Hi all from LadyBug

[FlyingBarney]

I have been on this site for some time now, and guess it is about time for a "proper" introduction. I live in Vancouver, around East 4th and Main. Travel locally, and regularly to Seattle (work).

The attached pictures show LadyBug (of the Super Exceed 1991 breed, with about 56,000 km, which I purchased through Mardy) and Tobi (of the labradoodle breed who is about 5 years of age right now). LadyBug is the white one, and Tobi is the black...

Since the pictures were taken, LadyBug has gone through a few changes. The back bench was taken out, and with the fabulously generous and experienced assistance of Jay, we now have a beautiful folding bed. I slept in it last weekend, while being on Salt Spring Island, and it worked out great. Also, the two side windows were replaced with the sliding ones, with the assistance of Mardy and much to Tobi's like - who can now stick his head out while we drive places...

Thank you for all your posts, and the wealth of information I am getting here - even when I don't reply directly, I appreciate it all.

Kindly,
Simon

[mararmeisto]

Labradoodle? Are you a misplaced Australian? Sorry, I know that's a 'proper' breed Down Under (somewhat looked down the nose at by the AKC and at Crufts).

Welcome aboard and well met. Nice looking ride. I have to agree with others, it's one of the few vans that looks good in white (not sure why that is, but it does). I see you have the full door handle detail on the left: front door, door pillar, and sliding door. I'm missing the piece for the door pillar (would love to complete the look properly, but unlikely to find it).

[MardyDelica]

Hi, Simon, happy for your new ride, hope the dog is happy now with the sliding window.
enjoy, cheers;
Mardy

[konadog]

Oooo, I like your bus, and the look of your dog. We have a "shepardoodle", but she's just a dog to me - but hey I like dogs so it's a good thing! Enjoy your new LadyBug - slider windows, niiiice

[snelson]

Wow what a handsome pooch.
Is it true the doodles don't shed like a lab?
We have a golden retriever but the shedding can be a pain....

[konadog]

Is it true the doodles don't shed like a lab?

Yep - doods have "hair" rather than "fur" - no undercoat. And while they don't shed (well, no more than a person...), they do need periodic clipping as the hair grows continuously. Besides the shepardoodle we also have a husky / golden retriever cross. And while he does shed, we are convinced that the high-end N.R.G. http://www.nrgpetproducts.com/ (made in BC) whole, balanced dog food coupled with regular vigourous exercise and periodic brushings, reduces his shedding a great deal - He does still shed though, while the doodle does not

[FlyingBarney]

Labradoodle? Are you a misplaced Australian? Sorry, I know that's a 'proper' breed Down Under (somewhat looked down the nose at by the AKC and at Crufts).

Welcome aboard and well met. Nice looking ride. I have to agree with others, it's one of the few vans that looks good in white (not sure why that is, but it does). I see you have the full door handle detail on the left: front door, door pillar, and sliding door. I'm missing the piece for the door pillar (would love to complete the look properly, but unlikely to find it).

No, not an Auzzie. I am a misplaced Russian/Israeli, who eventually found his way to Vancouver. Labradoodles have indeed originated in Australia, yet there are good breeders now everywhere; I got Tobi from Grand Forks, from www.canadoodles.com ; Karen brings her doodles from Australia, where there are now 2 research institutes for these dogs.

Thanks for the kind words on "the ride." She is indeed quite complete... and I am planning to install a few extras, like remote door entry (Japanoid seem to be good with it), and probably more... as time goes by...

Simon

[FlyingBarney]

Wow what a handsome pooch.
Is it true the doodles don't shed like a lab?
We have a golden retriever but the shedding can be a pain....

Thank you for the compliment... Tobi fully agrees with it...

Tobi does not shed. What sometimes happens with doodles is that the first generation crosses (one parent poodle, one lab) will take more of one of the characteristics than another. Some will be shedding, some will have funky looks, etc. After a few generations, everything evens out. Tobi's family tree is much more impressive than mine - he has labradoodles all the way down (whereas I don't have any), and so he doesn't really shed. My girlfriend is seriously allergic, and was never able to have a pet in her life - until Tobi. The occasional brushing, especially when the hair is longer, helps.

[FlyingBarney]

Is it true the doodles don't shed like a lab?

Yep - doods have "hair" rather than "fur" - no undercoat. And while they don't shed (well, no more than a person...), they do need periodic clipping as the hair grows continuously. Besides the shepardoodle we also have a husky / golden retriever cross. And while he does shed, we are convinced that the high-end N.R.G. http://www.nrgpetproducts.com/ (made in BC) whole, balanced dog food coupled with regular vigourous exercise and periodic brushings, reduces his shedding a great deal - He does still shed though, while the doodle does not

There is a LOT to be said about good quality food (as you write). NRG is good, and Tobi used to eat it - until he stopped. He has been on raw food for a long time, and so it makes a difference; additionally, adding some salmon oil makes the hair (or fur) softer and also reduces some shedding.

And lots of love.

[FalcoColumbarius]

That is one sweet looking rig. Do you keep up on Ladybug's wax job?

Falco.

[konadog]

There is a LOT to be said about good quality food (as you write). NRG is good, and Tobi used to eat it - until he stopped. He has been on raw food for a long time, and so it makes a difference; additionally, adding some salmon oil makes the hair (or fur) softer and also reduces some shedding.

And lots of love.

Funny, we went the opposite route. We did the raw thing for awhile, and I do believe that it is ultimately the best, but we found it way more difficult to stock-pile and store, esp. when travelling, and with the N.R.G. "Raw One" we are more comfortable knowing the blend is nutritionally balanced and it is easy to dole out the proper amount... The dogs really love it too. And my dogs spell "Love" "e-x-e-r-c-i-s-e" "Let's GO boss!!" Looking forward to more pictures of Tobi and LadyBug

[FlyingBarney]

There is a LOT to be said about good quality food (as you write). NRG is good, and Tobi used to eat it - until he stopped. He has been on raw food for a long time, and so it makes a difference; additionally, adding some salmon oil makes the hair (or fur) softer and also reduces some shedding.

And lots of love.

Funny, we went the opposite route. We did the raw thing for awhile, and I do believe that it is ultimately the best, but we found it way more difficult to stock-pile and store, esp. when travelling, and with the N.R.G. "Raw One" we are more comfortable knowing the blend is nutritionally balanced and it is easy to dole out the proper amount... The dogs really love it too. And my dogs spell "Love" "e-x-e-r-c-i-s-e" "Let's GO boss!!" Looking forward to more pictures of Tobi and LadyBug

It is true indeed that traveling with raw food is tricky. I don't. Tobi is quite picky on what, when, how, and why he eats, and once he decided that he is done with NRG, no amount of cheese or peperoni could convince him otherwise. When I travel, I take good quality kibble with me - Timberwolfe is high-end organic one that Tobi will eat, after about a day of realizing that change is happening.

LadyBug pictures will follow... here is some more Tobi in the meantime...

Simon

[FlyingBarney]

That is one sweet looking rig. Do you keep up on Ladybug's wax job?

Falco.

Not yet, Falco. Perhaps in the future.

Simon