advice

[Laurie]

I recently purchased a golden doodle from Christys Goldendoodles in Alpine, CA. We had our puppy, Fozzie, for 2 months, but sadly gave him back because of some aggression issues. He was very territorial. He bit my lip after taking a toy away and growled and snapped when we tried to pet him when tired or picked up. We noticed the aggression the first week we brought him home and it continued, despite working with a trainer. Anyway, the breeder was reluctant, but she took him back and apparently has recently sold him again. So, she has gotten paid twice for this dog. It was too emotional for me to return him to the breeder, so my husband did it for me. At this time, the breeder said she would consider giving us a replacement puppy or possible refund. But I have not heard from her in weeks since she sold Fonzie. I feel like she has taken advantage of us. I am still so sad about the whole situation. It has been a rough few months. I was so excited for this puppy and I hope to get another one soon. Does anyone have any advice for me? Do you think the breeder should give us some sort of reimbursement or replacement puppy? 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

 I am so sorry you are in this position.  We all want happily ever after endings with our puppies and sometimes our dreams are just cut to pieces. I have met about 5 dogs from this breeder and thought they were both beautiful and good tempered. However, it has been a few years since I saw the last one. Perhaps your experience is not the norm for her puppies.

Questions before I give my opinion.

Is this your first dog?

Do you know she actually re-sold Fozzie?  If so, did she disclose the reasons he had been returned? Was she selective in who she placed him with for a more appropriate environment for his personality? What were your expectations for his future? Breeder keeping him forever, euthanizing him, or re-training him until he improved? Give him back to you when he had been re-trained or selling him to a family better suited to his personality?

Do you want another puppy? If so, I would discuss it with her. I would be friendly.  I would use my questions to open dialogue that would help you get a puppy that is calmer, more easily trained (this is what I would want also BTW.)

 I would ask her if she saw the same problems you did? If so, what did she do to cure it, if not what did she think about the problems you had - even after consulting a trainer.

As an aside, the rescue I volunteer with just re-homed a 3 month old puppy that the owners realized they were way out of their league - in expectations, in experience, in time.  They paid several thousand for it, they got none in return, but the satisfaction of doing the right thing for the dog.  The rescue re-homed it - not for lots of money but for the fees that are usual for rescue puppies. They found a home better suited to his high energy level and mischievous ways.  There was nothing wrong with the original family, nothing wrong with the puppy but a huge mismatch all around. 

[Laurie]

I have grown up with puppies and dogs my entire life. I am 43 and have always had a dog. So, no this was not my first dog. I know puppies are work, and was totally expecting that part - the nipping, peeing, chewing, digging. But Fozzie was different. The vet and trainer both saw his aggression. The vet used the words "screw loose". A few days after bringing him home, he tried to bite me hard as i reached into his crate to take him out to potty. So there was definitely something off with him. Much more than just normal puppy behavior. I don't know what I expected from the breeder. I guess take him back, train, and find a more suitable home. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think I would contact the breeder again and re-start the dialogue. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have a six year old Doodle who showed the exact same aggressive behavior as a puppy.  When he bit (not nipped) me while at the Vet's office, she told me that I needed to get a good trainer THAT DAY and to get ready for a lot of work.  He is okay with us now as long as we totally manage his environment.  Through all of the training we have truly bonded and I love him, but it is always a challenge.  Hopefully the breeder was honest with the people who took your puppy, and that they will be willing to do the work so that he can live a somewhat normal life.  I would agree that you need to have a conversation with this breeder about your experience and how you are feeling.  If she was able to place the dog in a more suitable home that is a really good thing, because finding the right placement for dogs with these behavior issues can be difficult and there is not always a "happy ending" for them.  I think it's fair to talk about some reimbursement for what you paid, but if it were me I would not want another puppy from this breeder.  It doesn't sound like she is breeding her litters with temperament as a key consideration.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Laurie, I don't know what your agreement stated with your breeder, but normally a good breeder will take a puppy back if for some reason you don't want it. This prevents one of their pups from ending up at a shelter or worse. Personally, I don't think a reimbursement or replacement puppy should be given.  I don't know if this was your first puppy or not, but so many times someone gets a puppy and writes about aggression, etc., when in actuality it is normal puppy behavior. All puppies are brats at first and bite. For a first time puppy owner this time can be scary and something they were not expecting, but with proper training and some time, they almost always outgrow this behavior. It is good you recognized that Fozzie was not the dog for you and returned him to the breeder and allowed him to go to another home. Doodles get a lot of hype about being the perfect dog, but they all come with their own personalities and each one is different. No puppy comes perfect and training takes years, etc. I am sure your breeder was reluctant to let you return a dog for a replacement, because that just isn't how getting a puppy works. It just can't be like returning a defective toaster or something like that. They are still just babies at 2 or 3 months. My advice would be to read lots and lots of books about puppies, join the Puppy Madness group and go back and read all the discussions about "aggressive" puppies and take this time to really soul search that a puppy is the way to go for your family. They all nip and bite in the beginning and when they feel like they are in control, it can go from bad to worse.  Maybe an older dog who is done with this stage would be a better fit. In any case, I feel you did the right thing by Fozzie and I am sorry you had to go through this. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen, Laurie, I agree completely.

[Laurie]

Agree that breeder is taking advantage of us or that this is the norm for dysfunctional dogs and I need to move on?

Thank all of you for your advice!! It has been really tough on me!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Laurie, I don't really have the answers other than review your original contract and see what it states. Try to restart your dialogue with this breeder.  What was her opinion of Fozzie when he was returned?  Did your breeder evaluate him when he was returned before rehoming? How is he doing in the new home? Get the answers you need for closure. I think Nancy gave you some good advice about how to talk to the breeder. I think it has to start there...with the breeder. There are just so many variables that it is hard for us to evaluate the situation. If Fozzie is doing well, etc., I think it is going to be hard to get a refund or another puppy, but it should give you peace of mind that you made the right decision. If the new owners are having the same issues, then the breeder should take that into consideration. Good luck to you!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I am sorry you are having these issues with your breeder.  I would reread my contract and then call her and tell her how you are feeling about the situation and try to come to some agreement.  Life is too short to stress out over this and negative feelings are a killer.  In the back of my mind, I am wondering if this little puppy was not having major fear issues, and it can be very hard to deal with.  However - that is really water under the bridge at this point.

If I were you, I would want to know if the new owner is having the same issues you were having with him (and I hope this breeder will be honest with you). I have mixed feelings about whether there should be reimbursement.  IMO-If she sold the puppy to someone who is having no issue with him, then there should be no problem for the breeder to refund your money.  I do not think she should be making double the money on any puppy for any reason, and I doubt she would be staying in business very long if this was the norm.  If she had to re-home the puppy for no compensation, then that is a different story.  I know from experience with my breeder, we were to return the puppy to her if there was a problem with us keeping the puppy for any reason. 

It may be that it is lack of communication that is complicating this issue.  I hope you will contact her and come to some agreement so you can move on and truly have this behind you.   Good luck. 

[Laurie]

I wish I could discuss all this with the breeder, but she won't return my texts or emails.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

No text, no e-mail.  Call her from a phone you haven't used with her before. If she doesn't answer and you leave a message, don't give her all of your information. Like, "I am calling about your puppies.  Could you call me back so I can get more information?"  You aren't telling a lie, just not telling her WHO you are and what puppy you want information about.    Or, you could be honest and call her, telling her that you are truly worried about the puppy you returned and that you want to make sure he is okay with his new family.

[Laurie]

She recently blocked me from Facebook, so she clearly does not want contact with us. Very disappointed in her lack of communication and unprofessionalism. She seems to care much more about the money than her dogs or clients. Sadly, I will probably never know what happened to Fozzie. I feel like she owes us this at the least.