Rehoming Help in Seattle area

[Christina Jake's Mom]

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/for/4213474877.html

I was on Craigslist and for some reason I googled "Goldendoodle" and found this link for a woman who is trying to rehome her GORGEOUS English Goldendoodle puppy.  I don't know how this human should go about rehoming this gorgeous girl but I don't think Craigslist is the safest way.  Is there anyone in the Seattle area looking for a stunning Golden?  I wish I could have another doggie but I've got my hands full with Jake. 

 

If you have any suggestions I will try and contact her with options. 

 

Thank you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This woman is not trying to "rehome" her Goldendoodle, she's trying to sell him. She's asking $1000. With that kind of fee, it's a pretty sure bet that he is not going to fall into the hands of the Class B animal dealers, the dog flippers,  and the people looking for bait dogs, which is the real danger in rehoming through CL. It's a lousy way to rehome a dog under any circumstances, but the dog is probably not in danger. I also think there is something extremely fishy about this listing, and anyone interested in this dog would be well-advised not to take the owner's word for anything regarding this dog. 

If she is looking for money, which she clearly is, it's doubtful that she is going to relinquish the dog to rescue. When the adoption fee is $50 or 100, or sometimes even more, the rescue can sometimes convince the person not to rehome the dog this way, and relinquish. 

[Christina Jake's Mom]

I called and left a message.  I might actually know a family that is interested. I have met this young family in the park a couple of times and tell me they want my Jake.

I'm told people ask for real money when they "rehome" their dogs just so the dogs don't end up with the animal dealers.   They went to the expense of going through the five week K9 Academy out here which is easily verifiable.  It's our local boarding school for dogs.  It may be legit although I often suspect "Unexpected changes in our lives" is a euphemism for "this puppy is more than we can handle."  I'm not judging because I thought I went into having a dog with my eyes wide open and even I have had the passing thought of "free to good home".  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Christina, you are correct that "free to good home" is a disaster for any dog, and that it's important to ask for a rehoming fee that is more than a pittance, so that the dog doesn't fall pray to the types of CL "buyers" I mentioned above. But $1000 is way beyond a rehoming fee, the dog is being sold. There is a protocol that DRC and other rescue groups use to contact people who are rehoming their dogs on CL, and once we explain the dangers and offer them an alternative option, many do decide to relinquish the dog to rescue. But not when they looking for this kind of monetary compensation.

Julie also has a good point about the breeder. Any decent breeder takes her dog back or assists in rehoming her. There are even some wonderful doodle breeders who have posted DRC doodles on their websites so that the dogs can get more exposure to potential adopters. 

I will keep my feelings about why the dog has to lose her home to myself. But this website has a policy of not permitting breeders to advertise their puppies or dogs for sale here in the forum, and this is really no different, is it? It's not a rescue dog, nor is it a dog who is in danger in a shelter. 

[Christina Jake's Mom]

Hi Ladies -- thank you for your responses.  I gather they have found a home for the puppy.

Anja, I read the posting from that lovely-sounding family of four that live very close to me that are looking for a doodle ....  I took a look at Jake this morning as he was sleeping on his back with everything spread wide open in that adorable doodle way and I thought to myself, "Buddy, if I had seen this post two days ago you might be living somewhere else."  Almost not kidding.  I was that exasperated by how his behavior has deteriorated in the three months I've been non-weight-bearing since he ran into me and broke my ankle. (His recalls used to be almost 100% baring a squirrel or any other prey. Now they are about 20%.  That 20% is only when he doesn't stop to think about it.  If he stops to think about it he remembers I can't do anything about it if he doesn't come...)

Anywhoo.  Karen, you should self-publish a book.  You have so much knowledge.  It wouldn't take you much...just cobble your posts into chapters with a tiny bit of editing for verb tense since it's a book and you'd be done.  I'd buy it in a heart beat.

 I have so much to learn about  goldendoodles and dog ownership.  I learned about feeding and tummy issues from Karen and got Jake through the worms, the diet changes etc.  Still dealing with the itchies... Now I have to move onto training or Jake will be looking for a new home. (Almost kidding.)

 

Side note to Karen on Great Life:  Any chance that food will make it onto your list of foods?  I still worry that I am missing something since it's not on the list. (But wrong forum for this question.)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad to hear that the dog has a home, I hope that the new owners are committed to keeping him for life and he doesn't end up being passed from home to home. 

Thank you for the nice comments, too! 

[Christina Jake's Mom]

Let's hope.  I meant those words. Great news on the Great Life.  Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

PS: We may add Great Life to our Recommended List. 

[Anja]

There is a Goldendoodle/Labradoodle meetup page - http://www.meetup.com/labradoodle-134/messages/boards/. There was a family on there in October looking for a doodle. Not sure if they have found one yet.

I would recommend to her that she maybe post on there or even reach out to the family that was looking for an older doodle.

In this area $1100 for a doodle is a steal so in my opinion there is still a chance of this pup ending up in the wrong hands. Most doodles in this area sell between $2000-2500.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The batchers who sell to the labs don't care what kind of dog it is, they just need cheap dogs. Same with the pitbull rings and the kinds of sick people who take "free" dogs to torture and kill. They're not going to pay $1000 for them. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And I cannot tell you how many people question the DRC adoption fees and try to negotiate a lower fee. The typical adoption fees are $395 to 495, and these are all labradoodles and goldendoodles. People will spend $2500 for a puppy from a breeder, most will not spend it for an adult dog.  

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

Cute doodle! Not sure what a "certified breeder" is but wouldn't a reputable breeder want to know that their puppy was being rehomed (and help or take the doodle back). So sad!