Why Do Some People Hate Doodles?
Sadie McDonald
There is an increasing number of doodles in my neighbourhood and the only one more excited about this than I am is my bernedoodle, Scout. Doodles are dogs that are poodle mixes, hailed for their hypoallergenic coats, friendly dispositions, and intelligence. Often fan-favourite purebred dogs like the golden retriever or Labrador retriever are bred with standard or miniature poodles to produce the goldendoodle or the labradoodle.
Part of their popularity is due to their being pandemic puppies when the loneliness of lockdown was remedied by a furry friend. Or maybe I think they are popular because I notice them more than I used to now that I have one of my own. After begging my parents for 16 years for a dog, they finally said yes, and that is how I first became introduced to the growing world of doodles. There is the bernedoodle—my favourite—which combines the poodle with the Bernese mountain dog; the aussiedoodle which pairs the Australian Shepherd with the poodle; and even the whoodle, a poodle bred with a soft-coated wheaten terrier.
Doodles are also gaining notoriety on the internet. “I hate doodles,” some blog posts state, and debates on whether doodles are real dog breeds fill YouTube comments. As mixed breeds, doodles tend to cause irritation among people who believe purebred dogs are superior. Doodles are also considered designer dogs, defined by Dictionary.com as a “dog intentionally crossbred from two purebred dogs of different breeds, specifically to appeal to a market for certain desirable traits.” At first, there seems to be nothing wrong with this, but many of those opposed to designer dogs are in favour of the ‘Adopt, Don’t Shop’ approach, which stresses the importance of rescuing dogs from shelters instead of breeding new ones. In addition, it is not uncommon for designer dogs to be bred unethically without considering genetic testing to ensure healthy litters or the ability of the female dog to reproduce
First-time dog owners may not know to keep a doodle’s fur mat-free and groomers tend to get fed up with owners who want their doodle to rock their fluffy coat when the amount of mats requires the dog to be shaved down to the skin. It can be particularly difficult for owners to keep their doodle mat-free if their dog’s coat favours the poodle.
Now, does anyone really “hate” a dog? After all, hate is a strong word and a dog does not deserve to be despised no matter its breed. People are entitled to their opinions, but I think the controversy surrounding doodles highlights the issues surrounding the ethical responsibilities of pet ownership regardless of breed. There are thousands of dogs in shelters in need of loving homes, and if everyone owned designer dogs, many shelter dogs would not be adopted. Puppy mills still exist and some breeders try to sell puppies knowing that they have genetic defects or injuries. Refusing to keep your dog’s fur free of mats can be considered a form of neglect.
Of course I love doodles. Scout brings so much joy to my life and her sweet nature is in part due to her breed. To those who “hate” doodles, how could you hate an animal who would never hate you?