Good- bye Mojo...

[Jennifer Goaring]

So here is the updated story on our attempt at life with two doodles...

 

Our first doodle was brought home at 4 months of age...

sort of a second-hand / wouldn't sell right away pup from a breeder.  He is a medium ALD.  We got him Feb 2010.  One year later I was so enjoying this whole dog owning adventure that I really liked the idea of a second dood.  I thought Sam was looking bored and lonely and that he maybe get more exercise and have fun with a second dood and I liked the idea of getting a different sized dood and doing training again and all that.  DH wasn't thrilled with the idea but I started looking into it.  DH really didn't want a brand new puppy so while I thought the puppies were DARLING... I was looking more at doodle rescues or dogs needing guardian homes for breeders (which is what our neighbor's doodle was... a stud dog for a breeder and they are the guardians).

 

So then I find a local breeder with a 1 year old male mini ALD needing a home and I look into it.  I take Sam with me and we go visit -- they seem to have a great time playing and do well together.  We talk about the terms of guardianship and all that and I decide to go for it.  I go home and ready our home and get supplies and make a plan to pick him up a week or so later.   All goes well.

 

The first few months were really fun.  Sam had a play mate, the new dog Mojo seemed to take really well to the kids (I have 4 boys aged 12, 8, 8, and 3).  I started him in obedience classes as he had never really had any and he was smart and took to basics pretty easily.  He is much more hyper than Sam and I had lots of trouble getting him to stop jumping on everything and everyone and he didn't seem to think the dog gate was a barrier for him... so lots of trying to escape and run off and get into things.  He also would still chew on anything he found... he destroyed a pair of kids' shin guards, lots of socks, stuffed animals and who knows what else.   I really had to go back to lots of crate use to deal with his crazy attacks at night -- they would fight in the house and he would get really worked up when people came over.  He is just VERY different type of dood than Sam is and I was hard at times.

 

After a few months and my husband constantly getting annoyed and yelling at Mojo I started suggesting maybe he should go back to the breeder... the agreement was always open like that -- he always had a home to go back to if things weren't working out well for us.  But strangely, my DH said... "No... he is ours." and so things continued.

 

Then we started see more dog fights.  Not just playing... but teh more aggressive, alpha dog type fights with growling and such... and often in the house near my kids.  I could usually just open the door or get one of them in the crate or something to stop it... but it was scaring me.

 

Our dog trainer had warned me that after about 4 months the "honeymoon" period would wear off and the dogs would fight more and we should be careful about it -- she suggested feeding them totally separately and not having any dog toys out but controlling when they could have them.  I admit, I really thought, "oh my dogs are fine... they won't be like that..." and didn't really do anything different.  But around 4 month we did start having fights over food and toys and such and it got really frustrating.

 

Long story short... Mojo went back to the breeders about 3 weeks ago.  We had had a fight where Sam got really defensive and went after Mojo and bit his ear to the point that he was bleeding everywhere and then another bad fight happened again the next day... and DH went through the roof when Mojo started chewing on a new wooden deck chair... it was just too much yelling and fighting for me.  So I just said, "we are done -- I am taking him back."  No one objected.

 

 (Below - Mojo on the day we took him back to the breeders... he really was a sweet boy -- just too much energy for our household.  The breeder had 3 different options for other guardian homes to place him... hope he is doing well!)

 

 

Life has been SO MUCH BETTER now that we are back to 1 dog.  Sam seems so relaxed and at ease... honestly, I swear he is a much happier dog now.  We have gotten to take down the dog gate and Sam gets to roam free (something he was just about ready for when Mojo came along but then we kept it up because of the new dog).  We are all enjoying getting to give our 1 dog all the attention and I think we all appreciate him more now that we have seen what some other dogs can be like.  Sam is so well behaved -- so good with his commands and such... so laid back.

 

So I think we are likely too be a 1 dog household for a long time.  MAYBE... when my kids are out of the house and I have more doggie time available I will try out the two doodles option again.  But I think I would 1 boy and 1 girl and wait about 2 years between them... AND would start each one as a pup so I have more control over training.  Training a 1 year old was so much harder in terms of basic house rules and manners... he was great at learning sit, come, down, how to walk on a leash, etc.  But was terrible about jumping on people, barking at everyone, jumping on furniture... etc.  Stuff that is harder to train because it is not teaching a command but teaching him what NOT to do.

 

Anyhow... I felt like a terrible bad doodle mommy after deciding to give him up but the breeder was very understanding and sweet and welcomed him back with open arms.  I so appreciated that and will recommend her to any local friends looking for a great doodle breeder to work with.

 

[Stephen Green]

Jennifer, I thought I would give you an update.  Mojo is still with us and we are looking for a great home where he will have the individual attention he needs.  He is doing great with us, and seems very happy to be back.  We have fewer dogs around the house right now after the puppies have gone to their new homes.  There are only four dogs in the house, two who will always be with us and two that are in process of finding a guardian home.  We have two potential guardian homes and so we might send Mojo and Lady (another of our dogs) to those homes in the next weeks.

Mojo has calmed down a lot since he got back with us.  He is still the snuggler and yet he also loves to play games.  He has adjusted well to being here and I can tell that you worked hard with him on training.  I understand fully how hard it is to train a dog you get when they are older (he came to us at a year old) and you didn't raise them from a puppy.  We are grateful for the work you did with him and how hard you worked to keep him.  Thanks.  Steve

[Tessa, Ellie and Wheezy]

I'm so sorry you had a bad experience.....I'm sure that was hard for you......I think it's great you told you story.....and it does let others see that it doesn't always work out.....you made the right decision when you took Mojo back.....I'm sure Mojo will find his forever home.   You are not a terrible doodle mommy!!!!  *hug*

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Jennifer, sometimes it just doesn't work out.  Don't be hard on yourself.  Years ago, we started with a Labradoodle that my husband picked out and he was just way, way too much for us to handle.  He needed a very active family in order to get rid of his enormous energy.  We ended up giving him to a family we knew and it was "happily ever after" from there  on out.  Coco found his perfect home, the family found their perfect dog, and all ended well.  It broke my heart and I beat myself up for awhile, but I came to realize that sometimes the fit just doesn't work.  Years later, we now have two doodles that are fantastic and love each other very much.  You did the right thing for everyone -- and Mojo is bound to find the perfect home eventually.

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

It was nice that you were able to try and get him to a different home if it didn't work out. Some dogs are just meant to be the only dog. Sorry your doodle got hurt but now you know that you tried your best.

[Jennifer Goaring]

Thanks for the understanding comments... I was worried that I would be banished from DK for posting this which is why I didn't post about it a few weeks ago when it happened.  I do believe that taking in a pet should be a forever thing... but I also feel like the guardian home idea is somewhat unique.  If Mojo had really been ours to keep with no strings attached, I would have gotten him fixed because I think that would have helped tremendously with a lot of the issues we were having... but given I did not have that option -- taking him back was our best recourse.  So in total he had been at 1 home for about 9 months and then the breeders home for about 4 months, then ours for 5 months and no back to the breeders home -- which he seemed to remember somewhat as he knew exactly how to get around when we got there and greeted everyone in a friendly way... I hope it is going well.  I posted this all partly as an update -- but mostly because there are those considering a second doodle who may want to think it all over.  As you can see from my earlier blog -- we had a good initial introduction to Mojo and things went very well for a number of months before things started to fall apart.  Anyway... I hope I still have some friends here on DK.  I am not the most active member -- I do read lots, but only contribute once in awhile... but I do like all the information, advice and support and I hope I am still welcome in this group.  :\

[Jennifer and Jack]

I feel so badly over this situation. I considered for a long time getting a second dog but ultimately Jack has always shown signs of being very happy being an only dog and getting to go to daycare and on playdates.

 

It was confirmed totally by my mom living with me and having her puppy stay here, Jack is jealous, he is in an upheaval. Had i taken a puppy as my own, we would work it out because I feel like that is what would need to be done.  I am lucky and thankful that I got enough input and saw enough signs in Jack (having lived with my friend that had three doodles for six months) that Jack just is not into sharing me. I had a discussion with this tonight with a friend who is considering getting a second doodle. While I believe her doodle would be okay with another dog. I can see why Jack is not.

 

Anyway, I am a little disheartened by the breeder who is letting her dog that she is using for  a breeding program get bounced around so much, not having given it much training etc. How is she going to know if that dog displays good character and temperament that she would even want to use him to be bred,

 

I know my breeder constantly has to rehome dogs after raising them  or she keeps them as her house dogs if she see's any quality in them that is not suitable for breeding.. such as aggression, anxiety etc.

 

I don't know, I hope and pray Mojo gets a forever home, a home where no one will quit on him and he will get the training, love and treatment he deserves, I also agree to male dogs in a home where one has not been altered or either one has not been altered can be a recipe for disaster.

 

I am sorry for you, but I am glad you know now that you need to stay a one doodle family and that you do not take on more responsibility that you can not keep.

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

I'm assuming that Sam is neutered and obviously Mojo was not.  It's possible this was part of the problem. Laurie's points are very valid and I wish nothing but the best for Mojo. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Laurie of course is correct the Breeder needs to take responsibility for Mojo.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I probably should not comment, because my sympathies are with Mojo. Two things I hope people take away from this blog....1) If all adults in the home are not on board with adding another dog to the household, do not do it! 2) No two doodles or any breed of dog are ever alike. If your expectations are that you expect the second one to be just like the first, it is never going to happen.

 

I remember when you were looking into getting another dog and decided to get Mojo. I seem to remember that Mojo had already been in a couple of homes and now he moves onto another one. I am glad your home is now more peaceful and Sam is less stressed, but I can't help but feel for Mojo who is now confused and gets to start over somewhere else. I hope your breeder steps up and keeps this poor dog. He has been passed around enough and deserves a life of stability. Your breeder should see that it happens.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I am sure Mojo will get another home, he is beautiful. And all that angst in one household couldn't be good for anyone. You made the right decision.

I'm with you Donna, don't want to upset the apple cart. Does Quincy have doggy playtime ever?