I want to adopt a Standard Poodle but I'm anxious about breeders.

[mondo joe]

I'm on a purebred rescue wait list, but a Standard Poodle might be a wait.

Although I'd prefer to adopt a rescue dog, I am starting to look into breeders.

There are very few in the Seattle area, though there are a few in areas that are a few hours away.

A lot of breeders ship dogs, but I don't like the idea of adopting a dog without seeing it first.

<sigh>

Any good or bad experiences anyone would like to share?

I don't really want a little pup. One breeder has an 8 month old that I think would be just the right age for me to take in. But then I wonder if he's the only one left of his litter because he has some problem.

[flvegan]

1. Great Dane Rescue in Sprague has 15 young adults.

How far away is that from you?

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=7444020

[mondo joe]

3. Wow! I'm in Seattle. That's about 5 hours away.

But good news - thanks!!

[Lex]

2. I loved my little dog I rescued from the animal shelter.

He was about a year old when I got him.

[Flaxbee]

4. the AKC seems to have really damaged a lot of breeds --

breeding for looks rather than temperament or intelligence. One of my sisters is a veterinarian and laments the condition of today's Golden Retrievers (among other breeds, but she's always loved Goldens). I think a purebred rescue is best - that way you're helping animals that need homes without adding to the demand for overbred animals.

Just my two cents. But I'd wait if I were you, and be very careful about adopting - though the little 8 month old guy simply might not have been taken b/c he's not 'perfect'. Or he could have a behavioral problem. You never really know.

[jilln]

13. Behavioral problems are generally fixable... and not limited to adoptions

You could buy a puppy from a breeder and have a behavioral problem on your hands too.

[yellowcanine]

5. Depends a LOT on the reason the dog needed rescue. Sometimes you can get a lot of problems there

also. People tend not to give up well trained dogs with a good personality. They do tend to give up aggressive dogs with bad attitudes. So you have to be really careful.

[mondo joe]

6. Too true. On the other hand, the rescue dogs are fostered and the agency is pretty

clear on letting you know what you're getting.

My neighbors adopted an incredibly sweet Standard through them. The poor guy had been kept in a back yard for a year with his sibs, and they were all finally surrendered. He's a quirky dog, but his biggest problem was really just learning to live in a house and trying not to be so frightened of everyone.

[yellowcanine]

8. Some rescue agencies are better than others and some shelters are

better than others about "weeding out" problem animals. I always cringe a little when I see "dog will do better in a adult-only household." To me that is code for, "This dog is really not to be trusted around small children and may be a biter." Adult-only households can sometimes have visiting children so if a dog is not safe around children that dog is probably not suitable for adoption. That may seem cold but to me the safety of a child supercedes the right of a dog to have a home. And a dog that will snap at a child will likely also snap at an adult under the right conditions. Also most homeowner insurance companies will refuse to insure a dog after the first bite, so at that point the owner has the choice of getting rid of the dog or keeping it with an exclusion for the dog on the policy. I speak from experience and I can tell you that is not an easy decision to make.

[China_cat]

14. Dealing with rescue as I do, you're only partly right.

They also dump dogs that get bigger than they expected, don't groom and train themselves and don't come completely socialized. The dog with a good personality usually has it because the human companion has worked on the training, kept the dog groomed and made sure that it knows its place in the pack.

I deal with Bouviers. Big, hairy, stubborn beasts. People get them because they've seen them someplace and like the 'look'. Then they get to be 100 lbs. with solidly matted hair and have never been anyplace but in the back yard. THAT'S when we get them. We shave them down and what we find is a dog that just wants to be comfortable and have a home. A home...not a spot in the yard.

You'll find the same thing with any coated dog, dogs that drool, dogs that fart a lot and people who don't want to put out the time and effort into them.

[Schema Thing]

7. I thought a woman's sexuality was off limits today?

breeders need love too ya know.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. I would get the expurgated version of the Standard Poodle.

:rofl:

[CAcyclist]

10. Maybe ask the breeder why they still have him

If they show, they might have been holding onto him as a possible show prospect but he's not growing into what they expect. I'd only be concerned if they keep him outside in a kennel and thus maybe not well-socialized - I'd want him to be used to being in the house and housebroken. And even if he is the last one in a litter that didn't get adopted doesn't mean there is anything wrong with him - maybe he's just not the popular color d'jour.

[jilln]

11. Please adopt. The idea that you know what you're getting from a breeder is ludicrous

You NEVER know what your dog is like until you live with them for a while. Personally, I'll never adopt another puppy either, and if you buy from a breeder that is what you will get.

I've done some work tracking breeders and have visited many. There was the one who gave away the breeding Yorkie he had because she was too old to breed anymore. he had had her teeth removed rather than getting her dental care. There were the chocolate labs in a filthy, muddy shed in a back yard - but the one she showed me to buy was recently bathed and groomed. Sure, some breeders are more "reputable" than this... but there's really no reason to give your money to someone who is only out for the money when there are sooooooooo many dogs that need homes.

If you MUST have a purebred, wait for the rescue. It will be well worth it and you will have saved a life instead of paying someone to create more purebreds... who often end up in shelters and in rescues.

Have you checked PetFinder? There are several there in your area. Some pure, some mixed:

www.petfinder.com

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=7443248 - 4 year old pure black standard. very cute

[Phillycat]

12. Agree, agree, agree.

Giving your money to a breeder perpetuates puppy mills, even if that particular breeder is not abusive. Rescue your pup!! Save a life!!

My darling Prince Charming, from the SPCA:

[China_cat]

15. The reason that the breeder may still have that pup

is that they didn't have a home lined up for him, or that someone backed out. The breeder of my Dot still has 3 from that litter (they're 9 years old now) simply because she would rather provide them a lifetime home than put them in the wrong one.

Ask about their contract. What they would require from you, what genetic testings have been done on the parents (for a standard poodle, OFA hips, elbows, heart and CERF on the eyes would be minimum) and what the age of the parents is. Under 2 for either of the parents would mean that they couldn't have been OFA'd. Ask if their contract includes a provision...more like a demand...that if you ever couldn't take care of the dog or didn't want it any longer that it would be returned to the breeder. At their expense.

If they don't have a contract or can't answer (or won't answer) these questions, say thanks but no thanks.

[brook]

16. Without solid recommendations

to a breeder, I'd wait to adopt. I had two Dobermans. One bred by an extremely well known breeder. The dog was bred for size and disposition and was all you'd hope to have in a pet. To get him a companion (I worked long hours then) - I went to the local Dobie Rescue Group. They alerted me to a couple of Doberman's at the pound and after I chose one, they took her and kept her a couple of days so they could behavior test her and check out her general health. She was the other love of my life. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I miss them both so much!

[Dastard Stepchild]

17. Are you willing to adopt a Standard Poodle mix?

I ask because I know that in some cases the mixed breeds taken in by the rescue groups have a harder time being placed in homes. So, you might be able to share a home with a pooch from a rescue group more quickly if you were willing to bring home a mix.

I did that with my Aussie Shepard mix and I couldn't have been happier with my little gal. :)
She's the awesomest!!

As a baby:


Napping with me:

[mondo joe]

19. Ohmyg--, what a cutie dog!

I'm a little hung up on a poodle because my older daughter has some allergies but does vey well with poodles.

[Dastard Stepchild]

22. Have you looked into Bichon Frise rescues?

Bichons are excellent for people with allergies. At least, this is what many allergy-prone Bichon guardians have told me. :)

Also, Schnauzers, Malteses and the Soft-Coated Wheaten tend to be good for people with allergies as well.

edited for spelling

[InvisibleTouch]

18. My perspective as a breeder...

...no, not of Standard Poodles, though they're beautiful dogs - but for my dogs, I'm very picky about who they go to, and have a questionnaire that I ask any interested parties to fill out, before I even engage in a serious discussion. If the match is right, I would ship by air if necessary, but I've preferred to drive to deliver a pup whenever possible. "Reasonable distance" to me is anything within 10-12 hours or so, and I've also met new owners halfway. Look for this kind of thing in the breeders you're considering. If they're not picky and don't bug you with some questions, you may want to look elsewhere.

As to the age factor, from this year's litter I've got one little guy still available who's almost 7 months now, and just hasn't found a match. Once they get beyond a certain age, it's much harder to sell them, because most people want a younger puppy. So there's not necessarily something wrong with the dog, just that he missed his timing cue. :) But it doesn't hurt to ask.

Be sure you mention to the breeder what your specific area of interest is - are you looking mostly for a loving companion, or do you want to do conformation, agility, obedience, etc? Especially if you're looking for show quality, a good breeder can help you make an informed selection, and can point out the strengths and weaknesses of any particular dog.

Oh, and a big advantage to an older puppy is that they're almost certainly housebroken (though might still have a few accidents when coming into a new environment), and are done teething (but will still chew throughout their first year or two). With Standard Poodles, I think you also want to ask about hip dysplasia.

Good luck! :)

[mondo joe]

20. Thanks - regadring the 8month old, I can accept plenty of reasons

why he might still be around - but I'm always suspicious too.

I would really love to not have a little puppy, despite how cute they are. So an older pup like this sounds perfect.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

21. We waited to get our

standard until we could locate a breeder close enough to visit their home (two hours away). Wanted to see how the puppies were raised and in what kind of enviornment. Found them on the internet, called and found they had puppies available, went for a visit, picked out a little guy, and have never been sorry for one moment. We did need to go back 3 days after picking out the puppy as he had not reached his 8-week birthday and had his final vet check before releasing to his new family. This breeder is VERY meticulous about observing state rules. Be patient.

[mondo joe]

23. That's good to hear. Thanks. So how is your standard?

[TheCentepedeShoes]

24. Terrific !

One smart dog. We feed him at 6 every night. He'll lay on the LR rug while his "daddy" watches NBC news and I'm in here on DU. When he hears the closing music for the news he gets up and comes in here to let me know it's time for dinner. On the weekend he needs help, no music.
When he plays fetch-the-ball in the backyard, he won't return the ball to you and let you take it out of his mouth. He taught himself to put the ball on the edge of the deck and bat it to you with his paw. When we moved here from FL we got a place with the same kind of wood deck but here it's about 18" off the ground. He had a little trouble at first with the up and down thing and knocked a couple of balls under the deck.
Right now he's having a bark fest over someone walking a Jack Russell past the house. He's very alert to what is going on outside and his barking is something we need to work on more. In the car he barks at other dogs, people walking or biking, and at motorcycles.