Looking for a Doodle -- Read This First!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

When I was 19 or 20 I went to the Mall one afternoon with my room mate for a bathing suit and we came home with a Puppy.  Your ultimate impulse purchase, and a stupid one at that!    Fast forward 30+ years later and that thought makes me cringe.  I've learned so much in the past 4.5 years from DK.  We have a link to "What to Look For in a Breeder", we've had multiple discussions on the necessity for purchasing Pet Insurance, but this morning as I was encountering yet another Vet issue I was thinking to myself about the need for a discussion on just what all you should think about before getting a puppy with regard to how it will fit into your lifestyle.  I know that we have touched on this in many discussions, but just thought maybe we could get it all in one spot.  Here is what I as thinking about this morning.  Feel free to add your thoughts as well.  My goal isn't to scare people out of getting a dog, although it might possibly do that to some, but if it does, better they see this now than after they get the puppy.

We are the owners of two doodles, liter mate sisters that are now 4.5 years old.  In the last 4 months here is what we have dealt with.  Torn/ruptured CCL in Lucy which resulted in surgery.  After the surgery she had to be created 24/7 for 7 weeks.  She could go outside to potty on a leash and then come right back inside.  The next 6 weeks she could be off leash in the house, but not outside to potty.  Now even 4 months out she isn't allowed outside to play with another dog off leash.  Only by herself.  There was no way that I was going to trust someone else with her care during this time because any slip up would mean the surgery would have to be redone at $2200.  So we were pretty much glued to the house for 2 months.   Just as we were getting through that our Sophie got sick.  After 5 weeks of trips to the Vet she was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  That means for the next 6 months we will be at the Vet's office every Monday morning for Chemo treatments.  And if like last week another visit during the week because she got sick from the chemo.  We will eventually get the occasional off week once we get in the maintenance phase.  However, it is very time consuming.  Now, this morning, Lucy gets an ear infection.  Fortunately it was already Chemo day so we just took her with us and Dr. Jenny saw her too.  But I was thinking to myself, how in the world would I ever have been able to do all of these Vet visits if I weren't retired.  I didn't even like missing work for Dr's apts for myself, I can't even imagine saying you know what, for the next 6 months I'm going to be late every Monday because I have to take the dog to the doctor.   Additionally, because of Sophie's meds she drinks more and pees more so I can't be gone from the house for more than a few hours because she needs out.  The days of leaving her for 8 or 9 hours are a think of the past.  Our planned month long vacation in January is now a thing of the past.  Our trip to Missouri to visit our Nephew has been cancelled twice now. 

So, what I'm saying is that you really need to think through how all of these things can be handled before you adopt a dog.  Some people get lucky and they get one trip to the Vet a year and having a dog is a piece of cake.  However, that isn't always the way it works out.  There are so many Doodles here on DK with medical issues.  Financial issues aside, can your current busy life handle having something like this added to it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think any of us is saying that someone should or shouldn't get a dog because of time or money constraints, just that everyone should be aware of all of these things discussed here before they get a dog. Dog people already know most of this. Dog people are going to have dogs, they can't live without them, lol. This is for the people who are NOT dog people...yet. Doodles more than almost any other breed or mix seem to attract people who have never had a dog before, and may not know much about them, and all the hype about these dogs doesn't help. Every day I see people who don't have the first clue about owning any dog looking to adopt a doodle because they saw one somewhere. We have all seen people who seemed to think that purchasing a doodle would be like buying a cute stuffed animal that would sit on their bed and wait for them to have time to play with it.  I think the intention of this discussion is to make sure these people understand everything that is involved in owning a dog, and especially a doodle, before they go looking for one.  

[Leslie and Halas]

I agree. It's mostly about awareness, especially for new dog owners or people who haven't had a dog in a while. Something as routine as an ear infection can run a few hundred dollars by the time it clears up. People just need to realize that a well-trained dog takes time and effort, and vet expenses can be high, even for basic stuff. So many people seem to jump into it unaware of a lot of things.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Interesting that you say this, Karen.  Our trainer works with lots of "problem Doodles".  I asked why he thought that was the case and his opinion is that a certain type of owner is often attracted to Doodles....first time dog owners looking for a "fluffy, cute" dog who they then treat like a child rather than a dog.  I admit I took offense to this comment, but maybe there's some truth to it....although none of these owners are DKers.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

In the not too distant past, I had dogs that weren't chipped, only had yearly vet visits to get shots, went to a groomer once in a while for a shave down. They got flea prevention meds, had a 6 week training course, ate decent (as we knew it) food.  These dogs were inside, well-loved family dogs, but we lived our lives and they fit into our schedules.  What happened is doodlekisses!  I blame them for my enlightenment on nutrition; my insight on poop and how it relates to doggy well-being;  being more attuned to the needs of my dogs and the signs of impending problems. 

Times, attitudes, and awareness have changed. Perhaps doodles are a 'breed' that has more problems than many others but perhaps doodle owners are just more aware of, and willing to address these problems. I think most of us have paid exorbitant amounts of money for our dogs so we perhaps, have a different outlook on dog ownership.  I paid more for Ned than I paid for birthing all three of my children added together.  Even non-doodles have benefited from this new awareness.  I have paid more for my non-doodle's CCL surgeries than I paid for cars for my kids. I don't have insurance for my dogs (still behind the times on this one) but you can bet my next dog will be insured before any problems show up.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm with you on this one.  I'm not even sure if I had found Doodle Kisses before I got my girls if I would have gone through with it.  It had been 5 years since we had a dog and had professed "never again".  Some of my reasons were some that we talk about here.  Vet bills, constraints of traveling as we had always traveled a lot were two of my major concerns.  I can't even begin though to explain how much my life has changed since I got the girls though.  I have never had an attachment to a dog like I have with my girls.   They are basically my life.  Everything that we do basically revolves around them.  All of that said though, I could have been better prepared had I thought it through a little more up front. 

[Rachel and Ollie]

Well said Karen. That makes the most sense to me. I am young, single, and work a full time job (with weird hours). I live in an apt and I don't have a ton of extra money. In addition to all of this, Ollie is the first dog in my life, so I am a newbie. I think the main thing is checking priorities and being willing to learn. I found out, because of all of you ,that pet insurance was a great idea. I learned that their are a few decent foods out there that I can afford. I've met great people (on here) that love Ollie very much and are amazing enough to watch him when I'm gone. On my days off (and on special days at work) Ollie gets special outings, and because I am far from everyone and everything I know, Ollie is my best friend. :) yep awareness and willingness to learn and sacrifice.

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

Excellent post. And as much as we try to educate and prepare others about the costs and responsibilities of dog ownership, it's really one of those emotional decisions we make in life, much like having a baby, or a second, or a third. Humans have an innate need to take care of something or someone, to give of themselves, to invest their time and energy in something and nurture it and watch it grow and learn and be a positive addition to their lives. And that is different things for different people. And just about anything in life worth having, has good and bad associated to it.
Most people, I feel just don't expect the bad to happen to them, even if they have read and prepared and done all the research possible.
The questions then becomes how much am I willing /able to take care, give, invest, nurture this new addition should things go poorly?. And again that is different for everyone. There are many abandoned children out there too, so having a dog be more than you can or are willing to take care of is not ever going to change.
I know my limits, or have thought of what they will be, should one of my guys become ill to the point of needing full time attention, and a good chunk of my yearly salary, and changing my lifestyle totally around to care for them and keep them comfortable and a good quality of life. While I and my family suffers? This just does not seem a reasonable choice for me. And i can afford it, and have insurance and help from friend s and family. But that's me. And you all know how I love my dogs. And I am an RN , so taking care of people is very much in my nature. But it really is about taking care of people that has to come first in my opinion. So what I'm thinking is that people will always want to own dogs, and dogs will continue to get sick, and decisions will be made that some may not agree with, but that most all of these new presepective dog owners have nothing but good intentions going into it, fore-warned or not. But if it helps anyone decide to not get a dog because they know their limits would not endure a hardship, then this post is priceless.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Sue, you express wisely compassion that evolves from caring for others... compassion that stretches beyond the doodles, beyond your family or friends, beyond to those in great need. Thank you for expressing your heart. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I agree with you, Sue we begin our ownership responsibilities positively, we do expect things to go as we plan, we all  have limits as to what we feel appropriate to handle. Most of us do the best we can, even if that 'best' is below what someone else's idea of  'best' is.

[Kate C Pappas]

I hear you! Very sage advice. This is what I learned VERY recently.....if you ask a breeder to see a pedigree, know the lines she is breeding with, test scores etc and they refuse for ANY reason....RUN RUN RUN!!! An ETHICAL breeder should be proud of and happy to show you what they are breeding. There shouldn't be 'secrets'.....alluding to 'exclusivity' etc.

I'm so sorry about your situation and can only imagine your heartache.

Hug those Doodles for us.

Cheers, Kate and the "Y" Girls

[Kate C Pappas]

I hear you! Very sage advice. This is what I learned VERY recently.....if you ask a breeder to see a pedigree, know the lines she is breeding with, test scores etc and they refuse for ANY reason....RUN RUN RUN!!! An ETHICAL breeder should be proud of and happy to show you what they are breeding. There shouldn't be 'secrets'.....alluding to 'exclusivity' etc.

I'm so sorry about your situation and can only imagine your heartache.

Hug those Doodles for us.

Cheers, Kate and the "Y" Girls