Going to see a puppy tomorrow - What should we look out for?

[MadameCastafiore]

Am soo excited may have to get the Nytol out!

What sort of things should we look for?

Is 12 week old Labradoodle - is microchipped but not vaccinated.

get one for me!!!!!

seriously, look for confidence, tail wagging, wanting to play, pleased to see you.

can you also see the pup's parents?

and has it been bred by a family, or is it a business & been bred in a shed, ifswim.

It is bred by a family - they are sooo scrummy - have seen pictures!

Yes we will be able to see the mum but the dad is a local stud dog (he he) - me imagines him as a dog strutting around much like the one in Fire House Dog with medalions and a wig!

So tail wagging, friendly and having a bit of spark about her.

IMHO you will bring the pup home whatever, as puppies are cute. All research has to be done beforehand. My parents bred dogs for showing.

How did you find out about the pup? How often do these people breed? Are the pups in the house? How many different types/breeds of pup are available from the same premisis? Do you know anyone else that has had a pup from these people? 12 weeks is older than normal for getting a pup, why so late? (poss it has been ill, have been waiting for it to get better?) What follow up do they give?(advice on training etc)

TBH I am not the correct person to reply, as having worked for the RSPCA and various other rehoming charities, I think people that purpose breed mongrels and sell them for £500 are the dog equivalent of the emperor's new clothes tailors (or much worse).

If you want a mutt go to a shelter and get one for £50 and save it from being destroyed.

Actually the sparkiest ones are the dominant ones from the litter and unless you are experienced dog owners/trainers (which from your email I guess not?) these traits may cause you some difficulties in the long run.

I'm afraid I agree with marmaduke!

Labradoodle's have been around for years same as all the other "mongrels"

Go to a shelter at least there you will get vaccs, chipped and (if old enough) spayed for your £40!

Make sure it doesn't like socks or tights to eat, which you may then have to "retrieve" from its bottom when the said sock/tights are passed in a poo and don't come out properly

God - the list gets longer and longer!

We want a labradoodle as DD has asthma and I read that these dogs don't shed as much hair as tohers due to their poodle genes.

They have bred before and some of the dogs from previous litters and from this one went to Dogs for the Disabled and Canine Partners.

Pups are in the house, she doesn't breed any other kinds, have no idea why they are 12 weeks - maybe she hasn't been able to sell them what with everyone tightening their belts.

Should we go and see others too - different breeders I mean?

We can't get it tomorrow as I have to go into hospital next week so we were hoping to get one around the 7th Dec.

It is a large breed, most large breeds do not need huge amounts of exercise until fully developed/1 yr. The rough guide is only 5 minutes of walk per month of age.

Ask them how much exercise their dog needs to keep it happy. Poodles are large energetic very intelligent dogs, Lab are energetic reasonably intelligent dogs. It is not so much the physical exercise but the mental stimulation they need - or they can destroy your house.

Are you going to enrol with weekly puppy classes, followed by weekly traing classes or some kind - either obedience, agility, fly ball, working etc?

The dog will be 15 weeks by then? That is quite mature to get a pup. Will they be starting collar/lead/house training it for you?

If your DD has asthma you need to be aware that only 80% of all labrador/poodle crossbreeds have the non shedding coat - you may be better off going for a pure poodle (Where is PrincessPeaHead?) to be 100% sure of non shed. Or a Bichon Frise.

With this in mind you may want to ask what the 'returns' policy is for unwanted dogs. My parents made all buyers sign a legal document saying that if the dog was ever unwanted it had to be returned to us, the breeders.

Sorry to be the voice of doom, but how would your DC feel if you had to return it due to DD's asthma.

Ah was just about to link to the thread in September about labradoodles that PPH was on and realised that you started it! So I can only reiterate what Marmaduke has said ie check how they will be training it as you will be getting it quite old for a new pup.

I'd ask lots of questions about why they still have the puppies at 12 weeks, tbh.

And ask about socialisation. Crucial at that age. Can lead to lots of problems later if they haven't had lots contact with other dogs in those early weeks. You can make up for this if you do lots of socialisation (vet's puppy parties etc) as soon as you get him/her.

I'd be a bit wary, tbh, but I had a bad experience with getting a 15 week old under-socialised dog.

Also if the puppy is to be 15 weeks old and has had no jabs are they offering you some kind of insurance? - Chances are it will have come in to contact with some thing that it would have had to be vacc'd against.

I'd insist that it was vaccinated if it hasn't already been done otherwise it will be at least 17 weeks old before it can go for walks, meet other dogs etc.

Sorry, not trying to be a voice of doom but this sounds very odd behaviour for a reputable breeder.

I hadn't noticed it had not been vacc'd (searching the old grey matter a bit as looong time since I had a pup) but surely they have normally had them all by this age (start at 8/10 weeks?)? We used to get an extra dose of Parvo at 20 weeks - having lost a pup at 18 weeks with it, but that was 20 yrs ago.

Odd that has chip but no jabs, has been to the vets = exposed to possible illness?