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Calling all dog-lovers! Dogs have made some of the most unforgettable characters in literature. It’s not uncommon for children to become as attached to a dog in print as the real thing. Puppy love comes in all forms. In fact, I believe I can trace my canine-cravings to my earliest days of reading, when I fell in love with Old Dan and Little Ann (from Where the Red Fern Grows). Below, I’ve compiled a list of five famous dogs you must bring home for your littlest children! (Good news…you won’t have to clean up after these champions!)

Carl is the star of seven picture books by Alexandra Day. The gist of these stories is that Carl, a responsible and caring rottweiler, is given the responsibility of caring for baby Madeleine while her parents are out. Once the adults are out of the way the fun begins! Carl includes Madeleine on some wild adventures. Sometimes they just trail the parents (keeping out of sight, of course), and sometimes they get into trouble—but Carl always manages to cover his tracks! With realistic watercolor illustrations and few words (only those necessary to suggest the storyline), Day’s books are designed for very young readers, 2-5 year olds, and will make rottweiler fans out of readers everywhere.

In 1976 Eric Hill’s son Christopher was born. Eric created a story about a small puppy to read to his son at bed-time. In 1980 Where’s Spot? was published. Now over forty Spot titles fill the library bookshelves, and the list is still growing. Cuddly and creamy-colored, with big brown spots on his back and the tip of his tail, this dog is destined to be your child’s best friend. With simple storylines and sturdy flaps, Spot books appeal to 2-5 year olds.

This is the Fiftieth Anniversary for our next dog protagonist. (Now how old would that be in dog years?) Harry, a small white dog with black spots, was created in 1956 by Gene Zion. Five installments complete the Harry collection. He is a wholesome, amusing addition to any children’s library. Whether he’s trying to quiet down his neighbor, hiding a hideous sweater, or visiting the seaside, Harry’s always into mischief! Even reluctant readers, ages 2-8 years old, can’t resist Harry!

Norman Bridwell gave birth to the next character, basing him on the kind of dog he dreamed of having as a little boy. But there’s nothing little about Clifford! Even though he’s fire-engine red and as big as a house, Clifford doesn’t do anything a real dog couldn’t do (with a little imagination.) The Clifford stories are based on ordinary events that turn extraordinary when Clifford makes innocent mistakes. His side-kick is his sweet little blonde owner, Emily Elizabeth. Designed for readers aged 6-10 years old, Clifford has been a children’s favorite since 1963. Now a PBS cartoon, Clifford continues to delight dog-lovers the world over.

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog introduces us to Hank, and it isn’t long before you get the impression that author John R. Erickson is a keen observer of dogs. Indeed, as a former cowboy and ranch manager, Erickson started spinning yarns about Hank and Drover, two dogs he worked with on the range. These “true” stories became the Hank series, which now numbers at 48 installments. Designed for middle readers, ages 6-12, these make perfect read-aloud books that will even entertain adults. There are even recordings of the author reading the books available now!

Without a dog-gone doubt, dogs in print can substitute as man’s best friend. It’s a fine reward to see your little one light up at the sight of a book. A good dog and a good book, a match made in heaven!

Despite what some naysayers are claiming on the internet, the Goldendoodle dog is NOT a fading FAD. The truth is, the Goldendoodle dog happens to be gaining popularity with each and every passing day. Perhaps in the beginning, when breeders in Australia started mixing Poodles with Golden Retrievers, they believed this gorgeous hybrid would not last. But honestly, even I was surprised that those wanting Goldendoodles surpassed those wanting purebred Golden Retrievers. Goldendoodles have become a breed that many enjoy loving. The fact their coat is low shedding and low dander and of course, their lovable cute mug only helps their “AWE” factor. A few naysayers claim that the shelters are filled with Goldendoodles….a “mutt” that is “substandard”. Excuse the heck out of me??? Since I began my Goldendoodle breeding program in 1999, I’ve not heard of very many people being able to find these wonderful dogs inside of shelters.

As a matter of fact, the reality is, many people HAVE to purchase through a breeder because there are so few Goldendoodles available at shelters…and that’s great news! I am very glad that so far, very few Goldendoodles can be located at shelters. This means that those who originally bought them….are keeping them and not dumping them at their local shelter or letting rescue groups have them. The sad fact is, too many “rescue” groups are in it for the money even though they claim they are in it to “help” dogs find homes. On facebook alone, I’ve discovered the fact that there are many bogus groups who are not ligitimate groups at all. Some are hate groups who are out to bash and trash breeders of hybrids and many are claiming to be “rescue” groups when they are really in it for a quick buck. Many breeders, such as myself, have devoted years of unpaid hours to their Goldendoodle breeding program and to their dogs.

I do not get paid for what I do. I think that the prices we ask for our Goldendoodles are beyond reasonable especially given the fact it is very expensive to raise, house and care for animals these days. My expenses always far exceed what I take in. I discovered one Goldendoodle naysayer claiming that Goldendoodles are “high energy” dogs. This is not an accurate statement in its entirety. I’ve written many articles over the years about the Goldendoodle dog. The truth is, SOME Goldendoodles can be high energy dogs…depending upon their lineage and how they are created. NOT ALL GOLDENDOODLES ARE CREATED EQUAL.

 While a rose is a rose is a rose….the Goldendoodle is not a Goldendoodle is a Goldendoodle. If a breeder does not pay attention to the pedigree of their Poodles and Golden Retrievers, then by all means, of course it is possible for the dog to be “substandard”. Goldendoodle dogs, like any breed, can not be lumped into one single group. I personally spent 2 years researching the pedigree history and lineage of both my Poodles and Golden Retrievers. My own Goldendoodles have a very impressive lineage of champion ancestors that date back to the early 1930s. Because their lineage is very heavy with companion dogs, our Goldendoodles make the most wonderful family companion anyone could ask for. Because their lineage does have quite a few Master Hunters and Utility dogs (champion working class dogs) our Goldendoodles can, sometimes, be stubborn when they want to be; they absolutely are attracted to water and water sports; they love to explore outdoors and they are highly intelligent dogs. Being highly intelligent is a double edged sword.

On the one hand, our Goldendoodles can easily learn new tricks and commands….but they can also learn destructive habits just as easily and such habits must be nipped in the bud by their owner immediately. If not properly trained and supervised, yes…very intelligent Goldendoodles will easily find themselves getting into trouble. But that is the owner’s fault. It is not the fault of the dog. Bad dogs are not born. Bad dogs are created by human owners. My days revolve around my dogs. Nearly every hour as a matter of fact. If I am not with them, I am writing about them. If I am not writing about them, I am talking about them. If I am not talking about them, I am running errands for them. If I am not running errands for them, I am with them. My day doesn’t end at 5pm. There are times I am awakened in the wee early morning hours…while everyone else is snuggled into bed….finding out what is going on due to the ruckus or barking of my dogs. Some naysayers will tell you, “Don’t buy your Goldendoodle from a breeder”. Well…why not? What makes these naysayers believe that a shelter dog is any better?

What can a shelter possibly tell you about the dog you are adopting? About its history? Where it came from? What its lineage is? What it likes and doesn’t like? How are they able to provide you with an accurate birth date? The truth is….they can’t. The truth is….not all shelter dogs end up at shelters or rescue groups because the owner was a bad owner. There are bad breeders out there just as there are bad dog owners. If a breeder isn’t particular about how they are creating their Goldendoodle dogs, then yes….a buyer will have a mess on their hands. If the buyer is inexperienced and has never owned a dog before, that mess then becomes a shelter dog because the buyer will dump it there. Naysayers will have you believe that breeders are the reason for the population explosion at shelters and ligitimate rescues. That isn’t accurate nor is it right that these naysayers blame every damned thing that happens, on the breeder. The truth is, there are entirely more purebred dogs filling up shelters and rescue agencies because it’s a money maker. If you believe that rescue groups and shelters do not earn a living off the backs of dogs and cats or other animals, then you live in an enclosed bubble. Animal control or Humane Societies earn a living by confiscating and bringing in the animals that they take in. HSUS has been closely scrutinized for many years because of the fact their founders and excecutives have earned millions of dollars off the backs of animals and very few of dollars has gone back into the caring of those animals.

Many “rescue” people and groups have actually had the animals they claimed they were “rescuing” confiscated because of neglect and abuse at their hands. All is not what it seems with many of these agencies and groups. Let’s look at the reality that shelters, animal control and Humane Societies get paid by their state. They are state funded. The employees have their vehicles paid for; their fuel paid for; they often have a 401K; they are paid by the hour or even earn a bonus and they receive benefits. They make a living off the backs of animals. But I am getting off topic here. When I think about all the negative comments or articles or blogs written by these type of naysayers, it does get my blood boiled. As someone who is very involved with my dogs, it makes me angry to read absurd comments and content that is written by people who aren’t breeders…who are not Goldendoodle owners and who has never owned a Golden Retriever or a Poodle before. Their content serves one purpose and one purpose only and that is to rile up Goldendoodle fans and to stir up trouble.

There has been a battle of words going on for many years between breeders, rescue agencies and animal rights advocates. I personally have spent since 1999 writing about the Goldendoodle dog because I didn’t like the fact there was very little information about this wonderful hybrid and what I did find, was inaccurate. Much content that I’ve seen on the internet is even inappropriate. There are many articles written by fly by night writers who pretty much just take bits and pieces of content from all over the internet and they jumble it all together just to put an article out there. They don’t really know anything at all about the Goldendoodle dog. They simply wanted an article put out there with their name attached to it. Since 1999, I’ve been pretty much caught up with the Goldendoodle dog. It’s been my personal mission to put out accurate and factual information so that those who have fallen in love with them, can learn and understand the truth about this breed. Hybrids are not a fad. They are dogs that are going to be around forever. AKC (The American Kennel Club) realized that the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle dog was NOT a fad. Which is why they began to allow these hybrids to become registered with their kennel club. Make no mistake about it, folks! AKC laughs itself all the way to the bank.

 They are nothing more than a registrant service for purebred dogs. They do have a nice data bank for dog owners if they desire to dig into the lineage and history of their dogs. Sure, AKC puts on some pretty elaborate dog shows for breeders who rake in thousands of dollars from their puppy sales. Go to an AKC dog show sometime and take a look at the vehicles and toys sported by those dog owners. You will see expensive Rvs, Motor homes and even semi trucks owned by those showing their dogs. Why? Because they sold their puppies for up to $25,000 a peice! Their purebred puppies fetched that wonderful price because the parents gained a few ribbons. If you do not think that the animal world is a money making machine, then I am not sure what planet you live on. Private hobby breeders never live off of their puppies and dogs. They are not a commercial enterprise. Show breeders, commercial dog breeders, vets, animal suppliers, website owners that charge breeders and animal businesses to advertise upon their site……businesses that sell dog supplies, clothing and other essentials….these are the enterprises that are making where animals are concerned.

The pet industry is a billion dollar a year generator for many. This is not so for the private, hobby breeder. Naysayers should stop putting down the Goldendoodle dog simply because they want others to believe that hybrid breeders are causing this, that and the other. I personally help minimize the amount of owners surrendering their Goldendoodles by having a strict purchase policy in place. It is because our buyers are required to spay and neuter and purchase under a contract agreement, that we have had very few of our buyers surrender the doodles they’ve added to their families. Breeders who operate with a code of ethics requiring their buyers to purchase under a spay/neuter agreement and who have incorporated a purchase contract/agreement help ensure their puppies are going to proper homes. If shelters have any Goldendoodles whatsoever, it is either because the dogs were confiscated by the shelter itself (so they can bring in revenue for their shelter) or it is because the owner was inexperienced with dogs and failed to return the dog to its breeder. It was more convenient for the owner to dump the dog at the shelter than to return the dog to its breeder.

Then of course, the economy collapsed and many lost their homes. Those who fell into this category had to relinquish their pets and I am sure they were very heartbroken about it. Circumstances where an owner has died or had to go into a nursing facility or long term hospital care facility, these situations are unavoidable if there is no one to help the dog owner prevent their dogs from making its way into a shelter or rescue situation. The reality is, some buyers do not honor the breeder’s purchase contract. We discovered this reality a few years after becoming a breeder in 1996. This is why we incorporated our spay/neuter policy and required our dogs to be spayed or neutered BEFORE leaving our premises with its new owner if the dog was five months of age or older. We realized that some of our dogs purchased, were now our competition because the owner bred it instead of honoring our spay/neuter requirements. This has happened with quite a few other breeders as well. Many dog buyers start out with the best intentions, but then somehow get caught up in the doodle mania not realizing how expensive it is to breed and maintain litters of puppies. Rescue groups and shelters who do have good intentions, will contact the breeder to get the dog back to the breeder.

 Since 1996, we have actually only been contacted by two seperate shelters regarding dogs we sold to families who didn’t honor our contractual purchase agreement. My husband drove all the way to Virginia to collect one dog. The other shelter contacted us, and we agreed to go get the dog, but the owner got the dog back a few hours after the dog found its way there. One other instance I can recall is a buyer who purchased one of our Goldendoodles for his very young daughter. When the novelty wore off, the daughter refused to take care of the dog. Because we were not able to take the dog back, we did find a new home for the dog and the owner sent the dog to the person we found for the dog. Thankfully, he has found a FURever home and for several years now, he’s enjoyed a much better and much deserved loving home than its first buyer offered. Who better to take the responsibility for their dogs than the breeder? Many shelters do not have a spay/neuter agreement and they adopt their animals out to the first applicant that comes along. I was very fortunate when I first made the decision to become a breeder, back in late 1996. I had two mentors. One was a successful show breeder and the other was a vet. I learned as much as I could from both. I learned about their successes and I learned about their failures. I didn’t want to repeat their failures. Instead, I focused on what made each one of them successful.

Being prior military and having been taught hard core values, this helped me shield myself from the naysayers so that I could not be ran off by the sword of their words. Having over ten years of regional manager skills, this allowed me to bring to the breeder’s table entirely more than what many had to offer. When I create my Goldendoodles, I ask myself, “in what way will this pair of breeding dogs benefit the Goldendoodle?” . “What is my goal?” “What is it in the Goldendoodle structure, am I aiming for?”. Unless a breeder has a clear cut goal….they are simply creating a mess. I do not create messes. I do not create fads. My Goldendoodles, Poodles and Golden Retrievers are the backbone to many doodles that reside in the United States. As a breeder, it is important that I gain as much scientific knowledge about breeding as possible. It is important for the breeder who wants longevity for their Goldendoodles to obtain the best breeding stock possible and to know the history and the pedigree of those dogs. Know what characteristics you are creating and your Goldendoodle will never become a “Fad”.

 *About the author: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World has been writing about the Goldendoodle dog since 1999. She is one of the original founders for the Goldendoodle dog for the entire southern region of the United States. Dee Gerrish is a Goldendoodle expert who has spent many unpaid hours learning about the dogs she writes about. To learn more about Goldendoodle World, visit http://www.goldendoodleworld.com