Golden Doodle Rehome is Hard!!!

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

A beautiful family with one 9 year old boy, and 8 year old girl contacted me about buying a puppy.  As is my policy I asked all of the usual questions and answered theirs. They fulfilled all of my requirements for being a home for one of my pups.  They visited a couple of times, played with the puppies and seemed like a perfect fit. When the time came they came to pick her up, they had pictures made, discussed their new crate and supplies, brought her a toy to chew on the way home and away they went.  I corresponded with them through email like I do all of my puppy families that care to.  They sent pictures and the usual descriptions of her sweetness etc.  Never a complaint or concern.

Then the email.  The gist being that since school started, they no longer have time for her and would like to return her.  This baby is four months old and was the one that I just couldn't put down  There is always one or two in a litter that I bond to and she was the one. Thankfully they had the good sense to return her as I require in my contract.

So here is the problem.  This sweet smart perfect goldendoodle needed a forever home.  This is a puppy that someone paid a lot of money for.  She has all the medical testing, and breeding that has taken me years to develop. After evaluating her, it was clear that she was the typical, sweet intelligent goldendoodle.  How do you look for a great home for this girl without people thinking they are doing you some kind of favor rescuing this dog that you are "trying to get someone to take". She didnt need rescuing as I would have kept her until the right placement came along. She seemed to be tainted by the idea that she had been "rejected" once before. People wanted to know what was wrong with her.  I had  people that heard about her call me and say they would take her but really didn't need another dog, or they would take her but wanted to know if they could bring her back if it didn't work out(what kind of commitment is that!!!) And my favorite question,"It isnt going to cost me anything is it".Now I want to say here that I purposely made discreet inquiries to people like my therapy dog leader to see if she could recommend someone.  But somehow the word got out.  Even the secretary at the dentist said she would "take her".  I offended quite a few people by turning down their offers to "take her off my hands".

After three weeks I did find what I feel is the perfect home.  One of my therapy dog buddies, who heard about it from our leader, called about the puppy.  I'm happy to say that the new arrangement is working beautifully. Her new family says she is so smart and sweet that she will be the youngest therapy dog ever!  I'm so relieved. 

This is the first puppy I have ever had returned but would like to be prepared if it ever happens again.  How do you convey to people that you have an amazing gift to give, not that you need a favor!  I made several people angry by turning them down even though I did it as respectfully and politely as I knew how.  Any suggestions out there would be helpful.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I don't know how anyone could return her, she looks so sweet! People ar just not committed and you need to do what's best for you and the dog, so I wouldn't worry about making anyone angry. (I would have kept her as a return and a bonus) Sorry-I couldn't do what you do. Glad you found a great place for the doodle!!!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

she's adorable. glad you found her a good home. I wouldn't care about making people angry. You did the right thing for her.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

sorry I don't have any suggestions, but I just wanted to say that she is a very beautiful dog. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lynne, Your first responsibility is to that dog. You handled it correctly. Too bad for the people that got mad. I would just say, "this dog was special and I needed to find the right fit for her, so she was never returned again." Sometimes, I really hate people. How do you take a dog and four months later realize you no longer have time for her? Do they have any idea, or do they care, the confusion and pain they caused this dog? They should be ashamed. She is a beautiful dog and deserves a happy home and I hope the second time is a charm. I think you did your best. You just can't always predict when it involves people.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I think you did everything right--it tok time to find the right home and this gorgeous pup deserved that time. if those other people are unhappy, that is too bad--the happiness of the pup is more important right now. You did right by her!

[shelly]

SHE IS GORGEOUS!  To most people, 'rehoming' a dog means something must be wrong with the dog, when in fact something is actually WRONG with the PEOPLE.... what I would say is that it was the people you SOLD the dog to that did not meet YOUR qualifications, that all of your dogs are bred to specific standards and that you expect those who purchase and raise your puppies to follow through to provide your puppies with a good quality of life.  Ask these other people who got their nose out of joint if they would send their child off to a home for the weekend that did not provide the proper safeguards or care to their children.... perhaps that may open their eyes a bit.  For us, not to think of a dog as a FAMILY member is inconceivable, but to many a dog is just that.... a dog - sad, but true.  So glad you found someone!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Well, I think that if you just put her out there available for the same amount that you originally charged, that would weed out the people looking for freebies.  If during the process you come across someone (like the lady you found), that is actually sincere, etc., then you can obviously make a different deal.  Many people are looking for freebies and when they get them they don't have an appreciation for them.  My thoughts are that the people who got pissed off aren't the types of people you should really worry about anyway (or they would have understood).    Great job finding her a wonderful home, and by the way, she is beautiful.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I agree!  When people get something for free, that's often the value they give to the item (NOTHING).  You breed and sell puppies.  There is nothing majorly different about this particular puppy except that she's a bit older than your other puppies are when they go to their new families.  Let people know about this puppy's availability the same way you do with your new litters.  Only after someone expresses interest do you need to tell them that she's a "rehome".  If that matters to the potential buyer, then that probably wasn't the best place for her in the first place.  [If a puppy is returned because of major health issues, that's another story.]

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, yes, yes, Peri's breeder has helped another breeder with rehomes before (I get emails from her) - they usually ALWAYS charge the same amount - full price.  I think this REALLY helps weed people out.  I would NEVER turn my nose down to a dog that is a rehome.  We all know on DK how people get "tired" of dogs, run out of "time" for dogs, etc... And if Peri's breeder said it was a good dog, I would pay full price without hesitation.

[Bonnie and Kona]

She is just beautiful! It breaks my heart to think people could be so callous.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Glad she found a good home, she's beautiful.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am thrilled that you found the right home for your beautiful pup.  I think you just need to discount the 'offers to take her off your hands'  like she had something wrong with her. 

From a buyer standpoint, when we bought Ned, we went to that breeder specifically to view two pups that needed re-homing with the perk  that they would be less expensive.  Though they were beautiful, neither had the right personality for us and we ended up with our charming Ned.  I do need to point out that at no time did we feel that we would be doing anyone a favor if we took  a pup needing re-homing. I also need to point out that if one of them had been right for us, the re-homing part would not have mattered at all and if we hadn't known they had been purchased once, we would have paid full price.