finally

[Pam Thomas]

Found my puppy.Ready in 2 weeks. A little older-5 months-but has had 2 weeks of training academy and is going good. A little red. and white parti boy. Will still get pup in July, this little guy will maybe help to  train pup. Hopefully when I retire will have 2 therapy dogs to keep me out of trouble. Now working on name. Happiest have been in months-reason to get motivated.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Pam -- I don't know who your breeder is so I can't really help with what I think, but what I can say is if you suspect this is a puppy mill now is the time to run, and run far.  There are some things you mention that trouble me some, but again, I'm not speaking from experience, only what I'm reading.  It would, in my opinion, be very rare for a good breeder to have 3 puppies left that are 5 months old.  Most reputable breeders have their puppies spoken for well in advance.  Is it possible to have one that the buyer backs out, yes, but they normally have a wait list.  However, it seems it would also be odd that a puppy mill or even a hobby breeder would send 3 puppies off to boot camp training.  This is very expensive.  Another thing that concerns me a great deal is you said that they live in kennels until they go live with the trainer.  The first few months are probably the most important times for a puppy.  This is when they need socialized to anything and everything that they are going to encounter for the rest of their lives.  If they don't get this they can be fearful of anything and everything for the rest of their lives.  This presents a lot of problems.  If you are hoping to do therapy work with your puppies not getting this socialization would be a deal breaker if it were me.  So, from what you have given me to work with I see some red flags that I would get answers on before proceeding.   Not every puppy is cut out to be a therapy dog.  I'm speaking from experience on this one.  We got liter mates and one was the best therapy dog ever and the other one I never took to get tested because she just didn't seem to enjoy the interaction.  She has just turned 6 years old and I'm considering testing her now as she has come out of her shell some since we got AnnaBelle.    So what I''m saying is if therapy is your goal, then my opinion is that puppies that spent the first 5-6 months in a kennel (or even the first 8 weeks) is not where you want to start.  You want puppies that grew up in a home with people and kids and activity and noise.  

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

100% agree with every word Lucy and AnnaBelle's mom said here.  If this is the case you may get a very shy, under socialized pup who needs your help throughout its entire life and wont be mentally fit to help you in any way.  Two weeks of boot camp wont fix this. Ever!   

Healthy pups must be socialized early.  

http://classic.akc.org/enewsletter/yourakc/2009/march/puppy.cfm

It's just my opinion but shame on any breeder who raises and ruins young pups in kennels  

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

100% agree as well.  Well said Sheri.  Several red flags and kennel to boot camp does not lay the foundation for a therapy dog. I see that a much loved MI breeder has a 10 week old pup. Don't know if he's still available, but I'm trying NOT to take out my checkbook.  

[BG and Gavin]

OMD Cheryl - I checked out yellow boy too.  Love those big doodle boys!  

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

:o)          I don't think there is any possible way you could be disappointed.  I saw her last week-end for lunch when she delivered a puppy to Cincinnati.  She offered to bring him to me, lol!  :o)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank goodness I had no idea she was in OHIO.  PLEASE, deliver YELLOW BOY to me NOW!   I'm so ready

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Oh Sheri!  After watching AnnaBelle and others grow up here…One of her pups one day is on my "bucket list." FInn was "Yellow Boy" too.  Kismet?  LOVE those big English doodles!  I have to keep repeating, "it wouldn't be fair" until I have time for two.  So I hid my phone LOL    Pam has first dibs, J :)

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Pam, can you be more specific about why you think this might be a puppy mill?  How did you find out about them? Do they meet the criteria here for a "good breeder?"  DNA testing doesn't tell us much.  Good breeders will specify the exact tests that they do and they will post a copy of their health guarantee on their website. Once you're familiar with what to look for in a good breeder, it's pretty easy to weed out the unethical or inexperienced people.   I personally don't believe doodles should be raised in kennels --there are too many good breeders that use guardian homes. My experience is where there's smoke, there's fire.  So if you go for a visit, insist on seeing firsthand where the breeding dogs are kept and their condition.  How much play and interaction with people do they get?  Don't settle for being shown the cute pups and the mom in their home or in a fancy puppy outbuilding. The problem with this is that you have to be willing to walk away from the pup and that is a hard thing to do.  Believe me, I had to do it with a "recommended golden doodle breeder" on another site and leave the sweetest little girl behind. It's great that you're doing your research. I'm going to post something on your page.

[BG and Gavin]

I google imaged the picture you posted and the website of said breeder produced some red flags for me.  There seems to be an awful lost of different litters of labra and goldendoodle available,  With the religious overtones of the site I am wondering if perhaps it is an Amish operation?

[Brittney & Cally]

Pam with your permission may I post the website? I agree with everyone else as I have said! I would hate to see all the hard work and research you have done to get a puppy end in heart ache, which is very likely.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Brittany -- At this point I don't think it would be appropriate to post the breeder link.  Things have already been said openly, simply because the name of the breeder is not in the link!  If we post it now, it would go against the rules.

[Brittney & Cally]

Agreed, it would not be appropriate at this point. When she told me where she was getting it, my heart just simply broke because of course I had to tell her the truth. It really hurt to do so because I know how badly she wants a puppy but I did not want it to end in heartache later on. I totally agree with everyone with the breeder suggestion and I also gave you my breeders link with her available litter.