The Bordoodle is generally considered close to being hypoallergenic — good news — but there are never any guarantees, so always do your research. You can be sure, however, that this is a dog that doesn’t shed all that much. Grooming isn’t a huge concern. Brush your pup’s coat a couple of times a week and you should be fine.
Most dogs don’t need much bathing, and you’ll be pleased to hear that the Bordoodle falls comfortably into this group. There’s no need to put your Bordoodle in the bath and wash its armpits unless it is dirty.
In terms of exercise, however, this dog needs a good deal: it will expect and need around 30 minutes of exercise a day. If you can, incorporate things like obedience exercises into your walks with your Bordoodle: this is a canine cranium that needs to be stimulated
often as possible. When — if — you buy a Bordoodle, do remember: you haven’t signed up to have a dog that sleeps on the sofa the whole time. This is an active dog that wants to play and exercise as much as it can.
Bordoodle health risks
With love and attention, a happy Bordoodle should live to around 15 years. But, like all pup parents, you need to prepare yourself for some potential health complications along the way. Here are three of the most common to occur in Bordoodles:
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is an issue that’s often diagnosed more frequently in larger dogs. It’s a term that means the ball and socket of both hip joints are malformed in some way, causing the head of the dog’s femur to grind in the socket of the joint, not glide smoothly.
Hip dysplasia can be caused by malnutrition, injury or weight gain and will be noticeable as a result of your dog not moving smoothly, not jumping, or having lameness in the hind legs.
When it comes to treating the condition, it will vary dog to dog but anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed, and most animals will be given joint supplements. Alongside this, physical therapy is helpful as well. Sometimes, surgery is necessary and advised by vets; your dog may need their hip replaced or they may have a femoral head/neck ostectomy. Whether or not you think this is affordable or necessary will depend on you and the exact circumstances of your furry friend.
Epilepsy
A potentially scary thing to witness in action, epilepsy is a brain disorder that will cause your dog to have seizures for no obvious reason. About one in 50 dogs may suffer a seizure in their lifetime; epilepsy is both common in dogs — comparative to animals like cats — and relatively rare.
Your dog’s brain may seem completely ‘normal’, but from time to time it will trigger shaking and convulsions in your pup. The dog may sense the seizure is about to happen and seem anxious in the moments prior. When a seizure does occur, remember to remain calm; put your dog on its side and away from anything that might cause it pain; don’t put your hands near its mouth; and note down anything about the incident, including time, so that you can report it to a vet if necessary.
If a dog meets certain criteria, then anticonvulsant medication — the most popular example of which is phenobarbital — will be prescribed. Things tend to improve at this point and, if you administer the medication as instructed, your dog should be able to continue to live happily and healthily.
Progressive retinal atrophy
When the cells in a dog’s retina called photoreceptors degenerate, the animal develops a condition called progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). This disease can be inherited or can rear its head later on. Puppies can develop PRA at a couple of months old but adult dogs can also develop it — between three and nine years into their life.
You may notice, especially at night, that your dog is beginning to see less well; you may notice this happening in the day. Because dogs rely less on their vision than humans, it may initially be relatively difficult to spot the onset of PRA.
There is, unfortunately, not much of a happy ending as far as PRA is concerned — the clue is in the word ‘progressive’. Though antioxidant vitamins or supplements may help to slow down the development of cataracts, they haven’t been proven to help PRA specifically. But, though your Bordoodle may be one of the unfortunate ones to lose their sight, that doesn’t mean they’ll be unhappy; they can still lead a perfectly joy-filled life with you at home.
As you can see, pet health has the potential to get complex and expensive. Wondering what kind of pet insurance you might need to help you if any of these conditions arise in your furry friend? Check out quotes from all the best companies here and browse wellness plans here.
Feeding a Bordoodle - what’s the best diet?
Because of this dog’s active lifestyle, nutrition is of course crucially important. Food that is high in protein should help give your beautiful Bordoodle the energy it needs. Be careful not to overfeed, as there are many health complications that obesity can trigger or exacerbate.
If you want comprehensive information about the best dog foods available, check out our friends at Dog Food Advisor — they have everything you need to know, and more.
