Not enjoying dog ownership when to call it a day ?

[MillyMollyMoo]

Long story short, did a bit of research into what dog to get as I cannot stand hair, so thought we were buying a labradoddle.
Turns out he's all Lab and no Doddle, there are fine blonde hairs everywhere, could be worse but I hate it.
Combined with the fact that the kids begged for him and now ignore him, he chases the cats around the house and jumps fences to shit in next doors garden all in all I've had enough.
Is this going to get better or do I rehome him whilst he still has the cute little dog factor ?

MillyMollyMoo there are people desperate for rescue labradors so do contact the labrador rescue in your area - just google for it. They do ask that the dog stays in your home until they find it a home but that will not be long and surely you owe that to the dogs welfare.

If anyone buys a dog make sure you get a quarantee from the breeder or rescue centre that they will take them back if a problem arises. All good breeders will and so will rescue centres. Sometime things happen that we have no control over.

Many lab and poodle crosses will moult there is no dog that will not shed some hairs or need to have money spent on a grooming parlour so I guess you have found out the hard way that dogs are not the pets for you and your family.

People do make mistakes but by dealing with them in the correct way then all parties can hopefully come out of it in a postive light

lisad123wantsherquoteinDM, they are hard work, constantly on the go, infact i'm actually shattered, she run's ring's round me

Not suprised OP doesn't want to come back at times.

OP had made a mistake. It happens. She is being honest and trying to decide what is best for her family and the dog now before it is too late. Surely it is better in the long run for the dog to be rehomed with owners who can care for it and want it aroound?

MMM - we had a related pet problem when we got a cat a couple of years ago. It transpired DD was slightly allergic to her. I made the decision, albeit within the week, that it was not the ideal pet for us and she would have to go back. I didn't want DD having to live feeling like she had a permanent codld and wasn't prepared for her to be medicated daily int he hope she'd grow out it. I made what I feel was the responsible decision to rehome the cat as early as possible, and did do so. However MNetters did not agree with me, was told I was irresponsible, etc (FFS had spent part part of a yeard debating the decision first!). Sometimes on here you can't win.

Do what you feel is best for you and for your dog - think about the long term.

I would just like to say good luck - having read this thread it seems you're dealing with your mistake very responsibly, wanting to rehome this dog in a way that's good for him, not just shifting him ASAP. He's a much luckier dog than some!

Hope one of those links from MamaMoose can help you.

Thanks Moose , I appreciate your good memory and faith in me.

Milly, a few things you should know:

1. The RSPCA DO put dogs to sleep... healthy ones, young ones... PLEASE don't take him there.

1. The Dogs Trust have a no kill policy but it isn't as strict as those which are held by most independent no kill rescues. For example, they will justify PTS if a dog is aggressive etc. They also "cherry pick" and tend to leave the hard to home dogs for independent rescue to pick up (or to die in pounds).

1. The rescue I volunteer for is independent, funded entirely by the owner and people like me and is strictly no kill unless a dog is suffering beyond help. They are not alone in this.

1. Please come and have a look at that rescue's forum. Because of spammers you'll be asked to email the owners to register and then can search me out, pm or email me, I'll give you my phone number too and do my best to help you. If you prefer, just email the owner and ask him to put you in touch with me. My user name on that forum is Harvey and we can be found here:

z10.invisionfree.com/PFK/index.php?act=idx

1. Choosing to rehome yourself is fraught with danger. I can invite you to my home, introduce you to my well cared for dogs and convince you that I am ideal to take on your boy. What you don't know is that my landlord won't allow me a third dog - so if I took yours, within a few weeks he would end up without a home and I could just throw him onto the streets or into a pound where he could well die. A rescue will check ALL these type of things, require proof and will match the dog to the owner, and have the experience to do so, which, with the greatest respect, you don't have.

1. I could recommend that you seek training classes etc but to be honest I can't help sort out the dog hair. If this is something you are so cross about as to make you not want your dog there is no point in me making suggestions of this type as you will still have a dog you clearly don't want and don't love.... and he needs and deserves to be loved. I have 2 large dogs and cats and yep, plenty of fur floating around. In my case, I think so what and get out the Dyson. If you can't bring yourself to that way of thinking then a dog isn't for you and needs to be where such things don't matter.

Please, do contact me via the rescue above. I'll do my best to help and have contacts in no kill rescue, foster carer contacts etc across the country.

No reputable breeder should tell you a Labradoodle WILL be non-shedding/hypoallergenic. Some dogs CAN be, but might turn out not to be, and a good breeder would never want a dog bought for the wrong reasons.

The price you paid is also MUCH lower than many good breeders charge, which makes me worry about hip/eye scores, as a LabxPoodle doesn't necessarily make for a healthy dog.

Another vote for the Labradoodle Trust. If yours is good with kids he should get another loving home v.v.quickly. They're also very big on advice (see The Allergy Myth etc).

Agree with 30andlurking. The Labradoodle Trust have a forum which a fair number of people post on whilst looking for a doodle and people are always looking on various websites for older puppies/dogs that are for sale so that people looking are aware of them.

Sadly there are a fair number of dogs under a year cropping up recently. I guess people people being told by unscrupulous breeders that they are non shedding does play a role plus the fact the can get very large, have a lot of energy and need a fair bit of stimulation to stop them from getting bored.

It will take a lot of work to get him to the well trained dog stage and I think if you deep down you don't like him there isn't much point trying as you need a basic bond to want to get the issues sorted. Please get onto the Labradoodle Trust and let them find him a new home asap. I know it must be a difficult decision but the longer you leave it the harder on the dog, you and his new owners.

Will you be telling your children that animals are supposed to be for life otherwise they might get the impression animals are invited in just to amuse them and then got rid of when you all get bored?

Good luck with rehoming. I find shedding annoying but love cats and dogs so much that Im prepared to put up with it. If youre not, well youre doing the right thing to try and find him a good home now. In the meantime, I do know people who seem to keep dogs outdoors for much of the day in a run with a kennel - I dont do this or recommend this myself, but its an option. Also, if you need a really good vacuum cleaner, can I recommend Miele Cat and Dog? it really lifts those hairs and doesnt throw dust back in the room which is helpful for asthmatics like me.

I am a dog lover and have had two much loved dogs and a couple of cats previously and they all lived happy and long lives with our family. But I must admit I couldnt cope with a labrador or any big dog. I do notice in the homes of big dogs that the house is more likely to smell all doggy. I m afraid Im a fan of little farty lapdogs and Ive now got a Yorkie. He doesnt take over our whole life, is portable, good in the car, doesnt shed, easy to walk and is lots of fun etc. My mum has the same attitude, and has also kept a couple of terriers, including a Lakeland who didnt shed. I do appreciate that these arent everyones cup of tea though.

No Junglist I'll be telling them that animals have no place inside a well kept home and are a pain in the arse, that should put them off considering one themselves.

I am very sorry you are getting flamed

You sound very sensible to me

Please contact the labradoodle trust. They have an excellent record of re-homing doodles.

We have an F1 dood and she does shed. We know an F2 (doodle x poodle) and that sheds less. Doodles are lively bundles of joy. We walk ours for at least an hour in the morning and afternoon plus she is around all day helping/playing with me. It's a bit like having a toddler again as she is just 1.

Highly intelligent - need lots of stimulation and unending patience whilst training. Superb temperament but into absolutely everything.

I am sorry it has not worked out for you OP but I think you should have done more research on a breed that would be suitable for you and your family.

I wouldn't get a collie unless I also owned a few acres and a herd of sheep - they are busy busy dogs!

I own two -utterly gorgeous, wonderful, adored, F1- labradoodles.

I doubt the breeder 'lied to you' MillyMollyMoo... the nature of cross-breeds is there are no guarantees. MOST labradoodles don't shed (mine don't) but there's no accounting for which genes will come to the fore (labs shed, poodles don't).

Of course your kids are bored of your dog now, that's just kids -any it hardly sounds like you're engaging with your dog all day yourself and giving them a good example to follow.

These are gorgeous dogs and it sadens me to hear your attitude to yours.

If it's a young dog, be assured, they calm down with every passing year -but they do need enough excersize or they will chase things etc.

How much are you walking it?

It's only one, recent poster who has flamed the OP, and it's completely unjustified.

The OP is doing the responsible thing to rehome the dog because it hasn't worked out, depsite her trying very hard to make it work.

Most people on this thread have been helping and supporting her in tihs difficult decision.

OP, I think you're doing the responsible thing rehoming the pooch. You aren't dumping him in a park, or mistreating him, so I don't think you deserve any negative comments. I hope you find him a new home soon.

I've emailed and left messages with the labradoodle rescue, no response as yet.
He probably does need more walking than we can offer but that's life, I'm home with him all day so he's not left alone but that's not enough for him it would seem.
Birdofthenorth I'm well aware he's a dear little dog but he's not for me, this is an animal we're talking about not a child, I'm in the North would you like him ?

I think two is enough for us... sorry would have loved to help!

Sorry Milly, certainly didn't mean to offend, I should have been more measured! I'm just in love with our two, doesn't mean they are right for everyone.

I hope the Labradoodle Rescue get back to you, I agree with other posters that a breed specialist is the ideal way forward.

Good luck -let us know how you get on.

MMM I am also in the North and there is a great kennels near us with a no kill policy.

Low Fallowfield Kennel. They have no website but if you google their number pops up straight away.

We used to board our dogs there when we went on holiday and its lovely.

Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home are also responsible if that's anywhere near you:

www.dogshome.net/index.html

FFS PLEASE don't touch Low Fallowfield or Manchster/Cheshire dogs homes.

Manchester/Cheshire are POUNDS, not rescues and they DO put dogs down. Low Fallowfield also have an appalling reputation within rescue - we have to save dogs from these places to prevent them from being killed. Healthy dogs, I mean, not ill or suffering ones. I've had personal experience of both as a rescue worker.

I have to take issue with you Milly over your comment that this is an animal, not a child. Thats irrelevent, your dog has as much right to live and as much right to a happy, safe and healthy life as any child.

If it will help you please contact me via the means in my previous post and I wlll find a no-kill rescue place or a checked and approved foster home for you.

He probably does need more walking than we can offer but that's life, I'm home with him all day so he's not left alone but that's not enough for him it would seem.

Are you for real? he is a dog he did not ask too be brought by you, this post sounds like you are blaming him for how he is think you should of looked into what a dog intails before you got one.

I dont really care if you find that harsh. that post has totally gobsmacked me.

Sorry, but why the fuck did you get a dog when you clearly don't like them!

Very irresponsible & a terrible lesson to teach your children! Animals ARE NOT disposable! And you are teaching your children that you can just get rid of it, if it doesn't fit into your life. Yet as a dog keeper, you need to ASSURE that you can fit it into your life & help it adjust/train it.

You put up with dog hair
You clear up it's shit
You wash it (that was it won't smell)
You groom it to prevent so much hair getting shed on your carpets etc.
You make your fence higher so it cannot jump it & shit in neighbours gardens & when/if it does, you clear up it's shit.
You interact with it, play with it etc.

Really, it is just like having a baby to care for, do you feel your babies are disposable too?

You do not buy a dog & decide that you are too lazy to keep it because it does what a dog does!

The good thing about rescue homes (Dogs Trust etc) is that they will train him & work on his issues re bigger dogs before they rehome him & make sure that his new owners realise that dogs are for life!

Its funny how different folks are. As well as getting dogs out of pounds/helping those with unwanted dogs I also get my hands dirty for my local rescue, as do my DDs.

Eighty dogs... I clean kennels and come home covered in fur and shit... and I love it, it's my life's work and dream and wouldn't change what I do for all the money in the world and consider myself lucky to be able to help in this small way.

More to the point, to Milly.... I work for the dogs not for the owner, nor for any particular rescue or any one else at all when I rehome. My task is purely to save dogs lives and to make them happier and healthier in the right environment and I my offer will always stand to you and anyone else in order to achieve that.

I bet there are lots of labradoodles and other "designer dogs" that bought "by mistake" like this. They are big dogs and have the nature of their parents - ie because they are intelligent energetic dogs, they will need plenty of walks and stimulation. The hypoallergenic stuff is also really a bit of a con. Dogs are smelly and hairy and hard work and if you don't train them can be an utter nightmare. You have to really enjoy dogs and get the right breed characteristics, and make a commitment to a couple of hours walking, lots of playing and lots of mistakes when they are small for them to be a pleasure. Oh, and never ever get a dog because your children want one. Dogs have to belong to and be the responsibility of adults.

We are looking for a puppy and although I really really want a dog, the commitment is huge and slightly scary (and probably should be).

IMO the OP should be trying to get her pup moved on as soon as she can, because it's probably picking up some really bad behaviours due to lack of training, socialising and interaction, and the later she leaves it the harder it will be to find it a home.