I need to find (or be) a great home for my Doodle :(

[Tori]

His name is Chewy. He is only a year and a half old. We got him at 8 weeks. I'm so sad writing this, we just can't keep up with him. He needs constant attention, someone with whom he will be their everything. He is absolutely adorable. He is also very quick to learn, but he is very much like his poodle side which comes out in his stubborness and his clever ways of getting our attention :)
We just had a baby 2 mos. ago and the demands of the the baby with the demands of sweet Chewy........well, it's just overwhelming and not fair to him.

As far as his pedigree... He is the offspring of a Yellow lab and a first generation Labradoodle....so I guess he would be called a doodle-lab :) He is curly haired, not lab-ish at all....he is really really cute and fluffy. As far as his temperment, he is incredibly sweet, loves to cuddle--(with me), fetch, and swim. I don't know what to do other than find him a new forever home . Please respond if interested. I live in Phoenix, AZ [e-mail]
--- Tori

[Tori]

He is also un-altered.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Altering him at an early age probably would have made a huge difference to his behavior. I believe all dogs should be spayed/neutred before 6 months of age. The earlier the better imo. If you are ever shopping for another dog when the kids are grown get a fixed puppy.

[1xar0x2rcx0li]

Contact IDOG, the International Doodles Owners Group. They have a rescue and rehome section of their website http://idog.biz/IDOGRRR.html

[Adina P]

I second contacting IDOG. IDOG has foster homes all over the USA and a long list of people waiting for that perfect doodle addition to their family. However, if you are going to charge money for him, you will need to move your discussion into our Labradoodle Puppies for Sale group.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

We sent a note to IDOG.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm assuming you didn't get him from a responsible breeder, since there was no early neuter or spay/neuter contract in place? Most responsible breeders require that you return the dog to them if you can't keep him. If there is no legitimate breeder, I agree that an owner assisted rehome through IDOG is your only real option. He is going to have to be neutered, and I also recall a problem with one of his eyes a few months back...was that ever checked out or resolved? It would help a lot if you can keep him with you until an adoptive home is found, since foster homes are in very short supply right now in many areas, I'm not sure about AZ.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You're right, I should not have said it was the only option. There are a lot of good legitimate rescue groups.

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

Are you planning on keeping your other dog?

[Tori]

Yes, Balto is almost 7. But the thought has come to just find a new home for both of them.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That would be extremely difficult, Tori.

[Tori]

Yes I know, WAY too difficult. For me and for them.

[Tori]

Well here's the deal. Truly I need non judge mental eyes on me.....
I love Chewy greatly, my boys love Chewy, especially my 5 year old, he is the one who wants to play and cuddle the most, but Chewy growls at him whenever he comes to sit with him.....that's no good! I can assure you my son is not mean to Chewy at all, but the opposite. That behavior alarms me. So I tell my 5 yr old to give Chewy space, but he'll go and try to cuddle later...same scenario.
Now my oldest who is 10, he's the one we got Chewy for to begin with , he even spent all of his money to help pay for him. I swear I cannot get that child to play with him consistently. And it doesn't help that Chewy loves to eat action figures......as a matter of fact he's probably destroyed nearly $500 worth of toys in the past year!! I've tried bitter apple, and simply having my boys put their things away....but Chewy will find a way to get them and with one chomp, a head will be disembodied, or an arm severed, my kiddos toys are all battle wounded, I mean it's kind of funny, Chewy is a true character, he'll pick out DVD's from the entertainment center and bring them to me, but on the flip side he has also eaten my sons' Nintendo DS..( he totally broke the top from the bottom)

Ok so that's the extent of the Chewy drama.....he eats evertything, seriously he gets into everything. And honestly I don't know what amount of training will help, or where to start. We've taught him basic commands, but not jumping on the counters, leaving the garbage can in tact, not growling at my son.....how do those things get taught??
So with all that being said, all of the loving and playing, everything falls to me.....the momma. For the most part I'm fine with it, I love my dogs and have always had companion dogs; ever since I was 4. But I do have a new baby and his needs are my top priority, working in everything in the day is difficult, very difficult. Chewy is part of this family and I want to make it work, but how do I do it? So I started this thread a little backwards, but maybe you guys can understand what I'm going through, and give me some better advice, rather than "find Chewy a new home" like everyone else I come in contact with about this cute little trouble maker....who by the way truly fits his name!!