[daissyj]

Hi!

Quick question.... I'm getting really worried & stressed out that people are going to be disappointed in the coats of Daisy's F1 pups. Everyone wants a fluffy fleece coat and I am extremely honest and upfront with every little thing. I've even told some people that I think they should get an F1B or a multi gen instead of an F1. I would rather they be totally happy with a dog from another breeder than unhappy with one of mine. On some of these pups, you can see a slight wave or ripple of hair, and even the "stripe" down the back that has been mentioned before. Is that a sign that it will be more of a fleece coat or is there no way to tell at this point? At 4 weeks are you able to tell the coat type better? That is when I'm having people come and pick out their specific puppy so I'm hoping they will be able to tell. Help! A stressed out breeder!! :?

THX!!!

 

[Doodlesville]

F1 coat

The problems with predicting F1s are frustrating i know,,
Bocker , www.bocker.tv looked like a lab when he was a puppy
in fact my bella was too ,,she is more of a irish wolfhoung look though
at 4weeks the wavy curly will look like my pups http://www.doodleville.net/TIPPER.html
most of those are wavy curly, the rest will be kinda shaggy look a bit more coat then bocker

 

[dixiedi]

Hi Julie, F1's are really hard to predict, like Nancy says, my Phoebe at 9 wks of age looked like a lab and now she is just gorgeous (not that labs aren't, but you know what I mean). I do think that 4 wks is a little early for people to be picking out their puppies because they are just starting to develop their own personalities at that age, some don't have their teeth all the way in, making it hard to tell if they have overbites or underbites and the coats will change dramatically over the following weeks. I know families are really eager to pick their puppies, but if you can hold them off for a couple of weeks, they would be able to tell more about them

 

[Jac]

Hi Julie, Nancy and Diane are right on. In my first litter, I had 3 cream colored males. One was VERY curly, so we knew what he would look like (that is Vicky's Copper) and we had two with flat coats. Our first customer wanted a flat coat. Wanted a Labby look, so they couldn't decide between the two. And, I didn't know, as this was my first litter!
So, after a week or so, I saw changes and could tell that one was getting fluffy...that one turned out to have a very lush, curly fleece coat...very long and non shedding. The other one is still very Labby...he is the one they selected. He sheds and he is the lankiest, funniest guy...but adorable and they could not love him more.
I would tell people that it is too soon to say for sure.
From the pictures that I saw, all of your pups looked like they will have nice coats!
If I get time today (please send an email to me and remind me) I will send you some baby pictures and grown up pictures. Then you just tell your customers that with F1 it is hard to predict, that you make no promises, but that this is why F1s are much less money than F1Bs or multigens! You could also talk more about the excellent coat of an F1 for grooming...rarely do they mat, easy to brush and go, never need clipping, etc. The shed is slight, generally...nothing like the Lab (but could be...my Labby boy started shedding heavily at 7 weeks and I knew he would shed...yet the Labby girl from this litter...the one I was CERTAIN would shed...none! She is lanky, but no shedding!)
So, you price an F1 according to this "gamble" and if people want ONLY a good coat, they can find that anywhere...but if they are looking for a great dog, good temperament, health, socialization, warranty, etc. They can buy one of yours.
You could also let them meet the pups as they get older. Take the pups for a drive, leave them in the car, let the families see them and play with them, but not on the ground and only if they wear protective clothing.
Sorry this is long...but don't worry.
Say...take a look at my blog page! Scroll all the way to the first litter (in the archives) and you will see my early litter as they are born...then as they grow! You'll see.
Feel free to show those pics to anyone or have them contact me and I can "sell" them on F1 because that is my favorite, personality-wise!

 

[blueteal]

Feel free to show those pics to anyone or have them contact me and I can "sell" them on F1 because that is my favorite, personality-wise!

I love the F1's and was told that Denver would probably shed,
Did not matter to us as we have no alergy problems.
Turns out though that Denver(10 months) does not shed one bit so I would hate to see potential buyers turn away from the F1's based on the shedding factor although I do understand that they are more likely to shed.
Too bad they turn away cause this is what they could be missing out on.

 

[JettsMom]

But First Human Mama Jac, I thought I was your favorite. :wink: :wink:

 

[Jac]

Awww, Copper, my beautiful baby boy! You are always my favorite!
You are my first...I will never, never forget how excited I was to see all of that curl...and CREAM coloring! Wow...!!
And you have not disappointed me on bit...I selected a favorite very well!
Don't ever forget, Mr. Copper boy...you are loved by a whole family in Willits! (Besides, I am not the one who has to brush that beautiful wool coat!)

 

[lisarundell]

I'm not a breeder but here are photos of my F1s, hope they help. Can't wait to see more photos of your babies!

Lani 7 weeks old

Lani 1 year old

Toby 11 weeks old

Toby 1 year old

 

[dixiedi]

Gorgeous dogs, all of them :!: :!: The Labradoodle has got to be the prettiest dog ever, I'm not at all partial

 

[gene]

Lisa they are so beautiful/handsome....can't see there pictures enough! I especially love the expression on Toby's face in the last picture! Thanks for the quick "fix" in doodle pics! :lol:

 

[lisarundell]

Gene, You are so kind. I am just amazed at how much they have changed in their first year and how different they look. I love both their looks! I'll be curious to see other baby and older dog pics.

 

[blueteal]

Above pictures of Denver when he was six weeks old
and now at 10 months

 

[daissyj]

You all have been so helpful...thank you for sharing the pics and your advice!!

 

[dixiedi]

Julie, the puppies are gorgeous! Daisy should be proud

 

[gene]

Sue, thanks for posting that picture of Denver.....made my heart sing!! How big is the little Colorado now?

 

[Maureen]

Good afternoon, Doodle Friends!
I'm late getting to this post because WE HAD PUPPIES THIS WEEK!

I have one tip for you, in addition to all these fabulous pictures:
WAIT on letting people choose their puppies! With this being your first litter you are learning along with everyone else, so you might have to refund some deposits, but it would be worth it for the sake of your learning and reputation.

I was advised early on to have EVERYONE wait until 6wks old before choosing (or allocating) puppies so that everyone can see how coats are developing. Fleece and wool coats are uniform in length at that age, in my experience. Chances are that most of your puppies aren't fleece or wool, but mostly "scruffy" as we call them. But hey, check out Denver! Scruffy coats can be adorable! And, as for the liklihood of fleece coats? who knows, really? I mean, if this is the first time your Lab and Poodle have come together, then who knows? It's great when the probabilities are wrong in our favor, ya know? :wink:

I hope this helps.....and I hope you'll wait until 6wks to try to predict coats.

you're welcome to email me if you like, of course.

 

[MaxandMe]

maureen well said!!

i am not a breeder but help other breeders socialize puppies. mostly doodles but other kinds too. It seems the older the puppy gets the more developed a coat is.For me though, i may have wanted a certain coat, i just wish more prospective doodle parents would base solely on Temperament first then coat and/or color.

Max has a hair coat and looked mostly labby witha wavy ridge down his back. Now he has the scruffy benji look and barely sheds.

Peanut we'll see as she is a goldendoodle that had wavy fur and now is turning a shaggy look.

we have bad allergies but so far as long as i sweep daily we are fine. The son with asthma is a OK with both doodles!

 

[daissyj]

Thanks for the tips! I will definitely wait until 6 weeks for people to come choose their pups. Originally I said 4-6 weeks, but now I totally see the validation in waiting. I've been extremely upfront and honest with everyone re: the coats of F1's and have even turned down a few deposits becaue I thought the poeple would be happier in the long run with F1B's or Mulit-Gens. Everyone that has placed a deposit seems to be wonderful, which makes me happy! Once the pups are a bit older (2 weeks today!), I'm sure I'll be posting pics for more advice!!