Poor temperment and BYB vent

[jenn D]

I think I'm just venting at this point so this post probably has no other purpose except to get things off my chest and maybe warn any potential buyers to please, please research their breeders thoroughly.

As many of you know, we are a mixed doodle house: two doodles from breeder and two rescued. Both rescues have issues I believe stemming from bad breeding. I'm prefacing this by saying we love our doodles and are keeping them all until they go to the rainbow bridge. this post is regarding Jake, the second doodle to come into our home and our first rescue. My husband adores him and has never had his own dog. Jake has bonded with him and my husband loves this dog. Jake has his second birthday yesterday.

I spend a lot of time with the doodles. I'm a stay a home mom so after kids are to school it's doodles and housework for this lady. Many people say our dogs are well behaved and I do work with them as a pack and individually. I groom them all myself. Lots of hands on. But there are some things I cannot trsin out of Jake.

With that being said, Jake is a vet trying dog for me. And I'm a dog person. From his background history he was taken from his litter (sold) at 5 1/2 weeks. He was sold to a gentleman that was not around to take care of him and left him in his crate for 15-20 hours a day until we got him at 8 months. As some of you remember we "got" him via a "hey let's have the doodles get together for a playdate at your place" followed by a text later saying " can you just keep him I'm not coming back".

To be fair Jake has come a long way since the day the playdate turned into a staydate. He can walk on a leash now beautifully, no jump up when he meets people and comes when called. He no longer hoards water and drinks till he throws up. He has learned to be ok with a crate again and not pee in it. He is the best of the 4 dogs to go to the designated potty spot in the yard to pee.

But he plays so rough and has no social skills with the other dogs. Yes the other three are so well mannered they put up with his antics but after awhile they are like "darn this dog is crazy". He humps all of them. He plays very wildly. And when he gets wound up, it's very hard to settle him down. So much so that when the other dogs signal they have had enough we have to get him to sit by us to calm him down. I would never let him go to a doodle romp or take him to play with other dogs except ours. Ours can handle it but his bad social dog manners could cause massive issues. I've tried working on this myself. I've talked to other trainers who have observed him. They've offered suggestions that have helped curb things some but mainly it's me as mama dog intervention. They agree, he lost socialization by being taken too young from his mama and littermates.
In addition, I feel his temperment is just so high strung. Even Pickles who is younger has started to mature more. But he can get all the dogs spun up and when DH takes him on his nightly run and I am with just brisby, Mac and Pickles I admit I breathe a sign of relief. Those three together are so much easier to manage than 1 Jake.
I know he came from a BYB that bred a poodle back to a F1 doodle. I am suspect of their temperaments. I tell myself he needs extra excercise because of the poodle in him (or whatever) and I spend extra time with just him throwing a ball or running the yard. But I can't wear him out.

I continue to work with him but I'm leery of how far I can "change" his personality anymore.
Again, Jake loves to work and he loves training and he loves his people (us) so much. So I keep convincing myself I can do more to help him be more socially aware and to not be so hyperactive.
It's just sad because my other three are so good. They get excited at times and need there exercise too but they can play good together and the settle.
I feel bad for Jake because I don't think he can help it. Please if you are considering getting a dog from a breeder, research well. The man that got Jake from this BYB paid $900 for him. He also made the transaction in a Walmart parking lot and a not even 6 week old Jake was brought home in a cardboard box.
So sad. I'm attaching pictures. The owner had sent me ones of Jake as a pup and one now. I'm on my iPad so if anyone can post them in the thread itself I would appreciate it.
Happy Birthday, Jake. We will do the best we can to help you buddy.

[jenn D]

Oh here he is as a pup, before we got him. We got him at 8 months so we've had him for a little over a year.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, you know that his lack of social skills with the other dogs comes from being taken from his litter so young. Actually, I'd say he has a great temperament considering that he never had a chance to develop bite inhibition, which is really what you worry about with a dog taken from a litter before 7 or 8 weeks. DRC has had a couple of those and placing them was very nerve-wracking.

Jake is an F1B, which is produced by breeding an F1 doodle back to a purebred Poodle. It's very common among doodle breeders, not just BYBs. It gives you the lowest chance of shedding. 

I grew up with Poodles, owned one myself, and I love their temperaments. My next dog will most likely be another purebred Poodle. They are very people focused, brilliant dogs. They're acrobats and clowns, lol. They do need a lot of exercise, but so do Goldens and Labs, who were bred to be running (or swimming) all day, lol. But of course, BYBs don't usually select their breeding dogs based on temperament, and the Poodles with the best temperaments are rarely sold to BYBs; neither are the Labs or Goldens with the best temperaments, either. I have known some very, very hyper Labs and Goldens. So I don't think Jake's temperament is due to too much Poodle so much as just questionable breeding stock in general. 

I do think that Jake will continue to make progress as he gets older, and become mellower. All dogs do. You have done so much for him. I hate to think where he would be now (or if he would be anywhere now) if it weren't for you. Hang in there. :) 

Happy Birthday, Jake. You are one lucky doodle. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

PS: I just realized that today would have been my last Poodle's 25th birthday! LOL

[jenn D]

I assumed f1b could be common across good and bad breeders. But I did wonder if the extra poodle part made him more hyper. Based on what you've said, probably just the breeding stock. But he is so agile it's crazy and he can jump over a 4 foot coffee table and land without a sound. If my others tried that it would be a disaster.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, Poodles definitely excel at agility, lol. Hey, maybe you want to get him involved in that? He might just earn himself an AKC title!

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a cutie!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Happy Birthday Jake. I am wondering if Jake could be helped by medication? I would discuss it with my vet.

[Deanna M.]

I admire you so much Jenn for all you've done for your dogs and all you will continue to do.  Hopefully anyone considering buying  any dog will read this and do their due diligence.  Jake is one very lucky boy to have you and your family.  I really hope he does continue to improve.  Happy Birthday Jake!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our Springer is also from a backyard breeder when we didn't know any better.  He is a beautiful dog, BUT he has major separation anxiety issues, severe hyperactivity. We didn't get good training advice, so didn't properly address them when he was a puppy.  He has orthopedic problems (two torn CCLs, and a front shoulder/socket problem), skin problems ( at one point it was thought he had Addisons), allergies to Cortisone. Like many Springers, he is  losing his hearing.  When our son took Gordie to college for visits, and we had only the others at home, it was so calm. Gordie's nervous energy ramps up the others constantly and it gets tiresome. Like you, he is our forever dog, but like you, we are saddened by his poor breeding and wish we could cure his careless genetic combination.

We chose a BYB through ignorance and because we had such a hard time finding a pure bred Springer.  We paid the going rate at the time. We weren't looking for bargains.  I cringe every time I read about someone  choosing the breeder because he/she was cheaper. You tend to get what you pay for and that is often a dog that ends up with temperament, behavioral, physical problems.

Jake is adorable and so lucky to have you. At least his original owner had the smarts to abandon him to the right home.

[Gail and Bailey]

Happy Birthday, Jake!    Jen, you have done such a wonderful thing by rescuing Jake and Mac!