Am I over reacting? Seniors and standard poodle puppy?

[Stresseddogmum]

Long time lurker but finally signed up to seek the support of the Doghouse!

To try and keep it short, DM and her partner have bought a standard poodle puppy. Both are in their mid to late 70s, neither are in particular good health (DM is frail with breathing issues and partner is overweight and not mobile) and neither has had a dog before.

They have been discussing getting a puppy for a while and despite all my poking my nose in and giving them advice (don’t do it, get a small dog, get an older rescue etc etc ) they have now bought a standard poodle puppy. The puppy has yet to come home and I am terrified of what will what happen.

FWIW we ourselves have had a small dog from puppyhood. She is beautifully trained when we are out and about but it took THREE YEARS to get her to that point and she can still be a nightmare when on her everyday walk as she has a strong prey instinct. I keep thinking of the poodle pulling DM over or she loses control and the poodle is off. Am I overreacting?! Will it all actually be ok?!

That poor puppy. As you've said, I hope you get to take over ownership sooner than later because it's going to be a very unhappy puppy.

Standard poodles are fantastic dogs. We've always had them. They are big though, anywhere between 18 and 45 kgs when adult, and bouncy and boisterous until around 4 years of age. There is no way they are going to be able to manage a large puppy's toilet training needs on a puppy pad outside. Nor a large breed's exercise needs if they are not prepared for a daily walk.

Are they considering going to training classes with the puppy, or getting a one to one trainer to come to their home? I wonder if you could book them an appointment with a trainer before they get their puppy. Call it a present to prepare them to give the dog the best start and give them some pointers on how to start with training. Hopefully, having a detailed chat with a trainer may make them take their blinkers off and realise just how stupid they are being.

We've used pens with ours when they were pups. A decent, solidly made pen should contain a puppy until 6 months or so, which may help with minimising overnight accidents etc.

Any update op?

I do actually!

They got the puppy and seem to be surviving, puppy has got basic commands down, had a few issues with diarrhea and also wasn't eating so told DM to take her to the vet. Pup is very underweight apparently. This went on for about 10 days and was all very stressful for dm (understandable to be fair)

HOWEVER. I am fairly certain that they have not been sold a standard poodle pup. Puppy is 4kg at 10 weeks and also looks small. Most of what I see on the internet tells me pup should be twice that weight and also a similar size to our ddog. This would actually be very welcome news and has made me feel less stressed. I will just push to the back of my mind anything else the dodgy breeder has done Am no expert though so will wait and see.

Pup looks sweet enough although they have yet to walk it!

An underweight puppy is concerning isn't it? No good breeder would let a puppy leave like that.
Hoping for it to be calm and settled and need little input from you.

Yes, I think pup very definitely comes from a "breeder". I did lose my patience a bit with DM when she told me the pup was very underweight. She looks chubby enough now though and gaining weight so fingers crossed.

Have long have they had it?

Why not walks yet-too ill?

What type of dog do you think it is?

@diddl they've only had it two weeks so think it still needs its final set of jabs. I think it might either be a miniature or a cockapoo.

Hope all goes OK.

It sounds like it had guardia, so has likely come from a filthy backyard breeder.

Please please do socialise the pup thoroughly poodle crosses from poor breeders are often nervous and highly strung. Really thorough socialisation is essential - not just a few walks and training classes

Thanks @Veterinari I don’t know if it is still an issue but if it is I will suggest that. Apologies if you have rtft but essentially they have ignored all of my advice and suggestions and just ploughed ahead regardless. They also have ALL the books and seem to only be taking on board advice that they like.

Unfortunately we are too far away to be of any practical help (100s of miles) so it is a case of waiting to see what happens. I got very stressed about it a while back which is why I started this thread but if it is a poodle cross at least I have one less worry of dm being dragged over and breaking her hip. Small mercies!!!