Please, Please help me!

[Carrie and Chance]

I bought my F1B Goldendoodle two months ago.  Not only have we had digestive issues from day one but he looks like a Golden Retriever with very little poodle and he sheds like crazy!  Please, take me serious when I say, "like crazy".  My daughter's allergies are going crazy and we have to take him back to the breeder.  My concern is that we have already put $300.00 extra on top of the purchase price in two months on this precious dog to get his stomach issues resolved and I'm scared the breeder will not give him the proper food (Life's Abundance) and take his issues seriously.  What are the chances of finding someone to buy him that will take care of him and not mind his shedding? He's our little man and letting him so is breaking our heart,  My little girls have cried everyday along with myself.  He is such a good dog and the smartest I've ever seen.   I only paid $650.00 for the dog and she is offering me another from her next liter because of the trouble we've had with our doddle.  I just don't know what to do.  I lost my job last week so we ca';t afford to pay more than the $650.00 for another doddle.  I know I sound like a sad case and I'm sorry for that but I'm very desperate for some advice.

 

 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Well said Joanne, I think you have said it all there and from very personal experience.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Joanne, you are making me cry. Thank heaven for your big heart, wonderful husband, awesome dog and the entire family of love.

Sweetie, thanks you too, oh and the big back yard helps!

:o)

Carrie, you are in a horrible situation, I hope you are able to find someone like Joanne to make it all better.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna isn't what we envisioned when were looking for a doodle, but she is beautiful and has a wonderful temperament.  I wouldn't trade her for a muppet-like doodly "demon dog" as Karen said for anything. 

Our breeder showed us a few dogs from previous litters - one looked almost identical to Luna so we knew that was a possibility.  It sounds like your breeder wasn't that concerned with what you wanted, since looking at your puppy I would have never predicted tight curls.  If you look through puppy pictures on here you will see that dogs with tight curls almost ALWAYS have little "fluffs" around the inside of their eyes when the puppy is a baby.  Luna had perfectly straight hair when she was a pup.

My fiance has pretty awful allergies, but after Luna shed her puppy coat his allergies have lessened a lot.  He also takes an allergy pill every day (but mostly for seasonal alleriges).  I'm sure you are not wanting to "wait and see" that long with kids.  Just something to think about if it gets to a point where it's taking too long to find him a good home.  Along those lines - what about adopting a slightly older dog, one that's already rid of its puppy coat?  That would eliminate the puppy shedding phase and you could really tell if your daughter is reactive to it.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Theres alot of good advice here already. I agree that the tummy issue may just be from the change in home, food, medications etc and Im confident that someone with knowledge about sensitive tummies and food will  be able to find a good quality food that works for Chance.

As for the shedding, it is common for early generations to shed - you can have a dog just like the retriever, just like the poodle, and anything in between. However, you told the breeder what you wanted and she didnt give it to you, thats wrong and im very sorry. To get a predictable coat you really need to go with an Australian labradoodle, they are bred much differently from goldendoodles and american labradoodles, but  theres always a chance of a throwback (i met and australian labradoodle that looked very much like a lab). plus they cost a lot more - $2500.

If you surrender him, I suggest you contact DRC, many of their volunteers and foster parents are on this site. They will definately find the best home for him. It sounds like the breeder isnt a good breeder, and like you say, will probably just sell him to anyone who will buy him

[Leslie J]

How sad that your puppy isn't working out for you.  You're wise to rehome him now while he's a puppy- it will make it much easier to find a good home for him.  I would use DRC instead of your breeder if I were you.  He sounds like a really special puppy and he deserves a good forever home.  Given the fact that your breeder gave you a puppy that wasn't at all like you requested makes me think that she isn't very selective about where the puppies go.  I would also question whether she would be willing to invest more money in his food and vet bills if he's not going to help her turn a profit.

This might be an opportunity to give your kids a memorable but painful lesson- that making sure he (I don't think you told us his name!) finds a good home is more important than getting our money back.  It's not his fault we can't keep him and it's our responsibility to make sure that he gets the best home possible.  It is the wrong time for us to get another puppy right now anyway, and so let's take the loss for his sake.  Kids can be very compassionate and I have a feeling they'll want to do the right thing.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I was thinking about this on my morning walk and I agree with Leslie. I, too, question your breeder's concern and would worry what would happen to your dog if he goes back to the breeder. I don't know if you signed a contract, however, and sometimes the breeder states that a dog has to be returned to them. If not, I would use the DRC, too, and do the best thing for all concerned. I wish I thought I could handle three dogs. He sounds wonderful.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This breeder let this dog go at seven weeks. Also not a good sign.

[Carrie and Chance]

OH MY GOSH!!!  You guys are not going to believe this............I just spoke to the fourth person that has gotten a goldendoodle from this woman in the last few months and her dog had parasites when bringing it home.  He also has shedding and looks nothing like she told us they would.  Also, a breeder in the area called me and gave me some information that only God worked through her to share with me.  She has been trying to shut this woman down for years because of how dirty she is.  All four women I have spoken to has said they have never been in a place so nasty and filthy as this place.  It's beyond what your eye sight can imagine.  I also found out that her Goldendoodle is the baby of a Golden Retriever that has Cocker Spaniel in it.  She labels her Retrievers as "Comfort" Retrievers. If you look at my dogs face, he actually favors a spaniel.  The lady that has my puppy's sister also says that her doodle looks nothing like a doodle and is shedding.  Two of the three puppies have Gnardi so maybe thats why Chance is shedding and has an uncontrollable appetite.  I will be addressing this legally.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Oh my goodness.  It's sad that there are people out there are dishonest like this, especially when there are little babies like Chance involved.

I hope you get your money back, this lady is shut down and Chance can find a great home if he can't stay with you.

[Adina P]

Parasites and filth are definitely a bad thing and one reason to go visit a breeder and see the premises, meet the breeder, meet the parent dogs, check on health testing, get references etc in advance of a purchase.

But shedding happens in doodles. Shedding coats don't happen due to 'neglect' unless a litter was unknowingly or accidentally fathered by the wrong dad (retriever to doodle combo or such).  In other words, if a doodle or retriever is bred with a poodle, shedding in a few puppies or many of the puppies is not the breeder's fault.

And I'm confused by the 'comfort retriever' thing.  I've heard of a few breeders that mix cocker spaniel and retriever...but it's usually not a secret, they market that heavily on their sites.  Was this other buyer totally unaware of what he/she was buying?

Anyway, if a breeder is irresponsible by neglecting dogs, keeping a dirty place, lying to buyers, etc...then that's a good reason to stay away from that breeder.  But I just want to point out that 'shedding' in and of itself in a doodle isn't really caused by the breeder and a good breeder can usually tell if a dog won't be curly or if it will have an open face. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm thinking you mean giardia, and that would not cause a dog to shed.  I've also never heard of it causing an uncontrollable appetite.  It is a parasite that is unfortunately fairly common, although not usually in puppies coming from good breeders.  I really think what happened here is that your sweet Doodle happened to come from a backyard breeder.  I'm guessing that you were inexperienced in how to research breeders and select a puppy.  That happens all the time unfortunately, which is why these "breeders" continue to exist.  What I think is most important right now is your beautiful Doodle (and from his picture he truly is beautiful) who you say is a wonderful dog.  You made a mistake in going to this breeder, but I'm so hoping that Chance is not going to be the one to suffer as a result.  You made the decision to purchase him and now you have a responsibility to him.  He is helpless and he is innocent.  Please find the very best home for this guy.  This was a really tough lesson for your whole family....you are not alone in this, and Chance is not the only victim of breeders like this.  I hope your money is returned, but I'm even more worried about this great Doodle and what the future holds for him.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This is why I do not think you should return your dog to this breeder. I am sorry if you take a loss financially, but I think you owe it to this sweet dog to do what is best for him, and it sure does not sound like it is this woman. This might really be a wonderful lesson for your children about what it means to take on a pet either good or bad, and the responsibility that comes with having a pet. I really want the best for this sweet Doodle. Good luck!