By Mason Edwards, Editorial Intern for the Chattanooga Times Free Press
Staff photos by Mason Edwards / Left: Nick Thompson cardles a goldendoodle he later adopted an named Toa, meaning "brave warrior." Right: Taylor Thompson pets two doodle puppies.
Imagine the perfect dog: loving, loyal, intelligent, good with kids, trainable, easy on the allergies and plays well with other dogs. That ideal pet is what breeders are going for with the Doodle: a "designer dog" that's a crossbred combo of a poodle and another purebred dog, with the hopes that the puppies will inherit the best behavioral and health traits of each breed.
When Ashley and Nick Thompson's 15-year-old family dog, a Doodle named Bear, passed away, they knew they needed a new puppy, and it had to be another Doodle.
"You didn't have to have just one-word commands," Nick says of Bear and his intelligence. "It was almost like having a conversation."
The Thompsons drove from Hendersonville to Signal Mountain to adopt from an acclaimed breeder, Morning Glory Doodles, and selected a puppy with a tan, curly coat with white markings. They named him Toa.
Most Doodles are first-generation poodle mixes, but a dog can still be considered a Doodle as long as they have a purebred poodle grandparent. Part of their appeal is due to the fact that people perceive poodles as intelligent and hypoallergenic. Add in, say, the good temperament of a golden retriever, and the result is supposed to be everyone's dream mutt.
Some accounts suggest the first Doodle was bred in the 1960s, but most documented cases appeared in the 1980s, according to PetMD's veterinarian team. These dogs gained traction in the 1990s and recently became a favorite among pet owners, with goldendoodles, labradoodles, bernedoodles and cavapoos as the most popular.
Professionally certified dog trainer Katelyn Thompson (no relation to the Thompson family) has witnessed the Doodle craze firsthand. "From 2021 to 2022, if I had a class of 10 puppies, I would have five doodles," Katelyn says.
The demand for Doodles skyrocketed during the pandemic, says Whitney Smith, the owner of Morning Glory Doodles since 2018. With people stuck at home and wanting companionship, it was a perfect time to adopt and train a puppy. "During Covid, we could not keep up," Smith says. "Lists were full long before puppies were even born. That lasted through 2021."
Though the boom has slowed, interest remains high, especially as workplaces offer remote or hybrid work arrangements. "I love it when someone tells me they work from home because that means they have more time to spend with their puppy," Smith adds. "Puppies really need their people."
Staff photos by Mason Edwards / From left, Ashley Thompson, Whitney Smith and the rest of the Thompson family (Taylor, Nick and Andi) play with puppies.
While Doodles may seem like perfect dogs, local veterinarian Dr. Katherine Thigpin recommends people separate fact from fiction before adopting one — like the myth that mixed-breed dogs are healthier than their purebred counterparts. All dogs have common health concerns, from cancer to hip displacement, so reputable breeders will inspect their animals with genetic testing and X-rays to clear dogs from hereditary problems. "Don't be under the misconception that this dog is any healthier than either of the two breeds it was bred from," Thigpin says.
Doodles are not an absolute solution for allergies either, she says. Dog allergies come from dander, not hair, and while the Poodle's curly hair helps it trap dander, poodles release some dander when they shed. Although poodles shed less than other dogs, causing some to call them hypoallergenic, there's significant debate around the proper use of that term. Because people have varying sensitivities to dog dander, and not all dogs within a breed are the same, there's still a chance an owner could have an allergic reaction. Ultimately, Thigpin recommends people with allergies speak with an allergist before adopting a dog.
Adopting a puppy from a reputable breeder is no small feat. At Morning Glory Doodles, the process begins with Smith helping customers narrow interest down to size, color, breed and temperament. She requires that her customers answer several background questions before they pay a deposit and reserve a puppy. Puppies need at least eight weeks with their mothers to learn socialization and proper play, and then, on puppy pickup day, customers play with a whole litter to find the best fit.
Smith's puppies cost from $2,800 to $3,200, but if customers look at other breeders, they could expect to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. Smith says the costs fund her dogs' well-being, including vaccinations, deworming and DNA tests, guaranteeing her puppies' health for up to two years. That price doesn't include grooming, which poodles need approximately every six weeks, or other dog maintenance.
While the Thompsons had a positive experience adopting Toa, other Doodles may or may not be as smart, playful or healthy as their reputation suggests. "That's going to come out in the next couple years, as these dogs that were bred in 2021, 2022 are aging," Katelyn says, referring to the new wave of Doodles created during the pandemic.
Smith feels that if you're interested in adopting a pet, you can't go wrong with a Doodle. "A dog is going to bring so much joy, love and laughter to your life," she says. "They're just fun, loving, snuggly, a great companion and a good exercise partner and listener."
For more information on adopting a Doodle, go to morningglorydoodles.com
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