The Doggy Dilemma

We got a puppy. It was not a spur-of-the-moment kind of decision. It is something we had been thinking about together as a family. I told the children I would look into the idea, and study different kinds of dogs to find a good fit for our family. I did not make any promises. I am always apprehensive about animals, and the changes they can bring to daily life. But after some thought, I decided that perhaps, maybe, possibly... we might get a dog. 

After much searching, I decided that the dog for us would be a Goldendoodle. After looking into the particular breed, even I was excited about getting a dog. (I am not much of an animal person, only from lack of experience.) If you Google search Goldendoodles, or look them up on Pinterest, you will see why I fell in love with the beautiful dog. (It is a combination of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.) 

One day, I was searching online for ways to locate Goldendoodle puppies. I found a few different breeder options. I wanted a puppy so we could raise and train the dog ourselves. On a random day of searching, I came across a website with a new batch of Goldendoodle puppies. I took my boys with me to go and check it out (I always take Daniel with me to unknown places, for protection). The puppies were adorable, and the breeders were very friendly people, with a large family, who I felt comfortable working with through the process. 

We had to wait 3 weeks after seeing the puppies, before choosing ours. On the day of decision, it became very clear which one we liked the best. He was the tank. He was the biggest of the bunch, and he seemed the most sturdy -- which was good for our family with Henry. 

After more waiting, the day came to finally bring our puppy home. 

His name was chosen with great care... 

(If you have not seen the new Poldark series, you must look into it.) 

Here is Sammi trying to help pick our puppy, she wanted the little one. 

 William wanted the Tank from the very beginning.

 Why are puppies so cute?

Ross was a good dog. He became attached to me really quickly. It should be pretty clear that I am Alpha in the home. He fell asleep in this position.

 He cracked me up.

Henry loved having Ross to play with, though Henry was always on high-energy when he was around Ross. He felt they should be running in circles all day long. Henry would wear the puppy out pretty quickly.

It took Sammi some time to warm-up to the idea of a dog in our home. She enjoyed snuggling with him... until the puppy-biting started getting more constant. He liked to chew on her hair.

 Daniel liked to show the puppy off to his friends at school. Puppies are girl-magnets. ;)

Ross was doing really well. The first few nights I slept downstairs to work out the potty-training. It was an every 2 hour process, like having a newborn baby. But he adapted quickly, and within a weeks time was sleeping through the night like a champ, in his crate. I had taught him how to sit, do a circle, and he was working on the "stay" command. He was with us for almost 2 weeks. 

And then I got a phone call. 

It was from the breeder. 

I listened carefully as the breeder explained to me that the puppy I had purchased, was not a Goldendoodle after all. 

I was shocked. Say what? 

He recounted the tale of a male Retriever getting to the female Retriever, before the male Poodle did. It was an honest mistake, I suppose. (I will leave out the details.) But it was a very heartbreaking mistake, for sure. One that should not happen in the world of responsible dog-breeding. The breeders were beyond embarrassed to make the phone call. 

They had their suspicions when all of the puppies looked the same. Not one of them was getting the curly fur, like a Doodle should start to show. Some Doodles will start out looking like a Retriever, and then change to wavy/curly (some stay straight-haired too). But all of the puppies looked a little too "Retrieverish," and so they had them DNA tested. Sure enough, my puppy -- that was supposed to grow to be a Goldendoodle -- was full Golden Retriever. 

This left me with a hard decision to make. 

I could keep the puppy, or return him for a full refund. 

Now, before you think me a cold and heartless person, it must be known that I did not just want a random dog, to have a dog. I had studied it out, and made a clear decision to purchase a Goldendoodle. That is the only dog I wanted at this time, for many reasons. One main reason was for the shedding factor. Doodles are not supposed to shed as much as other dogs, and Retrievers are supposedly heavy-shedders. The list could go on and on, but I had to make a choice, and I had to make it quickly. 

I knew my answer almost immediately. 

Ross had to be returned. 

I held onto that information for a while, to try and process it. And then my older children came home from their youth activity. 

I met up with Sammi in her room, to ask her how she felt about it, and what she thought we should do. It did not take long for her to feel comfortable with the idea of returning Ross. I then called Daniel in the room, he was a little more sad about it, but he also quickly adjusted to the idea. Then came the challenge of approaching William. He was the one who wanted Ross the most, and was the Dog-advocate in our home. He begged, and pleaded, and begged some more, to get a dog. And so, I thought I would be facing some serious resistance from him. 

I gathered everyone in the living room, and said, "William, I need to tell you something about Ross." 

William said, "What, do we have to return him?" As if he knew the dogs days were numbered. 

I said, "Yes, let me tell you why..." 

After my explanation he said, "Yes! Now he won't bite me anymore!" 

I was shocked at his response.

We were all caught off guard by his reaction, and we all started laughing. Ross was getting very mouthy, which is 100% normal for puppies. But it can be hard when their are teeth grabbing at your body all the time. It did not bother me as much, because I did not try to get on the ground to play. I did all my puppy-play from above, to help him understand I am in charge. The kids did like to be on the ground, and that playtime was like offering them up as a chew-toy. Again, totally normal puppy behavior, and even expected, but the kids were getting a bit overwhelmed by it, I think. 

Even Henry had said the day before that, "Ross needs to go back to his home." 

Anyway, so after our family council on the subject, it was a unanimous vote. 

We spent some time loving on Ross, and had to return him the following morning. There were some tears from one of the children. It was very strange losing the puppy in such a weird way. But he kept saying, "I miss him, but I am glad he is gone." 

Honestly, I feel the same way right now. I do miss him. I miss my Ross. I was starting to love him, and he was so stinking cute. But I am ok with him being gone. It was a huge change for our family, and everything had to be adjusted around the needs of the puppy. It was not a bad thing, or a bad change. But the house feels back to normal again, and whether that is good, or bad, I do not know. 

So, will we ever try and find our Goldendoodle? 

That is a very good question. 

Here is Ross... the beautiful Golden Retriever. 

I kept reading up about when the fur changes to wavy, because he really did not look Doodle. His hair was very straight, and his build was very stocky. 

We took him on his first walk and he did beautifully. When other dogs came up to him, he would just sit and let them sniff him.

He wore-out quickly, we went too far, and the pads of his feet started to bleed, poor thing. The calluses were not built up yet. I carried him home.

 Someone is going to be getting a fantastic dog.

 He loved his tail.

When he was calm, he was super pleasant. He was calm a lot of the day... until everyone was home, and he just wanted some love and attention from the crowd.

 He was so adorable...

I want to show the difference between the grown-up dogs. I know Golden Retrievers are fantastic dogs, that so many people love and adore. It was just not the breed that was right for our family. All I have to do is look at a fully grown Goldendoodle, and they just melt my heart.

This is what I was hoping for...

The Goldendoodle.

 This is what Ross will become...

A Golden Retriever.

Please, if you own a Golden Retriever, do not be offended. I understand that pets can become family, and the love and devotion runs deep. They are beautiful dogs, that are supposed to be one of the best family dogs ever. I am sad about having to return our puppy, but even more sad that our puppy was not what we thought it was. I really, really, hoped for a Goldendoodle to become part of our family.

Perhaps the timing was just off, I don't know.

It was certainly an unexpected turn of events, and I suspect that it was not without good reason.

One thing I discovered was how tough my children have become. They have been through so much, and have endured more than children should have to endure, with losing their father. These kids are made of some hardy-stuff. They also trust me so much. If I say something is the right thing to do, than they simply believe me.

No pressure, right?