In the chat room discussion you wrote: hello, i'm willing to adopt a doodle, but have been looking for 2 weeks and haven't found one (i need a smaller doodle - under 25/30lbs and it has to be great with little kids, and 'non-shedding' - low shedding). i've been scouring the lists but it's hard to find any dog fitting this description

Join Doodles in Need Group. Locate your state or the states you are in. Search through the listings and click on the provided link for that dog. You must go through the application process of the given shelter. Once you are approved, hopefully you will come back as a Doodle Owner. BUT...

You are looking for some specific criteria that you might have a hard time finding in a rescue. I also read your postings on Doodle Kisses and folks there gave you some good advice. Rescuing a dog IS NOT a less costly alternative to getting a dog from a reputable breeder. Sometimes a rescued dog needs more...more time, more patience, more love, more medical care, more attention than a new puppy from a breeder.

In rescue, it CANNOT be guaranteed that he will be a non-shedder. If someone tells you that, they are lying to you. The ONLY way to get a non-shedding guarantee is to deal with a reputable breeder who tests for common diseases and has been doing this for awhile and knows their litters. There are many unscrupulous breeders who make all sorts of promises, then the dog comes home and is not what was promised and the dog goes to the shelter.

Many rescued dogs have had at least one family or some have never had any contact with people at all. Rescue is not easy. If you are looking for all these specifics, you should find a breeder. But CHECK REFERENCES AND IF THEY WILL NOT LET YOU MEET THE PARENTS OR COME TO THEIR HOME, BEWARE...THEY ARE NOT REPUTABLE BREEDERS.

I am not trying to dissuade you from rescue but only have you understand that what you have been seeking within rescue does not necessarily exist and if it does, shelters in many cases do not know the parents or where the dog came from or be able to tell you what the pup will be when grown.

Think long and hard before you continue...OUR DOGS CANNOT HANDLE ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT IN LIFE. THEIR NEXT HOME MUST BE THEIR FOREVER HOME.