Hypocritical? I think so....

[Missi]

Between July 2nd and July 20th, Lizzie lived with my grandparents. I had two trips to take where I couldn't take her with me; a family vacation to FL with my family and then a camping trip with the DBF's family. I worked 5 straight nights in between and figured it wouldn't be fair to jostle Lizzie between places. Lizzie stayed in Council Grove being loved and spoiled by my grandfather (Don't worry I called daily and visited twice). He took her out to the farm to play fetch, to the river/streams to swim, taught her to come to a whistle and spoiled her rotten! He also taught her to jump off a dock into the lake to retrieve! SHE HAD A BLAST!!!
So, the day came that I went to bring her home. and grandpa threw a fit. He tried to convince me that she was the most wonderful dog in the world (I knew that already...) and that I should leave her with him. He just fell in love with her and didn't want her to leave.

So I said, "Grandpa, why don't you get one? I'll find you a breeder!"
His response: "I would never spend that much money on a dog!"

Fine then, you can't have one!

It just made me mad because first of all, I ended up paying only $300 for Lizzie (plus well over $1500 in vet bills). And obviously he made the case himself that she is worth so much more than that!

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

When I read this the first time, I thought typical old cranky ol' grandpa, then I found out he is 62, only 5 years older than myself...does that mean in 5 years I'm officially old? And can be unjustly outspoken and get away with it?...WooHoo!

No, Lizzie is your dog, and yours alone, part of you. Why wouldn't he understand that? Doesn't matter how much or little you spend to get your dog, the money is unimportant, what is important is that you love your dog, and I'm sure Lizzie loves you back. If you were away a lot and grandpa had to look after Lizzie for many months in a year, then I'd say yeah, why not, give the dog some stability, but you were away for only 18 days, and visited twice during that 18 days. Tell your grandpa to enjoy Lizzie while he can, but don't try and claim her as his own. It's not as if he's alone either is it? He's already got one dog. Hell, my next neighbor adores our dog, but that doesn't mean I'd give Penny to her?...I don't think so!

[Lorraine Bromley]

On another note, my dad is in his 60s and yeah if he wanted my dog I wouldn't give it to him even if he fell in love. I might offer to start another dog for him after he did all the leg work ect. This grandpa doesn't suit the frail old dodger of the way back when I was a kid type!
Maybe remind him of how much a purebred chow goes for now. He bought that dog didn't he??

[Debbie and Thomas]

I cannot believe that your grandad is only 62 yrs old!!! That would mean that his child-your mother or father is maybe 40 yrs old and that you are like 18 years old?? I think that he sounds like a cool guy and you are SOO lucky to have such a young grandpa. (BTW-just kidding about those ages-but was I close?) My son is 25 and his grandpa is 92 yrs old!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Boy - that would be a really tough decision. Let Grandpa have the dog he had fallen in love with or keep the dog you already love. It is a great compliment to you that he fell in love with her, you must have done a really good job raising her. Perhaps part of the reason he loves Lizzie so much is that everytime he looks at her he thinks of you and it makes him feel good in a lot of ways. I'm glad I was not face with that decision. Maybe you and Lizzie can visit more or maybe you could just "need more help babysitting".

[Missi]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I didn't mean to sound un-appreciative of his great care of Lizzie. He obviously took amazing care of her when I was gone. A little clarification on my grandpa: He's only 62 yrs old, has a dog already (a 10 y.o chow named Murdock) and has the money to buy a doodle if he wanted to. And he's not necessarily a cheap guy either, he spent $2000 on 2 kayaks for he and his dad last month, has 2 motorcycles, 3 cars and plays a lot. :-) He's an interesting "grandpa" ....he married my grandmother when I was a toddler. I love him to death, so maybe that needed explaining.
And I agre with Adina, I think he just has a different perspective on what to spend money on. I bookmarked the DRRC website on his computer when I was there and showed him the rescues available; he still thought they weren't as cute as Lizzie. So I don't know. I figure at least I always have a willing/wonderful/free dog sitter available!

[Debbie and Thomas]

I think your Grandpa sounds like a real sweet man!! Not that I would give him your dog though!!!! A lot of older people are to put it delicately "kind of cheap". Some of them think that paying the kind of money we paid for our doodles is crazy. Most of them bought their first cars for less. I remember what you went thru with Lizzie as a young pup-she is yours, that is for sure. I would just let her visit with Grandpa as much as possible.

[Adina P]

Not really hypocritical, just a different perspective on the best way to spend money.... Paying for a dog is different than the love he has for Lizzie.

NOT that I think you need to give your dog to him. I don't care how much someone loves my dog or my dog likes a person...it's MY dog..=) Just enjoy his enjoyment of her and let him visit with her when you can =)

[Lorraine Bromley]

Grandpa...well maybe the reason you have a dood in your life now was to find out that this dood's for him??? I don't know how old your dood is ect. I do wonder and this may be rather bold but are you upset that grandpa wants THIS dog because you are thinking more of yourself wanting him than what may be best for HER and your Grandpa. It sounds like the only one that would be upset about giving her a home with him is you. And you would get to visit when ever you wanted.
I am just thinking that Grandpa is older. He is definetely raised differently when people didn't pay for puppies. He likely never will. He may on the other hand be willing to re-emburse you the cost you have put into her so far as he sees what he is getting. I think that getting grandpa a new puppy may not work out. They are alot of work and you have done quite a bit to make this dog into the dog he fell in love with. Without your constant fostering at first will another dog be interested in the things she and your grandpa did? A rescue is also a gamble. You on the other hand have many years left to foster or buy or rescue as well as continue your relationship with her through your grandfather. Possibly strenghtening your relationship with sharing her and having her in common.
It makes me mad when people seem to snub the cost too. But I felt like that tooo! I still do (sort of) I just got so tired of vaccuming up our other dogs fur that I knew a non or low shedder was for us. No matter what she will be loved that's for sure.

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

It is obvious that Grandpa needs a dog. It brought him such joy that he hated to see her leave and got angry. See about getting a rescue for Grandpa for his b'day or Xmas. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

[Chris & Boys]

I don't think he is being hypocritical, I think he just fell in love. It also probably gave him a lot more purpose than he has had in his life for a long while.....she brought him joy. What a gift that was to him. When he is gone, you will be so glad that you were able to help him find that joy. He may seem to be harsh or cheap or any of a number of things, but truely, that does happen to people when they hit a certain age. Age changes all of us through our lives slowly, without us realizing it. I have realized it because I see it happening to my parents with whom I am very close. My mother is going blind and is now for the second time, cancer free for over a year. If she found joy in Fozzy, I would try (being honest here) to give him to her. If I couldn't Ii would buy a pup for her, because she also, would not spend that kind of money. If you can't afford to buy him one, help him find one through a rescue. It is best the of both of worlds. You are bringing joy to your grandfather, and to a homeless dood! Some time down the road, you will be glad you did. No regrets!