Nancy & Echo's Page

Hi Nancy ~ first of all I want to welcome you to the DK site.  I noticed your post in the group "Waiting for Puppies".  Since you posted under that specific group, only those members that belong to the Waiting for Puppies group can respond to that discussion.  You might want to go to the main page to start your discussion.   Look just below the slide show and you will see your photo and a box to the right where you can post.  Click the discussion box and write up your discussion just like you did before.  You will notice the category says "Discussion Goldendoodle and Labradoodles.  That way the discussion not only comes across the main page put end up under Hot Topics on the left of the main page where all members see it. 

I read your bio and noticed you have some physical limitations and are also retiring soon.  I got my first doodle when I was 63.  It was almost like having a baby again! LOL  All puppies are physically demanding (even the easy ones).  When I read your bio I thought of a dear friend of mine, that was in a similar situation.  She got the puppy, but had a devil of a time potty training because she could not get the puppy outside in time and they initially have to go out every 30 minutes or so when awake and she just could not make it happen.  They all have accidents and then you are cleaning carpets, or whatever.  She had bouts of arthritis where she could not walk or did not feel like walking.  Her wrist also gave her a problem and she could not groom the dog and walking for any length of time was not possible.  Doodles are a pretty high maintenance breed in the grooming area.  If you get one that sheds, the grooming is so much easier  Long story short, at one year, she had to rehome that cute little doodle and it broke her heart, but she really could not give it what it needed.  However, about a year later, she did get a 4 year old dog (not a doodle though)  that was such a sweet boy and totally trained and he got the best forever home with her. 

I am sorry to hear you had a bad experience at the shelter.  Here are a few suggestions:   Buy the book "The Puppy Listener" - understanding and caring for your new puppy by Jan Fennell which is really a wonderful book for new puppy owners.  If there is a boarding facility near you - go in and tell them your situation and ask if there is any way you can help them and work with some of the dogs, even if it is just to feed them.  You might also go to a petco and sit in on a puppy obedience class (and I do not mean just one) go to the whole session.  Obedience is all about training the handers not the dogs. Within this site, join the Puppy Madness group and read all you can on issues new puppy owners are having and the advice they are getting from seasoned members.  It makes me very sad when I see members (young and older), that just do not realize what it takes to have that cute well-behaved puppy.  So many have little time to spend training them and then they wonder why they are not obedient. 

Again, welcome.  This is a wonderful site with lots of helpful information. I wish you luck in finding the right puppy for you.  Arm yourself with all the information you can and then make the decision which puppy or dog breed is right for you; or for that matter like my little sister - get a cat! LOL