rescue shelters

[Samantha Yagnisis]

I am sorry for all the questions. I am trying to get as much info as possible.

How do you feel about doodle rescues? Good/bad....

I am not sure how I feel about it because I have young children. If I didn't have young children this is something I would totally do.

Thanks in advance for your advice! :)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I just want to add something from the perspective of NOT having a rescued doodle yet. I have been worried about adopting just for the reasons you have stated. I do not have children yet, but plan to in a the next year or so. I had the preconception, before joining Doodle Kisses, that many rescues have social problems and I have always thought I would go to a breeder again for our next. Not anymore...I plan to rescue a doodle in 4-5 years instead of getting one from a breeder. I would completely trust, 100%, the DRC or IDOG rescue to place a good doodle with me. So, good luck! And keep us posted.....

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

If you are going to watch the Doodle Rescues and try to get one from them, you will want to go ahead and put in an application. That doesn't mean you have to take the 1st one that comes along .... once approved you will be on file and have a better chance of getting the dog that comes along that you are interested in.

[Samantha Yagnisis]

Thank you all so much for your wonderful insight. I will check all of these rescues before heading to a breeder. If anyone knows somone in need of a home that is great with small children let me know. Again thank you this is such an awesome community!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I've fostered 2 labradoodles for the DRC. When my 5 year old niece came over during this time the foster got out to play with her before my own two dogs because both the fosters were more mild mannered around children than my two. Mine tend to get a little excited and jump up on my niece where both fosters did not. So I would introduce them one at a time, with the fosters always being first. So I would have to agree that every dog is different. However, if you can find a well mannered adult dog that is good with children, sometimes that is better than a puppy as you have those 4-5 months of razor sharp puppy teeth and everything else that goes along with raising a puppy!

[Erin]

We adopted our 5 year old Ausie multi-gen from IDOG Rescue and had a fantastic experience. We love her, she loves us and we're so happy that we could give her a great home. We're now fostering for IDOG and have a labradoodle who is up for adoption through IDOG. I think most doodles are great with kids and getting a rescue allowed us to have a dog that's already potty trained and able to be on her own. All dogs are different of course but it's also nice that you can foster-to-adopt as well so that you can make sure the dog fits in with your family and situation before committing forever. I think it's ideal.

[Adina P]

I understand your concern. I have a 6 month old and never want to risk a dangerous encounter with a dog for her. Some dogs are in shelters because of their temperament and some aren't good with kids because they didn't grow up with them and/or simply are not comfortable with the fast movements and squeals and the other child-like mannerisms kids have. But many are simply dogs that have gotten displaced due to divorce, financial trouble, owners realizing they don't like dogs, owners giving up on a perfectly good pet because they didn't want to invest the necessary time in training...and a whole host of reasons that don't have much to do with the dog. There are shelters and there are rescue organizations and all sorts of variations of the two.

Some rescues take in owner relinquished dogs (many great dogs) and help them find homes while they are being fostered by volunteers. Some of these dogs are good with kids and some are not. Good rescues usually try to determine this if they don't already know based on the dog's history. They also have an interest in finding a forever home for any dog they adopt out so they will screen homes and won't put a questionable dog in the home of someone with young kids. Some won't even adopt out to families with young kids...just depends on the rescue and the dog. That said...depending on the age of your kids they also need to be taught how to treat a dog and what NOT to do. And dogs and kids should always be supervised around each other just to be sure.

Talk to local rescues in your area and see what their policies are.
Connect with the two doodle rescue organizations in the USA: DRC and IDOG
I've had one rescue (passed away early this year) and she would have been great with my baby...she was a little overzealous with 'kisses' but otherwise I'm quite certain she would have been a great doodle for a family with kids. We didn't purchase her with any knowledge of her behavior with kids (we had her for almost 4 years prior to having kids) but she was fine with the baby and other kids she met.

[Frannie & Callie]

Yes to everything that was said below, and while you should ALWAYS test an animal before bringing it around children, there are are MANY wonderful dogs and doodles available for rescue so I wouldn't count them out. I got Callie at a high kill county shelter and she loves kids and is exceptionally gentle with them.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack was from a private shelter as well; a private rescue group who was able to build a beautiful shelter through the generosity of many benefactors. They did temperament testing as well; they even cat tested Jack!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We got Clancy from a private humane society that rescued him from a kill shelter. I don't know if the 'public' shelters do the behavior testing etc. so I do agree with Karen about picking a rescue or humane society carefully.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Yep, private rescue groups like Doodle Rescue Collective (yes a shameless plug for DRC) or iDog. You can available doodles for both groups at the bottom of the main page of DK.