Doodle born without a tail.

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

We looked at a 4 week old Labradoodle yesterday. She was born with out a tail. When I say that I mean not even a stub. They took her to vet yesterday and said her gait is off a little and she may or may not end up with bad hips. They want 500.00 but now told us that will give her to us or some else if we don't take her. Their vet faxed her records to my vet so he can tell us what he thinks. She will be spayed. My biggest worry is that her body can handle the romping these dogs do.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That would be far from my biggest worry. My biggest worry would be how I would pay for the $5000-10,000 hip surgeries she may need down the line, since if this is in her vet records as a pre-existing condition I wouldn't be able to get pet insurance to cover it or the myriad other health problems she is likely to have as she clearly comes from a very bad breeding situation. And as the owner of a puppy mill labradoodle who lives with multiple health issues, my other biggest worry would be watching another dog suffer for life with congenital health problems. 

Wanda, if you want another doodle, please stop looking at Puppy Find and other ad sites where puppy mills advertise their dogs, and find a reputable breeder. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's a very noble goal, but this could very well be a spinal deformity, and I doubt very much that the vet is doing Xrays or neurological testing, so there's not much your vet can tell from a physical exam. There are lots and lots of perfectly healthy dogs who need homes.

You do realize that this puppy can't leave her mother for another 3 or 4 weeks? Are they willing to keep her til then?

[F, Calla & Luca]

It seems to me you didn't ask any questions. However, people are trying to give you good advice.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Rest assured, I won't make that mistake again, lol. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Whoa!  Wanda, please do not feel offended!  Generally, when someone comments back to your initial question or discussion, they are just giving you information to help you make a more informative decision.  Since Karen is very involved with Doodle rescue and has had more experience with it that most of us, she is a valuable source of information for someone questioning whether to take in a doodle that has health issues from poor breeding practices.  Of course, the final decision is yours and yours alone - only you know what you are willing and capable of doing for a rescue (financially and mentally).  I wish you luck finding your doodle of choice.