attention proud doodle owners-show me your pups! - Page 3

Maureen · 10-02-2006, 12:14 PM

Jacque, those pics are ADORABLE! I remember your showing off your girls in a bathtub picture at one point, I think....must be one of the lost pictures, but I loved it.

By the way, I tried my hand at Jerry's jigsaw puzzles, and I didn't know I was "doing" your Lexie and Bayley, when I chose the barrells!

Jac · 10-02-2006, 12:57 PM

Thanks, Maureen, it is so fun to revisit those days! Gosh, they grow so quickly.
I have not had a chance to work the puzzles yet...but I am so glad that you were able to get our pics! LOL

Maddie · 10-02-2006, 01:04 PM

Jac

Thank you for such a thoughtful and informative reply, unfortunately I can't respond to the comments because I am so distracted by how absolutely stunning your dogs are.

If I could figure out how to choose a puppy whose coat will mature like yours (I especially love Lexi) then my research in this area will have paid off!

On to the more important issues, chosing the right breeder to adopt a healthy dog.

Believe me, you could not find anyone less impressed by "champion lines" Nor do I care about the controversy over which generation cross will be considered the "labradoodle breed".

Here's where I stand.......

Once upon a time, when we were younger, my husband and I adopted a cute little puppy from the local shelter. We had no background, and that was OK with us. He grew to be a sweet, playful, loving, and active boy. Luckily, he was healthy as could be. We had him fixed as recommended at the time, at about 6 months of age.

Unfortunately, we were never able to house train him. Of course we loved him too much to ever give him up. So we lived, for 15 years, gating our dog, or putting him in the yard, when unattended.

I vowed never again to get another dog. My kids were about 6 and 2 when Rocky passed. (rest in peace, we loved you Rocky).

Fast forward to today, my boys are 13 and 17. My youngest has been begging for years, and only recently have we considered giving in (as we are truly dog lovers at heart).

I had spoken to someone I know who owns a beautiful super-well-trained really large (probably 80-90lbs.)golden retriever.

We were talking, and I told her that I wished I could own a dog again, but my husband and I were failures at being puppy parents. She suggested going with a breed that was trainable, and known to be more intelligent. Although I was encouraged, I don't think such a large dog would be right for us. She said she thought we would be able to find a smaller dog with similar traits.

So here I am looking for a mini F1 labradoodle female.

Certainly, I first and foremost want a healthy dog. But just as important she needs to be sweet and trainable. Girls (I have read) are less prone to "marking their territory" and I don't ever want to go through that again!

My husband is insisting on a flatter coat more lab "look" or as close as we can get (thats why I am trying for an F1).

My son, who started this whole thing, is all of sudden insisting cream or red only! So here I am, trying to please everyone. We have a very limited budget, and I am having a lot of trouble pleasing everyone.

That is our story, animal lovers who are failures as puppy parents, looking for a puppy to love that we will be able to train.

We were so young then. We are hoping we can do better if we really work hard together as a family!

Maddie

Jac · 10-02-2006, 01:25 PM

Maddie, thanks for sharing your story...I can seriously relate to your situation. It has been many, many years since I was a dog owner and, frankly, it was my mother who did the training, not I!

By the way, thank you so much for your compliments about our dogs. I just adore them.

I agree, totally, with your assessment of what is most important...fortunately, you will be able to find what you are looking for...there are so many Labradoodle breeders out there now...and since you are looking for health as a number one issue, I am sure you will be pleased with the result.

Here are some of the things I have learned...select a breeder who:
1) does health testing and will readily give you results (then check with us about the results...we can give you some pretty clear understanding of what it means)
2) knows the parents! If the breeder owns the parents, or personally knows the owner of one, then the breeder is better able to judge temperament. To me, temperament is one of the most important factors, and so often people dont' even consider it...
3) offers a good health warranty
4) will be there for you AFTER you pay your money! LOL
5) one who knows his/her puppies...meaning that they interact with each puppy every day, many times a day. Look for where/how the pups are kept. Personally, my puppies go from the whelping room (a spare bedroom) to the dining room (in an x-pen)...so, I am always in contact with them. They know my voice, they play with me, they interact with me...and I fall madly in love with each and every one of them.

I know of breeders (on this forum) who have kennels, but still interact very closely with their dogs. Just because they are kept in a kennel doesn't mean they are neglected...and just because they are in a home doesn't mean they are well cared for! It is so important to find out as much as you can.

6) find a breeder who isn't afraid to tell you the negative side...there are ALWAYS negative sides to puppy ownership, as you well know...and if the breeder raves about their puppies as the perfect dog...look for someone else. Labradoodles do often chew (a lot) and dig (a lot)...and the breeder should discuss these things with you.

Another thing that is usually considered a flaw but I have learned to appreciate, is to get an older puppy...one about 10-12 weeks old rather than 8 weeks (or younger)...I accidentally found out that this is a good thing when we donated 4 puppies to the Guide Dogs of America...we donated them at 12-13 weeks of age (because we had to wait for the girls to recover fully from the spay) and what I discovered is that they are much more advanced and easy to train. The GDA even took all of my puppies and placed them in an older group because they were much more advanced than the pups their own age...why? I believe it is because they spent more time interacting with me, my husband, and our adult dogs.

Our puppies are easy to crate train, easy to potty train and (although far from perfect) are pretty well adjusted. All of our new owners have said that the first night was very easy!

I am not trying to sell my puppies...I don't even have any to sell right now, but I am trying to say that there are benefits that I have personally discovered by raising my puppies...and I wanted to share that with you.

About male vs female...I honestly believe that the trouble you had with your first dog came more from it being a rescue rather than being male...if you neuter a male before maturity, they don't usually develop the negative traits of male dogs.

Also, again, it all boils down to knowing the parents...my INTACT males never mark inside...UNLESS there is a litter of puppies...Chase will mark the area around his puppies...I don't mind when he does that...but he won't mark anything else inside. And he never humps! (The girls do, but he doesn't...ever!)

So, to me, the most important part of your decision should be to really get to know your breeder...and how the dogs/puppies are raised. If you can trust your breeder, you will be way ahead of the game.

kim26 · 10-02-2006, 01:28 PM

Have you seen Leno on here? He needs a new home. He doesn't exactly meet your requirements because he's black and he's the large size. But, he is more flat coated and lab like and he's over a year old and alot of the training has already been done. You would have a pretty good idea of what you were getting. Plus, you could ask the owner all the questions that are of concern for you. (I'm sure color would not matter if the temperament was right and he was a lovable dog.)

You can see and read about him under Questions about Your Labradoodle. The title of the post is WE NEED HELP.

10-03-2006, 09:51 AM

Not sure if Charlie Doodle still needs a home, but he is adorable! Although black, he IS a mini!
http://labradoodle-dogs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2270

10-03-2006, 10:18 AM

Hi Again Maddie! I have heard good things about this breeder. Although she does not breed mini's, some of her puppies end up in the 40 pound range. And she does reds. It does not look like she has puppies now and I did not see any prices listed, but it may be worth contacting her.
http://www.jerseydoodles.com/

Maddie · 10-03-2006, 06:23 PM

Thanks Kim and Linda,

I wish I were the right Re-home for those pups, but I don't think Leno or Charlie are the right dogs for me.

I have checked out Jersey Doodles before.

They would be ideal because I could drive to Jersey, but they have no pups right now. Also they have no prices listed and I'm afraid they are probably out fo my range.

Thanks for keeping your eyes open for me!!!!!!!!

Maddie

NurseLeslie · 10-03-2006, 07:48 PM

Here is Calvin at 9 weeks...

And here he is at 5 months...Look at the goofy hair on the top of his head!

Maddie · 10-03-2006, 07:55 PM

Oh Leslie

He's a cutie.

I wish my son were open to black, because I think they are beautiful pups.

Thanks for sharing!

Maddie

NurseLeslie · 10-03-2006, 08:01 PM

O.K., so one more from today....

Maddie · 10-03-2006, 08:06 PM

Thanks

How old is he there?

NurseLeslie · 10-03-2006, 08:17 PM

5 months and 3 days to be exact....He is a beast! I love him.
After much, much research and consideration and searching, we decided on a cream colored doodle but were having trouble finding one we could afford that did not require shipping...We found the ad for Calvin and his littermates one day and decided to just go look at them. He was a close drive and affordable BUT he was black. We weighed the pros and cons and decided that we may never find the perfect doodle given the perameters we put on the deal, so we bought Calvin and I have never given the color a second thought...As a matter of fact, Everyone has a cream doodle....We are different!

Maddie · 10-03-2006, 08:34 PM

Leslie,

The irony of this search for a cream pup is that my husband and I both prefer back.

Now if you could just convince my son, we'd all be happy!

I know it seems like we are spoiling my son,
but, in fact, the exact opposite is true.

He's a great kid, straght A student, and never asks for anything.

Now he's asking for a cream puppy, and we think he deserves this one. So.........

The seach continues for us!

Maddie

10-03-2006, 10:09 PM

Ok Maddie,
I am not giving up yet! How about trying Doodlesville? There are some older pups available at a deep discount (Not sure of the price) I would definitely email for more info if you see one you like. I think they ALL are gorgeous!
http://www.labradoodles.homestead.com/L ... ePage.html

10-02-2006, 12:14 PM	#31 (permalink)
Maureen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,810	Jacque, those pics are ADORABLE! I remember your showing off your girls in a bathtub picture at one point, I think....must be one of the lost pictures, but I loved it. By the way, I tried my hand at Jerry's jigsaw puzzles, and I didn't know I was "doing" your Lexie and Bayley, when I chose the barrells! __________________ ~Maureen LabradoodleRanch@aol.com www.LabradoodleRanch.com

10-02-2006, 01:04 PM	#33 (permalink)
Maddie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 298	Jac Thank you for such a thoughtful and informative reply, unfortunately I can't respond to the comments because I am so distracted by how absolutely stunning your dogs are. If I could figure out how to choose a puppy whose coat will mature like yours (I especially love Lexi) then my research in this area will have paid off! On to the more important issues, chosing the right breeder to adopt a healthy dog. Believe me, you could not find anyone less impressed by "champion lines" Nor do I care about the controversy over which generation cross will be considered the "labradoodle breed". Here's where I stand....... Once upon a time, when we were younger, my husband and I adopted a cute little puppy from the local shelter. We had no background, and that was OK with us. He grew to be a sweet, playful, loving, and active boy. Luckily, he was healthy as could be. We had him fixed as recommended at the time, at about 6 months of age. Unfortunately, we were never able to house train him. Of course we loved him too much to ever give him up. So we lived, for 15 years, gating our dog, or putting him in the yard, when unattended. I vowed never again to get another dog. My kids were about 6 and 2 when Rocky passed. (rest in peace, we loved you Rocky). Fast forward to today, my boys are 13 and 17. My youngest has been begging for years, and only recently have we considered giving in (as we are truly dog lovers at heart). I had spoken to someone I know who owns a beautiful super-well-trained really large (probably 80-90lbs.)golden retriever. We were talking, and I told her that I wished I could own a dog again, but my husband and I were failures at being puppy parents. She suggested going with a breed that was trainable, and known to be more intelligent. Although I was encouraged, I don't think such a large dog would be right for us. She said she thought we would be able to find a smaller dog with similar traits. So here I am looking for a mini F1 labradoodle female. Certainly, I first and foremost want a healthy dog. But just as important she needs to be sweet and trainable. Girls (I have read) are less prone to "marking their territory" and I don't ever want to go through that again! My husband is insisting on a flatter coat more lab "look" or as close as we can get (thats why I am trying for an F1). My son, who started this whole thing, is all of sudden insisting cream or red only! So here I am, trying to please everyone. We have a very limited budget, and I am having a lot of trouble pleasing everyone. That is our story, animal lovers who are failures as puppy parents, looking for a puppy to love that we will be able to train. We were so young then. We are hoping we can do better if we really work hard together as a family! Maddie __________________ Maddie & Lexi http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q307/maddiesuew/

10-03-2006, 06:23 PM	#38 (permalink)
Maddie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 298	Thanks Kim and Linda, I wish I were the right Re-home for those pups, but I don't think Leno or Charlie are the right dogs for me. I have checked out Jersey Doodles before. They would be ideal because I could drive to Jersey, but they have no pups right now. Also they have no prices listed and I'm afraid they are probably out fo my range. Thanks for keeping your eyes open for me!!!!!!!! Maddie __________________ Maddie & Lexi http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q307/maddiesuew/

10-03-2006, 07:55 PM	#40 (permalink)
Maddie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 298	Oh Leslie He's a cutie. I wish my son were open to black, because I think they are beautiful pups. Thanks for sharing! Maddie __________________ Maddie & Lexi http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q307/maddiesuew/

10-03-2006, 08:06 PM	#42 (permalink)
Maddie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 298	Thanks How old is he there? __________________ Maddie & Lexi http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q307/maddiesuew/

10-02-2006, 12:57 PM	#32 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	Thanks, Maureen, it is so fun to revisit those days! Gosh, they grow so quickly. I have not had a chance to work the puzzles yet...but I am so glad that you were able to get our pics! LOL

10-02-2006, 01:25 PM	#34 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	Maddie, thanks for sharing your story...I can seriously relate to your situation. It has been many, many years since I was a dog owner and, frankly, it was my mother who did the training, not I! By the way, thank you so much for your compliments about our dogs. I just adore them. I agree, totally, with your assessment of what is most important...fortunately, you will be able to find what you are looking for...there are so many Labradoodle breeders out there now...and since you are looking for health as a number one issue, I am sure you will be pleased with the result. Here are some of the things I have learned...select a breeder who: 1) does health testing and will readily give you results (then check with us about the results...we can give you some pretty clear understanding of what it means) 2) knows the parents! If the breeder owns the parents, or personally knows the owner of one, then the breeder is better able to judge temperament. To me, temperament is one of the most important factors, and so often people dont' even consider it... 3) offers a good health warranty 4) will be there for you AFTER you pay your money! LOL 5) one who knows his/her puppies...meaning that they interact with each puppy every day, many times a day. Look for where/how the pups are kept. Personally, my puppies go from the whelping room (a spare bedroom) to the dining room (in an x-pen)...so, I am always in contact with them. They know my voice, they play with me, they interact with me...and I fall madly in love with each and every one of them. I know of breeders (on this forum) who have kennels, but still interact very closely with their dogs. Just because they are kept in a kennel doesn't mean they are neglected...and just because they are in a home doesn't mean they are well cared for! It is so important to find out as much as you can. 6) find a breeder who isn't afraid to tell you the negative side...there are ALWAYS negative sides to puppy ownership, as you well know...and if the breeder raves about their puppies as the perfect dog...look for someone else. Labradoodles do often chew (a lot) and dig (a lot)...and the breeder should discuss these things with you. Another thing that is usually considered a flaw but I have learned to appreciate, is to get an older puppy...one about 10-12 weeks old rather than 8 weeks (or younger)...I accidentally found out that this is a good thing when we donated 4 puppies to the Guide Dogs of America...we donated them at 12-13 weeks of age (because we had to wait for the girls to recover fully from the spay) and what I discovered is that they are much more advanced and easy to train. The GDA even took all of my puppies and placed them in an older group because they were much more advanced than the pups their own age...why? I believe it is because they spent more time interacting with me, my husband, and our adult dogs. Our puppies are easy to crate train, easy to potty train and (although far from perfect) are pretty well adjusted. All of our new owners have said that the first night was very easy! I am not trying to sell my puppies...I don't even have any to sell right now, but I am trying to say that there are benefits that I have personally discovered by raising my puppies...and I wanted to share that with you. About male vs female...I honestly believe that the trouble you had with your first dog came more from it being a rescue rather than being male...if you neuter a male before maturity, they don't usually develop the negative traits of male dogs. Also, again, it all boils down to knowing the parents...my INTACT males never mark inside...UNLESS there is a litter of puppies...Chase will mark the area around his puppies...I don't mind when he does that...but he won't mark anything else inside. And he never humps! (The girls do, but he doesn't...ever!) So, to me, the most important part of your decision should be to really get to know your breeder...and how the dogs/puppies are raised. If you can trust your breeder, you will be way ahead of the game.

10-02-2006, 01:28 PM	#35 (permalink)
kim26 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: california Posts: 853	Have you seen Leno on here? He needs a new home. He doesn't exactly meet your requirements because he's black and he's the large size. But, he is more flat coated and lab like and he's over a year old and alot of the training has already been done. You would have a pretty good idea of what you were getting. Plus, you could ask the owner all the questions that are of concern for you. (I'm sure color would not matter if the temperament was right and he was a lovable dog.) You can see and read about him under Questions about Your Labradoodle. The title of the post is WE NEED HELP.

10-03-2006, 09:51 AM	#36 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Not sure if Charlie Doodle still needs a home, but he is adorable! Although black, he IS a mini! http://labradoodle-dogs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2270

10-03-2006, 10:18 AM	#37 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Again Maddie! I have heard good things about this breeder. Although she does not breed mini's, some of her puppies end up in the 40 pound range. And she does reds. It does not look like she has puppies now and I did not see any prices listed, but it may be worth contacting her. http://www.jerseydoodles.com/

10-03-2006, 07:48 PM	#39 (permalink)
NurseLeslie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 434	Here is Calvin at 9 weeks... And here he is at 5 months...Look at the goofy hair on the top of his head!

10-03-2006, 08:01 PM	#41 (permalink)
NurseLeslie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 434	O.K., so one more from today....

10-03-2006, 08:17 PM	#43 (permalink)
NurseLeslie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 434	5 months and 3 days to be exact....He is a beast! I love him. After much, much research and consideration and searching, we decided on a cream colored doodle but were having trouble finding one we could afford that did not require shipping...We found the ad for Calvin and his littermates one day and decided to just go look at them. He was a close drive and affordable BUT he was black. We weighed the pros and cons and decided that we may never find the perfect doodle given the perameters we put on the deal, so we bought Calvin and I have never given the color a second thought...As a matter of fact, Everyone has a cream doodle....We are different!

10-03-2006, 08:34 PM	#44 (permalink)
Maddie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 298	Leslie, The irony of this search for a cream pup is that my husband and I both prefer back. Now if you could just convince my son, we'd all be happy! I know it seems like we are spoiling my son, but, in fact, the exact opposite is true. He's a great kid, straght A student, and never asks for anything. Now he's asking for a cream puppy, and we think he deserves this one. So......... The seach continues for us! Maddie __________________ Maddie & Lexi http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q307/maddiesuew/

10-03-2006, 10:09 PM	#45 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Ok Maddie, I am not giving up yet! How about trying Doodlesville? There are some older pups available at a deep discount (Not sure of the price) I would definitely email for more info if you see one you like. I think they ALL are gorgeous! http://www.labradoodles.homestead.com/L ... ePage.html

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