We say Gus is a rascal doodle. His mother is a beautiful red-brown Goldendoodle and his father was whatever country rascal jumped over the fence and got to her. Rumor has it that his father lives at a golf cart refurbishment center, making Gus one part princess and one part junk yard dog. We heard that story and had to have him. Out of curiosity, we eventually had him DNA tested and were surprised to find that he is 50% Standard Poodle, 25% Golden retriever, and 25% Labrador retriever, making his wandering father a purebred Labradoodle. If the result is not yet a breed, it should be. Appearance: Gus has an incredibly beautiful flowing coat, brown with golden-red highlights - he is most often mistaken for an Irish setter or a flat-coated retriever. Gus has some wavy hair on his head and ears, similar to a Boykin spaniel, that give him unique character. His coat is the softest thing I’ve ever felt - this is not an exaggeration. The fur is light and dries very quickly. Complementing his coat are his golden brown eyes that change with the ambient light. Despite his beautiful coat, he does not shed, owing to the fact that he is 50% Standard Poodle, which is a hypoallergenic breed. We have allergies in our family so finding a hypoallergenic dog was imperative and he has caused no issues. However, unlike our other dog, a purebred Goldendoodle, Gus requires essentially no grooming other than an occasional brushing. We’re frankly confused by this phenomenon, but it is true. Gus weighs almost 50 pounds. He is lean and agile. He’s big enough to be take seriously and yet light enough to pick up and throw in the Jeep if I had to (though he’s quick to jump in by himself). Disposition: Gus is loyal and lovable to a fault. Gus seems to have all of the intelligence of the Standard Poodle (generally considered one of the most intelligent breeds). And yet he has all of the goofy playfulness of the retrievers. He absolutely lives to chase his ball across the yard and will amaze you with his speed and agility. We have not found the limit of his endurance for this activity and we have tried. He LOVES the pool - we can’t keep him out of it, even in the winter! When he’s not chasing balls across the yard, he’s diving into the deep end of the pool to get them off the bottom. Gus loves to be with people. He likes meeting other dogs and has never been anything other than friendly, but his youthful energy can startle them. He is neither aggressive nor skittish, just happy to be there. But he is not fixated on other dogs and would much prefer to hang out with his human family or his big sister dog. Our neighbors’ dogs yap at our fence incessantly but he just can’t be bothered with them. He is good in crowds and is often the center of attention. Despite still being a puppy, Gus will quietly sit under the table in a crowded restaurant and loves the attention of any patron that notices him - he’s hard to pass by without a quick pet, which usually turns into a long pet once they feel his fur. Gus has taken to obedience training well, but is still a puppy. He comes when I call him, settles quickly, and drops things upon command, and those are the most important things. He is curious and likes to explore but has never once attempted to run away - he wouldn’t take the chance that his ball might get thrown in his absence. We’re working on “heel” so, for now, he is still on a leash when we go for walks. We’ll get there. In our home, he is cuddly but not all up in our business. He just wants to be nearby and not miss anything. He is always available for a belly rub. I can’t remember the last time he chewed something that he wasn’t supposed to, though he once had a penchant for socks. He eats - boy, can he eat! - but seems almost disinterested in human food compared to his sister who is driven entirely by the possibility of table scraps. He is always ready for a road trip. At night, Gus is our guard dog. I don’t think he would attack an intruder, but at least nobody is sneaking up on us. Our teenage kids cannot sneak in or out of the house undetected. Health: Gus is ridiculously healthy. Except for one small thing. One of his tear ducts never fully developed. We give him special eye drops 2-3 time per day but it’s no problem at all. He has taken to it and hops right up onto the couch and lays down to receive the drops. It has actually become a favorite cuddle time of ours which I think we both look forward to each day. Why do we want to breed Gus? It’s simple. The world would be a better place with more Guses in it. Everybody should have a Gus at least once in their lifetime. I know he should be neutered but I just can’t bring myself to do it yet. His line can’t end here. He’s special. I also know that he came into this world because his father easily jumped a fence to “meet” his mother. The day will come when Gus catches a strange scent and instinct takes over, and our fence is no higher than his mother’s was. Although he has shown none of the problems associated with “intact” dogs, we would be devastated if he got loose and got injured. So the clock is ticking. Please help us and get yourself some mini-Guses in the process.

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