane and a rescue Great Dane. I lived in a small town house and did not have a backyard, but I lived near a large park. I could take the big guys there to run and play and get their exercise. This was years ago and both are over the rainbow bridge now having lived many wonderful years with me in very small places.
The point I really want to make is this, even someone who lives in an apartment can provide all the love and care needed for any dog if they are willing to work at it. Just living in a city should not be cause to eliminate someone from consideration. A loving, caring home that meets the dog's needs should not automatically be discounted.
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Permalink Reply by Karen & Jack on
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This is a great example of what I meant by "It's not so much the size of the dog as the breed".
Many breeds in the Working Group, even some of the giant breeds such as Great Danes, may adapt better to life in an apartment and require less frequent or strenuous exercise than some of the sporting breeds.
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Permalink Reply by Andrea Johnston on
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There are also so called sporting dogs who are couch potatoes, like my Molly. Not all doodles need a large area to run simply because they are not the running type. I don't think it's an all out case of breed of dog but the individual dog. Again it is much fairer to make a decision on a case by case basis.
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Permalink Reply by Karen & Jack on
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True. It's the temperament of the individual dog that matters most.
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Permalink Reply by Kate Moran on -
Thanks, Andrea :).
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Permalink Reply by Kate Moran on
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Thank you all for your quick and thorough responses.
I appreciate all of your input but I think I gave a wrong impression of my "city." Let me give some more details:
I live on a one-way street that ends at a public park that has a dog run and connects to a pedestrian path along the Hudson River. Buses are only allowed on two streets in town. My block is actually quieter than my mother's suburban home on the main street of her town-it's nothing like a major downtown. I also have to say that I walk everywhere: food shopping, post office, work is all in walking distance. I am much more active than I was in my suburban life and walk miles everyday. Hoboken was actually voted #1 walkable city and the #1 dog friendly city in the country in 2011 by belladog magazine!
My main concern was that we don't have a backyard. I can see how it could be difficult to adjust from having private outdoor space. Everyone seemed to have strong responses so I definitely have a lot to consider.
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Permalink Reply by Nancy, Ned and Clancy on -
My doodles appear to be an exception to the usual doodle need for lots of activity. Both do fine with suburban noises - trains, planes, traffic - we worked on exposure with the doodle we raised from a puppy. Our rescue is from our local environment and used to whatever noises our area emits. He is a very calm dog though. Checking your local shelters is a really good idea. Check them often. You just might find a local doodle - we did.
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Permalink Reply by Adrianne Matzkin on -
Hoboken is not a big city like Manhattan or Chicago. I know Hoboken.
Not everyone who adopts has a backyard, it is depends on the dog. The most important thing is that a dog has to get out for physical exercise and in Hoboken since there is very little street parking so everyone walks. I have paid too much money for parking in the parking garage when we go for dinner.
Put your application in and if it meets the criteria of our adoption policies then you will just have to wait for that doodle to come along.
© 2012 Created by Jacquie Yorke - DRC Director.
