A Doodle Story on The Front Page of Our Paper This Morning

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

 

This story was in our paper this morning.  In many ways it's heartwarming that this couple is helping so many children with emotional handicaps through "Doodle Therapy".  I do worry though about how effectively they are able to manage the care and breeding of this many dogs.  And of course, the whole issue of health testing (which isn't mentioned).  The writer clearly spent time in this house in order to develop the story, so if there were obvious issues of care of the dogs, I'm sure that would have surfaced....but who knows.  What do you think?  Here's the link.

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-troubled-kids-and-pups-1...

[Leanne Perron]

 

 Just a little Fyi for all you concerned people.  I just purchased a goldendoodle from the couple of this article in Glastonbury.  He is now 6 months old and is one of the most wonderful, well adjusted dogs I and all my friends have ever seen.  He has had one accident in the house since we got him as the breeder (George) stated he would if I followed his guidelines on training him.  He slept in his crate the first night until I woke the next morning without even a wine.  Throughout the whole process with George I went and picked him out at 3 wks.  I then was able to visit him 3 times until it was time to bring him home.  I to questioned the fact that he was raising 11 kids and so many dogs. However, he runs a tight ship and is very structured I met his children and was very impressed at each visit.  Since then I have referred several friends and strangers that came up and complimented  me on my dog. And they to are very pleased with the outcome.  So anyone can pass judgement on a simple article, but I guarantee if you went through the whole process of purchasing a puppy from him you would be quite impressed!

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's what "impresses" us in a breeder, and what we hope everyone who purchases a puppy will require of theirs:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder

 

I'm glad you and your friends are happy with their dogs, and I hope that continues.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm certainly happy to hear that conditions are better now that this breeder is on probation.  I'm hopeful that he may have learned an important lesson.  Keeping 50 dogs in conditions like what were found in 2009 is just horrible.  Thinking that all these children were also exposed to this is even more upsetting.  Glad he is turning things around, and you have found a Doodle that you clearly love.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Thank you Leanne for your input. Please keep us posted as to the future overall health of your doodle as that is what concerns some of us most. Without health testing and possibly even knowing who sired puppies it would be impossible to know what might be in store for you down the road. Or did George do health testing? I didn't see that anywhere. He may have and I just don't know.  We only want what's best for these dear dogs so excuse us if we are concerned when something doesn't sound quite right.  I wish you good luck and you are right, you can;t believe everything you read.

[leslie Schwartz]

I too was quite impressed with Goerge. I also purchased my puppy from him. I spoke to many breeders before making a decision on who to buy from. He seemed to have a special interest in his puppies, where the other breeders were more interested in how much they could sell their dogs for. He was less expensive than most of the breeders I called. He asked me questions about my family too as he said to see if we were a fit for a puppy. Another thing, I spent a couple of hour at his home and interacted with some of his children. They are not all young kids like everyone is assuming, they range in age. And he could not have been a more loving and  caring parent. So I don't know why someone would state something about two men raising special needs kids. All that matters is the parents are loving which I saw in George. George made sure I have all the records for the shots given to the puppy and recommended that the puppy sees the vet within 48 hour. The vet gave him a clean bill of heatlth. After I took the puppy home, he even called me two different day to make sure everything wa going well and to see if I had any questions.  Everyone who meets Mason says how calm and gentle he is. We love our dog and could not be happier that we chose Goerge as our breeder.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It is important that anyone who is breeding dogs does genetic health testing on the parents. Shot records and vet check-ups are not the same thing. Genetic diseases do not show up until a dog is older, and then it can be devastating for the dog and for your family. I hope you never have to learn how devastating it can be.
Here is what we encourage everyone to look for in a breeder:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder

[Lorraine Bromley]

Yes I would hope that they do testing as well. Our breeder is a large operation as well. It does give you pause. But I was also into "HOME RAISED" breeders that the few dogs that they had were not well groomed or behaved. It was obvious at our breeder that every dog there had been well taken care of. Disinfection before entering the nursery ect. They also are a large family where all the kids are involved in the care of the puppies. This sounds like the just the place for emotionally  challenged children to thrive with unconditional love. I do hope that they are supported with therapists and are breeding to "OUR" standards as well. A well named place! Maybe a contact from Doodlekisses to join and confirm breeding practice would be appropriate. The boys could join appropriate groups helping them with learning and searching and reading ect plus friendship based on puppy love as well. I don't know the process of becoming a doodle kisses approved breeder but that may be somewhere where we would love to support?

 

Great now I READ that they are on probation? I hope that they are now learning what is expected in a breeder as well as what success that they have had with children. They sound like loving people who may have not had the mentoring that new breeders would benefit from. Not bad people out to make money. Again maybe that is what they needed to continue to make this place the best that it could possibly be.

[Adina P]

Just for clarification:

There is no such thing as a Doodle Kisses "approved" breeder.  We do not approve, screen, approve, or promote any particular breeder(s).  We only promote standards of breeding.  The closest thing we have to what you're suggesting is our "Owner Recommended Breeders" group but this is not a DK endorsement...it is merely a place where owners may recommend their breeder provided they are able to answer in the affirmative a few simple questions about breeding practice.  But even that is not in any way an official DK endorsement, just a place for members to share.

[Jennifer and Jack]

People like that need to live in the conditions that they have left those poor innocent dogs to live in. He should have all breeding rights taken away from him.

Thankfully we know what to look for in a breeder, but so many people are clueless, They look at all the guarantee's this breeder makes and see the reduced pricing. SICK

 

A responsible breeder would tell you in one second they can only guess what the size and stuff will be.

 

 

[leslie Schwartz]

If you think I chose this breeder based a a lower price, you are wrong! I was talking to a breeder who was double the price and was about to make arrangements to see her puppies when I came across George. He had a more interest in me and his dogs compared to the other breeder. As I said, the other breeders seemed more interested in how much money the could make. He also never gave an exact weight for the puppy he said he could only guess and it could be bigger.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Thanks for clarifying my comment. At this point I am sure no one would approve this breeder. What I was attempting to suggest was the contact with this breeder that would offer the massive amount of support that is here. It is obvious that they don't intend to stop breeding as they have had success with the children. But we have the power to possibly educate them and turn them into a breeding facility that we as members would be happy to have a puppy from. I am in Canada and not a breeder so I'm not much help. Maybe the best people on doodle kisses are too busy rescuing and re-homing to help make change before they are needed to re-home these dogs. I hope probation helps these people.

[Barbie]

here is a news story on them that just came out today. Very very sad - not to mention appaling! Living in Ct all my life - it's just horrible to see this happened.

 

http://www.wfsb.com/story/16156154/couple-with-9-adopted-children-a...