Goldendoodle Buyer beware

[Tillypaws]

We have the most heartbreaking story to tell about our new puppy. Being a cautious person and a huge animal lover I thought I had done my research well regarding breeders of Minature Goldendoodles. I had my name down with 3 of the most highly recommended breeders . However none of these where personal recommendations. Lesson learnt.
My 2 children fell in love with her the moment they saw her as did we but it became clear within the first 48 hours that there was some thing not right with her. We took her to the vet immediately for a full health check. We had another 3 visits to the vet and 2 dog behaviour experts saw her over the next 2 days . We were desperate . We were being told by all the professionals that she was showing anti social behaviour ( fear aggression) and that we should return her immediately to the "hobby" breeder. I have never known my children cry so much. To make matters worse the breeder accused us of mistreating her . She has advertised her for sale again !! Please beware this adorable looking puppy is not well. She needs a quiet home with no children and plenty of socialising lessons. I have had rescue dogs in the past and know that this kind of behaviour is disastrous around children. We now have the most gorgeous little lady who settled in within days . My children will never forget the heart break in saying goodbye to our puppy but our new pup is helping heal the broken hearts.

[Deckmyballs]

Lt, I am a practicing vet, have studied for 8 years to do so completing Veterinary Biosciences hons with merit as well as Veterinary Medicine.

Thank you for your patronising comments re giving people incorrect advice but save it! Nothing I have said here is incorrect.

[Deckmyballs]

What type of recommendation, controlled supervision could have taken place at the park? Are you confident all animals who had entered the park, not just on that day but previous to were all fully vacc'd and disease free? I don't think so.

[Deckmyballs]

The essential socialising period for pups is between 8-12 weeks of age. This should be done with the family, pets and home they will be living with to ensure the best bond.
It's all very well you got the pups loving your environment but I wonder how difficult they found it with a big change facing them. No doubt the fear period set in and they spent some time feeling abandoned and alone. If they escaped this, you are very lucky.

[LtEveDallas]

It was a kids enclosed play park. With slides and stuff. It was organised by the behaviourist as a way to introduce puppies (not just mine) to some older volunteer children, to help both parties understand each other. A couple of 'my' families had kids that went too. It was well received and became a regular thing from what I understand (it was in N Yorks and I moved away about a year later, but was certainly still happening when I lived there)

[therealeasterbunny]

So because you didn't charge a fortune for your puppies Lteve, that makes you more responsible than 'doodle breeders? How exactly?! Surely you've perpetuated the problem more than I have?! You bred an entire litter, I merely purchased one!

[Deckmyballs]

Tolduso, well written. You must not have 3dc, 2 dogs and 2 cats running round your feet! On that note, must get back to parenting duties.

I would never recommend 'puppy parties' taking place in a park, childrens play park or otherwise. What an irresponsible thing to do.

[LtEveDallas]

Did you see that my dog scaled a 6ft fence to get out? How exactly was I supposed to plan for that? She couldn't be spayed until after her first season because she had a protruding vulva.

I made the best of a bad job, and I didn't know then what I know now (for example that I could have had her litter terminated - which I would have done if I knew. However, the positive outcome was that it made me go into rescue, which was a good thing.

[LtEveDallas]

Deck, I have to say that I am surprised you are a vet. After all, you chose your 'oodle' based on its curly coat. Very surprised.

[LtEveDallas]

It was organised, in conjunction with vet/behaviourist and the dog warden/council Tolduso. Like I said, it was an initiative that as far as I know is still going on, 20 years later. The kids were all around 5 or more (didn't have kids then so it's just what I remember. The pups were all vaccinated and that had to be proved.

It was good for teaching the kids how to behave around pups (wish that happened more often now) and the pups how to behave around kids.

It was very good and was a regular thing. Hopefully it still happens now.

[therealeasterbunny]

She said she didn't pick her doodle because of the curly coat actually. I.e- It wasn't an image thing. Sounds like she picked her doodle for very similar reasons as me.

Yes I did read that your dog scaled a fence, and no, I guess you couldn't plan for that. Though I would have thought that any responsible vet would have suggested a termination, (especially considering that I am assuming you went to the vet fairly mortified about what had happened?) for a dog so young, I was always under the impression that a dog should have at least 2 seasons before being bred from.

Anyway, I am not judging you for breeding from your dog, but I am just surprised that you think it's okay to be so judgemental about people who may choose to buy a doodle?! Fine, judge the breeders if you so wish, but I bought one perfectly healthy labradoodle, who is extremely well looked after, and I'm not sure why that deserves negative judgement from you when you brought a whole litter of puppies into the world, accidental or not!

[LtEveDallas]

Oh and all the kids and adults there were volunteers. There were any 'unexpecting' public.

[slartybartfast]

my previous terrier was raped, vet's words when on her first heat, the vet suggested being spayed and deal with any pups at the same time as he couldnt be sure she was pregnant or not. She wasnt as it happened but I was happy for the operation to go ahead. The male dog was a lot bigger than her was the reasoning, any pregnancy might have resulted in emergency caesarian

[slartybartfast]

just looked at the terrier rescue web site [sad - wish i hadnt.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

I have a f1b cockapoo. More poodle than anything. His breeder is still in touch with me now. His parents were health tested for various conditions, we met dam, sire and dam's dam. Pups were reared in the home with children, dogs, cats and roamed the garden with chickens. While I understand the wariness towards cross breeds and the championing of rescue, some of us make different choices for good reasons. My cockapoo is a wonderful addition to our family, much loved and very well cared for. I will never think I made a mistake.

[Deckmyballs]

Lt when have I ever said I choose her for her coat?! What absolute nonsense.

[LtEveDallas]

Yes I did read that your dog scaled a fence, and no, I guess you couldn't plan for that. Though I would have thought that any responsible vet would have suggested a termination, (especially considering that I am assuming you went to the vet fairly mortified about what had happened?) for a dog so young, I was always under the impression that a dog should have at least 2 seasons before being bred from

It was 20 years ago and I didn't know then what I know now. I have learned by my mistakes, which is all we can do. I didn't actually know that terminations were possible, and it wasn't mooted as a possibility. I have no guilt, the dogs I have rescued and fostered since have assuaged any I may have felt. By 'my dogs' all went to good living homes, and I did everything I could for them beforehand. It's all food for experience

[LtEveDallas]

Deckmyballs,

Lt when have I ever said I choose her for her coat?! What absolute nonsense

Your post:

Add message | Report | Message poster Deckmyballs Fri 13-Jun-14 09:46:02
I realise that however it's best to go with the curlier so I've heard.

(My bold)

Apologies if I have it wrong, can only go by what's written.

[Deckmyballs]

That has been taken completely out of context. How sad you felt the need to go searching after finding you were wrong in this thread! I didn't say I had chosen based on that, I said I had chosen the best of the litter in terms of coat and IMO personality. Someone then said the coats change and I said yes, but the curlier the better at a young age.

I understand your need to go on the defensive now considering you were so high on your horse about your judgements when you were open to judgement yourself but please, don't go trying to put phrases into my mouth.

[Deckmyballs]

And on another note, that conversation was based on which I had chosen out of a little of doodles, not the reason I chose a doodle to be my dog. If I main reason was a curly coat, I would have just got a poodle.

[LtEveDallas]

They are Lego. It was a 'new' initiative back then. A kids park had been built on common land by the MOD, one of the first to be fenced. From what I understand a group of people had got together and come up with the plan. Back then soldiers were pretty awful for having dogs then rehoming them when they were posted away, so rescues (mainly RSPCA/DogsTrust type places) wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. Dog Behaviourists were pretty new too - it was all still fear training then and 'being the Alpha'.

I was 'lucky' my bitch caught when she did. I'd rescued her from Northern Ireland where she had been pretty badly treated and had made friends with a fledgling behaviourist when I bought her back. She'd helped me work with her and bring her round. She remained pretty wary of children though, so when the opportunity arose to introduce her pups to kids early on I jumped at the chance. It worked out really well and the park area was cleaned before and after. There were certainly no issues I know of.

It was very much a 'community' thing and bringing the civ and mil family together. These days puppy training/socialisation/kids etc would probably take place at designated centres - but there weren't many of them back then. Certainly none I knew of in the area - all I remember is a dog training school run by an ex police dog handler and he was vicious