Poor temperment and BYB vent

[jenn D]

I think I'm just venting at this point so this post probably has no other purpose except to get things off my chest and maybe warn any potential buyers to please, please research their breeders thoroughly.

As many of you know, we are a mixed doodle house: two doodles from breeder and two rescued. Both rescues have issues I believe stemming from bad breeding. I'm prefacing this by saying we love our doodles and are keeping them all until they go to the rainbow bridge. this post is regarding Jake, the second doodle to come into our home and our first rescue. My husband adores him and has never had his own dog. Jake has bonded with him and my husband loves this dog. Jake has his second birthday yesterday.

I spend a lot of time with the doodles. I'm a stay a home mom so after kids are to school it's doodles and housework for this lady. Many people say our dogs are well behaved and I do work with them as a pack and individually. I groom them all myself. Lots of hands on. But there are some things I cannot trsin out of Jake.

With that being said, Jake is a vet trying dog for me. And I'm a dog person. From his background history he was taken from his litter (sold) at 5 1/2 weeks. He was sold to a gentleman that was not around to take care of him and left him in his crate for 15-20 hours a day until we got him at 8 months. As some of you remember we "got" him via a "hey let's have the doodles get together for a playdate at your place" followed by a text later saying " can you just keep him I'm not coming back".

To be fair Jake has come a long way since the day the playdate turned into a staydate. He can walk on a leash now beautifully, no jump up when he meets people and comes when called. He no longer hoards water and drinks till he throws up. He has learned to be ok with a crate again and not pee in it. He is the best of the 4 dogs to go to the designated potty spot in the yard to pee.

But he plays so rough and has no social skills with the other dogs. Yes the other three are so well mannered they put up with his antics but after awhile they are like "darn this dog is crazy". He humps all of them. He plays very wildly. And when he gets wound up, it's very hard to settle him down. So much so that when the other dogs signal they have had enough we have to get him to sit by us to calm him down. I would never let him go to a doodle romp or take him to play with other dogs except ours. Ours can handle it but his bad social dog manners could cause massive issues. I've tried working on this myself. I've talked to other trainers who have observed him. They've offered suggestions that have helped curb things some but mainly it's me as mama dog intervention. They agree, he lost socialization by being taken too young from his mama and littermates.
In addition, I feel his temperment is just so high strung. Even Pickles who is younger has started to mature more. But he can get all the dogs spun up and when DH takes him on his nightly run and I am with just brisby, Mac and Pickles I admit I breathe a sign of relief. Those three together are so much easier to manage than 1 Jake.
I know he came from a BYB that bred a poodle back to a F1 doodle. I am suspect of their temperaments. I tell myself he needs extra excercise because of the poodle in him (or whatever) and I spend extra time with just him throwing a ball or running the yard. But I can't wear him out.

I continue to work with him but I'm leery of how far I can "change" his personality anymore.
Again, Jake loves to work and he loves training and he loves his people (us) so much. So I keep convincing myself I can do more to help him be more socially aware and to not be so hyperactive.
It's just sad because my other three are so good. They get excited at times and need there exercise too but they can play good together and the settle.
I feel bad for Jake because I don't think he can help it. Please if you are considering getting a dog from a breeder, research well. The man that got Jake from this BYB paid $900 for him. He also made the transaction in a Walmart parking lot and a not even 6 week old Jake was brought home in a cardboard box.
So sad. I'm attaching pictures. The owner had sent me ones of Jake as a pup and one now. I'm on my iPad so if anyone can post them in the thread itself I would appreciate it.
Happy Birthday, Jake. We will do the best we can to help you buddy.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I think you are awesome and admire what you are doing not only with Jake but with all your other challenges too.

[Ginny Nightingale]

What a life you have--so much to do!! I commend you for your commitment to Jake and your other doodles--well done!
I do want to say though that I know dogs like Jake who were not removed from the litter too early nor were they from BYBs--they just have a crazy temperament--there are DKers with doodles like that and not all of them were rescues or from BYBs. On the other hand, my neighbor has a GD that they bought online from a "breeder in Missouri" and flown here--I can almost guarantee it was a puppy mill--aside from some separation anxiety issues, their dog is terrific! A wonderful dog! So, I guess we just never know, so we?  You are doing the best you can to give him and your other three a good life and that is all that matters.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Thank you for this post! And thank you for not giving up on Jake :) happy late birthday Jake!!

[BG and Gavin]

I am sorry for all of the struggles. I cannot believe someone would leave their dog for a visit and never come back. What an a55! Happy birthday Jake. You are one lucky dog.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Happy belated birthday Jake.  You won the lottery when you found this doodle Mom of yours!  Jenn - your posts never cease to amaze me.  Hang in there!

[Julie and Max]

Happy birthday Jake! You are an awesome doodle mom Jenn.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

First a big thank you for being Jake's angel.  Jake looks a lot like my Roo.  Tigger is Roo's full brother born a year later.  Tigger is a mellow fellow and always has been.  Sure he can be naughty and steal socks and absolutely will not come reliably when called.  Roo is totally hyper and always has been.  I have put a lot of work into Roo and he comes when he's called, sits, stays, etc.  Instead of other dogs setting Roo off, it is other people.  He just goes goofy.  He wants to be in their laps (55 pounds), lick them face to feet, hold their arms (gently - but still) in his mouth and just generally be a total pest.  I calm him as you do Jake, he must come and lay by me - for a long, long time to settle.

The point of all this is that some dogs are just this way, add to that Jake's first eight months and it is nothing short of a miracle that you came into his life - and HE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.  Not fast, but steady.  Roo is seven and is definitely calmer, he will never be as mellow as Tigger, because he is Roo.  Just keep on doing what you are doing. The third and fourth year you will notice changes and you will keep on working with Jake or you would have given up a long time ago. 

THANKS for being you and DK is a great place to vent.

[Wendy and Myla]

LIKE!!!!