PETS
Molesley Sirius—a borderdoodle, and Mildred McGonagall —a goldendoodle.
Designer Dogs P
uppy sales skyrocketed during COVID shutdowns because people who found themselves stuck at home turned to canine companionship. Designer dogs were at the forefront of the adoption frenzy, despite high prices and long wait lists. Designer dogs are bred from two registered pure dog breeds to optimize the best characteristics of each parent. Everything from Cockapoos (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle), Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever and Poodle), to a Puggle (Beagle and Pug), and more are available. Many breeders use poodles because of their temperaments and intelligence, not to mention they are mostly hypoallergenic. People who
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are allergic to dog hair but have always wanted a Golden Retriever can fulfill their dreams with a retriever bred to a non-shedding poodle. Angela Bennion breeds Goldendoodles. She fell in love with her brother’s Goldendoodle several years ago when they first became popular. Angela and her husband had always had dogs, but there was something special about the Goldendoodle that inspired her to start breeding them. Prices charged for these specialty dogs have increased along with their popularity. That led to a lot of unethical breeders who keep their females constantly pregnant and living in poor conditions. One of the hallmarks of
PHOTO BY MIKE JONES
By Connie Lewis
