Breeder recommendations and first few weeks with the puppy

[Pari]

Hello,

I am new to the forum. We are interested in getting a Australian Labradoodle puppy this holiday season.

I wanted to get perspectives from you all on your experiences with adopting and the first few weeks with the puppy.

 

Background

We have been looking at adopting a puppy for the past 2 years. I have a 12 year old son and 7 year old daughter, both of them are mature and would love to have a new friend. I had a dog for 14 years when I grew up and have experience raising a puppy. My wife though is on the fence though.

We live in Northern California, CA and live an active lifestyle. We have flexible work hours but the puppy will eventually have to live 4-6 hours at home 4 days a week or so. We do live close to a puppy day care which is an option for us.

 

Questions I need some help with

1. How much work is it in the initial weeks? We have the last 2 weeks off in December and plan to get him/her before the holidays. Would 2 weeks be enough to get to some routine?
2. How did you go about selecting your breeder? I have read the thread on selecting the breeder but I am confused. There are breeders on the ALAA list that have horrible yelp reviews. All breeders give the standard 2 year warranty.
   1. We will really need a breeder who can help select the puppy with the right temperament for us.
3. Any recommendations on how you managed after the first few weeks? Come home during lunch, dog walker, puppy school? 

Appreciate your help in advance.

[Nancy & Echo]

I was lucky that I was able to take off work the first 5 weeks I got Echo (at 10.5 weeks old).  Since I do not have a significant other, I'm sure its hard on Echo when I go off to work (I work the graveyard shift.)   I can't bring Echo to work.  The first 2 nights, I tried putting Echo in her crate and leaving her in my car (in the work garage), and visit her during my breaks and lunch, but that was a disaster.  She got out of her crate, and pooped all over the car seats.  I'm sure the rumble of the cars driving in the multistory garage upset her.  (She found out where the zippers are on the crate, and pawed at them until they opened.)  I quickly learned to cover the seats with potty pads.

I now leave her at home with a doggy door and an enclosed back yard.

I asked for a sedentary puppy, but I think I got a loving one.   She will encourage me to do more exercise (which I need.) She's very excited about meeting anyone (dog or person) on her walks.  The breeder picked for me, since this is my first dog.

We aren't supposed to name any specific breeder recommendations on the open forums.  Here is a list of characteristics of a good breeder.  http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder

[Pari]

Nancy,

Thanks for your reply. Crate training definitely is on the agenda. I'll have to work a more flexible schedule out at work for the first 4-6 weeks I guess. 

If there is a way you can PM me the breeder you used, that will be great.

[BG and Gavin]

It was a long time ago, but we had the first week off with the new puppy and worked diligently to establish a good routine. I found a program on line re: play, exercise, crate time, potty time etc...that we stuck to and it really worked. We also made sure to leave the puppy and leave the house for varying amounts of time so that he was used to being on his own. Once back to work, we walked puppy in the morning, play time and potty time then fed him before crating him til we came home for lunch at noon. More potty and play time at noon and then back to the crate. We walked him again once home from work at 5 with plenty more play time. It was very time consuming, I am not gonna lie, but totally worth the effort. The routine along with the training we did...well I honestly do not think we could have devoted the time we did if we had children. Perhaps that is your wife's hold back?

[Pari]

Yes. My wife has never had a dog so she is not a dog person. We have been delaying getting the puppy for quite some time but with the kids growing up, I think this is the age for them to enjoy the new addition. Thanks for the schedule, will definitely check it out.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I have an awesome breeder in northern California.  I will send a friend request and a personal message.

[Pari]

Thanks. I will check the breeder out.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think what you really need to do first is evaluate how much time you really have for a dog in your active lives. Not just the first couple of weeks. I don't mean to discourage you, but dogs need attention for their whole lives.  It is killing me right now because my neighbors got a golden retriever puppy and he is outside pretty much all the time, and pretty much alone.  This is the second time they have done this and I can hardly be civil to them. They are a very nice family, but they have two teenagers with lots of sports and activities and a pre-schooler who is now in preschool while both parents work. When they go on vacation, they board him rather than take him.  I am sure their intentions were good, but they really don't have time for a dog. 

Puppyhood is like when your children were babies: there are some sleepless nights at first;  during "potty training" there is constant monitoring needed;  you have to keep them from getting into danger, so puppy-proofing your home (keeping clothes, toys, shoes away) blocking access to electrical cords and trash as well as limiting access to areas, like the kids rooms with baby gates etc. is necessary; and then there is training and socialization - the more time and consistency you put into it, the better your adult dog will fit into your family.

If your wife isn't on board and committed to being a major participant in the 'puppy work,' I wouldn't advise getting a dog. One of you can be the major dog person, but it takes both of you to raise the dog - like your children.

If you think a dog could fit into your family for the next 12 years, you need to evaluate whether a doodle is actually going to be a good fit.  Doodles especially are people-oriented dogs and are not happy being outdoor dogs. They tend to be very smart and very active as puppies.  An untrained doodle is not a welcome dog.

Lastly, it is important to find a reputable breeder for any dog you purchase - the bargain dog often comes with health problems.  The what to look for in a breeder article link that Nancy and Echo posted for you is a minimum for finding a reputable breeder.  Using that article as a guide, question the breeders you are looking at on each point listed in the article and make a spreadsheet of their answers.

This may be way more information than you want or need, but one can't be really specific as to whether 2 weeks is enough time to get the puppy off to a good start.  2 weeks is not enough, but if you are really committed, you and your wife will make it work and you will have a delightful addition to your family.

[Pari]

Nancy, 

Your perspective is much appreciated. This is the reason we have been delaying getting the new puppy but my kids are at a age where they will cherish the new addition. In all this, if we find a pup with the right temperament, things might be easier but if not then I agree it can be an uphill task. 

Not getting a puppy is the easiest option but I am trying to see if we can make it work.

[Nancy]

Perfectly said by Nancy, Ned, Clancy and Charlie.....I agree who heartily with what she said.  I would like to add just a few more thought.  Even though your children are mature and want a puppy, the responsibility of feeding, training, grooming, vet visits and everything else is going to ultimately be on you and your wife.  If your wife is not 100 percent on board, I would say it is not a good idea.  I know that may be very disappointing to hear but the reality is that a puppy is a lot of work and very time consuming especially if you want to end up with a great dog.  Puppies are mischievous, they will get into anything and every thing if the are not completely supervised.  Then there is the teething stage, that is usually when children usually get annoyed with the puppy because of the constant nipping.  Doodles are definitely people dogs, they need to be with with their people and part of the family.  Please take your time and think it all the way through before you make your decision.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's the thing about your getting a dog because "the kids are at the age to enjoy (or cherish) the new addition". 

Kids change; their likes, dislikes, tastes, activities, everything, change from year to year and even sometimes from month to month. Toys and hobbies that they loved no longer interest them. The novelty wears off, they get bored. They get older, they want to be out with their friends all the time, they have more schoolwork, etc. And then they go away to college. 

And through all that, the dog will still be there. Your kids will be in their 20s, maybe even in their own homes, maybe even married, and if this dog is healthy and has a normal life span, he/she will still be there with you in your home. You are making a 14+ year commitment. 

What we tell potential adopters in Doodle Rescue is this: No matter how old your kids are, how responsible they are, or how much they want a dog, the dog will be your (and your wife's) responsibility and will belong to you. If you would not be getting a dog if you didn't have kids, please don't get a dog. 

Doodles require a lot of exercise, a lot of grooming, and a lot of training, and all that adds up to a LOT of time. Lack of time in busy, child-centered households is the number one reason doodles are relinquished to rescue. And these dogs can be very messy. They drip water across the floors every time they drink, they track bring all sorts of dirt, mud, and snow into the house, and leaves, twigs, grass, etc on their coats. If your wife is not a dog person, how will she feel about dealing with that for the next 14+ years?

Growing up with dogs is not the same thing as being experienced with owning dogs.  I grew up with dogs, too. I didn't take them to the vet, I didn't care for them when they were ill,  I didn't administer their medications when they needed them, I didn't choose their food, I didn't choose their flea, tick and heartworm preventatives, I didn't brush and comb them, I didn't take them to the groomer, I didn't take them to obedience class, I didn't clean up after them, and most importantly, I didn't pay for any of their expenses. I played with them. 

 

Here's a link to an article from the Doodle Rescue website. Even though you are not thinking of adopting a rescue dog, it's good information for you to read and consider. 

http://doodlerescue.org/forum/topics/information-for-anyone-interes...

http://doodlerescue.org/forum/topics/things-to-consider-before-you

And some more good info for anyone considering bringing one of these dogs into their homes and their lives, put together by the members of Doodle Kisses: http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/considering-a-doodle-crowd...

Finally, after reading all of this (and please have your wife read it, too), if you still decide you want a puppy, you should know that the holidays, with all the celebratory chaos, parties, etc, are not the best time to bring a puppy into your home. So much so that many of the better breeders who will not sell "Christmas puppies."

 

[Pari]

Karen,

Thanks for all the information you shared. Much appreciated!

I don't expect my kids to be responsible for the puppy. I will be. I think as kids they need to have an emotional bonding with a pet. I think it is an experience that they need to have in their formative years to be compassionate about the world around them.

One other consideration for us is to adopt an Adult dog from a rescue. We are registered with the Golden Retriever rescue and getting an Adult dog between the age of 4-7 might be an option.

Again, I truly appreciate all the information you have sent me.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And I appreciate all the thought you are putting into this. 

Looking at things from a rescue perspective, which I always do, lol, the concern is always that there is at least one adult committed to the dog, because after food, water, shelter, and veterinary care, what every dog needs most is a responsible adult to whom he or she belongs, to whom he/she is bonded, one adult that he knows he can look to for guidance and who always has his back.. Without that, the dog's future is uncertain at best. I have seen countless cases of dogs who were acquired "for the kids", often as a birthday or Christmas gift, living in large families with two adults and several children, and yet the dog doesn't really belong to anyone. When you see how lost those dogs are, it's heartbreaking.

An adult rehome who is past the nipping, chewing, jumping, housebreaking stage is often much easier than a puppy. A mature dog between 4-7 will also not have the same high exercise requirements as a pup or very young adult. I adopted my doodle as an adult because I really did not want to deal with the puppy stuff at that point in my life. But most private rescues will not adopt to "first time" owners, and require you to have vet records for at least one dog in your own name. There are also usually age restrictions. If the GR rescue does not have these types of restrictions, that might be a wonderful option for your family, and your kids won't have to deal with those razor blade puppy teeth.