When Critics Become Fans: How the Anti-Doodle Brigade Proves We’re Doing It Right
There’s something amusing about the dog world…
Every time a breeder raises the bar, a small but very vocal group of online “purists” appears — as if they’ve been preparing for this moment their entire lives.
These aren’t your average dog enthusiasts.
These are the Professional Doodle Commenters — the self-appointed guardians of “purity,” patrolling Reddit threads and proclaiming:
“Back in my day, we didn’t have doodles!”
…while simultaneously writing 87 comments under every doodle post.
Their goal?
To discourage us. Disuade others.
The result?
Honestly, it’s kind of adorable.
Because every critique they lob at us only reinforces our mission here at Stokeshire.
| Who Says It | What They Claim | What Reality + Data Show |
|---|---|---|
|
Breeders Purebred Breeders |
“Purebreds are predictable, doodles are random.” | Purebred dogs have some of the highest COI & inherited disease rates. Stokeshire doodles are genetically tested, ancestry-mapped, temperament-scored, and intentionally paired for health, stability, and therapy suitability. |
|
Rescue Rescue Advocates |
“Doodles end up in shelters.” | Surrenders correlate with poor breeding practices, not breed type. Ethical programs like Stokeshire have a historically near-zero surrender rate. |
|
Social Social Media / Reddit |
“Doodles are all backyard-bred money grabs.” | Backyard breeders exist in every breed, including AKC purebreds. Responsible breeders follow testing, licensing, training, contracts, and lifelong support. |
|
Trainers Anti-Designer Dog Trainers |
“Doodles are behaviorally inconsistent.” | Stokeshire uses Volhard testing, early curriculum, and temperament pairing for consistency. Predictability comes from breeding strategy and data — not registration papers. |
“Doodles are unpredictable.”
Right. Coming from the same groups who have normalized:
40–50% COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding)
Chronic hereditary issues
Decades of closed gene pools
Meanwhile at Stokeshire, our dogs are:
Genetically mapped
Temperament-scored
COI-managed
Paired with intention
Unpredictable?
The only unpredictable thing is how often we see other breeders quietly adopting our practices and methodologies.
“Backyard breeders ruin everything.”
Exactly — which is why we do the opposite of backyard breeding.
We:
Volhard test for temperament
Match puppies to families with intention
Use guardian homes to maintain ethical numbers
Keep meticulous logs, records, and DATCP licensing
Train puppies from 0–8+ weeks
Deliver across North America
Offer scholarships and donate therapy dogs
Meanwhile, some of the loudest voices shouting “backyard breeder”…?
Breed 50 dogs in a barn and call it “tradition.”
What “Backyard Breeder” Actually Means
The term “backyard breeder” was never about doodles. It originally described anyone breeding without testing, records, structure, ethics, or long-term responsibility — most often in the purebred world.
Historically, a backyard breeder is someone who:
- Breeds dogs with no genetic testing
- Keeps animals in poor conditions
- Breeds only for profit or convenience
- Ignores temperament, structure, or COI
- Has no contracts, support, or accountability
The internet now uses the term as a lazy insult toward any doodle breeder — even the ethical ones — because doodles challenge the old guard of closed gene pools and breed purity.
Backyard Breeding vs. Stokeshire Breeding
Backyard Breeder: No testing, no temperament work, no records, no contracts, no purpose.
Stokeshire: Fully tested, COI-managed, temperament-scored, curriculum-raised, licensed, documented, and built for therapy-grade work and modern family life.
This is not just different — it is the opposite.
“Designer dogs shouldn’t cost real money.”
And yet…
Some purebred breeders sell $6,000 Frenchies with:
No training
No genetic testing
No socialization
No refund policy
…but yes, we’re the problem because our puppies are raised for modern family, therapy, and emotional-support environments.
The truth is simple:
The loudest critics attack what they don’t understand — or what threatens the old way of doing things.
Doodles didn’t disrupt the dog world.
Ethical breeders did.
Science did.
Temperament testing did.
Transparent recordkeeping did.
Purpose-bred family dogs did.
We didn’t just join the industry.
We challenged it.
And here’s the part they’ll never admit:
They watch what we do.
They replicate what we do.
They quote what we write.
They “discovered” methods we published years ago.
AND WE ARE 100% okay with that – because a “A rising tide lifts all ships. When we elevate breeding standards, everyone — breeders, families, and dogs — rises with us.”
We’ve watched countless breeders begin to:
Adopt ENS/ESI
Start temperament testing
Build guardian-home networks
Add early training programs
Manage COI
Rebrand toward therapy and emotional-support work
Embrace wellness-based puppy raising
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…
We’ve never felt more loved.
Stokeshire didn’t follow trends — Stokeshire created them.
Before doodles were “mainstream,” we were building a method, not a market.
Before early curriculum was trendy, we were designing one.
Before “purpose-bred family dogs” became a buzzword, we were living it.
Before “therapy-grade” was a label, our puppies were already working in classrooms, counseling offices, and clinical settings.
**The hate is loud.
But the results are louder.**
We measure success in:
✔ Healthy dogs
✔ Low COI
✔ Confident, stable temperaments
✔ Therapy & AAT placements
✔ Families who feel seen and supported
✔ Near-zero surrender rates
✔ Ethical breeding practices that others copy
The critics can keep posting.
We’ll keep improving — and apparently giving them content.
So, to the anti-doodle brigade… thank you.
Thank you for:
The free marketing
The engagement
The SEO keywords
The comedic relief
And for proving that what we’re doing is worth talking about
Because the more you shout, the more families find ethical, intentional, purpose-driven breeders who put health, heart, and harmony first.