LizT

Yes, I had a black miniature when she was little, I'm playing that card at the moment!

There is a real purpose. Me trying to get my little sister to engage her brain and reconsider her choice of pet!!! I am making some headway! AND there is certainly no promotion here!

See this is part of what's pissing me off! She said she would dearly like a Standard Poodle but they would be too big!! :D If she said she was getting one from a shelter I would care as much but she is going to a "Goldendoodle" breeder. The odds of the dog being bigger than a GR are pretty good. If she got a SP bitch, there are plenty of smaller ones. She's buying a genetic lottery. That's fine if you like gambling on a family pet. I think I've talked her out of the Groodle. Might be too big she thinks. Although she is now going to look at a Cockerpoo!

See this is part of what's pissing me off! She said she would dearly like a Standard Poodle but they would be too big!! ;) If she said she was getting one from a shelter I would care as much but she is going to a "Goldendoodle" breeder.

EEWWWW!!!!

I'm sure your breeder is and I'm sure they took precautions such as not letting you touch the puppies at two weeks and making you remove your shoes, asking you not to come via another breeder or dog park etc. etc. Also 2 weeks is a most crucial time, the pups have turned their first corner and have started to build up immunity from their mum....still I know of many breeders who would follow my prerequisite of only essential visitors (friends and family) and not a parade of potential buyers. From the picture she sent me this is a large litter of about 12 puppies, that's a lot of possible visitors. IMHO too many.

Well, your sister must have missed this article in the science section of the Guardian newspaper (UK based). The man who first crossed labradors with poodles (labradoodle) to try to get 'better' guide dogs, says that it was not a bright idea at all. It didn't produce 'better' guide dogs, but he says it led to an explosion of crossing poodles with all sorts of breeds, to get unlimited 'oodles'. He says many of them have problems....& lots more. Yes....'groodles' are mentioned. He regrets, with a passion, what he started. So tell your sister to lock herself in the bathroom & go nowhere to buy a puppy, until she's read this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/nov...ors-idea-regret Thanks Mita I was looking for this!

Actually it's worse..I rechecked her email and its a "Goldendoodle"!!! Sounds like a male nudists been sunbathing! Aren't the called "Groodles" here??

Yeah, but there 's something very frustrating in stupidity in the intellectual! But that's a whole other "thread" LOL

That's the problem, she spent the day at a friends Grooming Salon!! Sent me "oodles" of photos of "Dogs she fell in love with, with WONDERFUL temperaments". LOL The other sister is getting a Schnauzer for a first dog.

Does sound like an Asian Takeaway!!! Apartently "oodles" are incrediably popular in London.

Sigh........Glad I'm not the only one!!! I'm just so frustrated as she has spent so much time researching and talking to breeders and she says she is going to go see the litter and parents this weekend!!! She sent me a photo of mum and bubs. These pups are new borns and pinkies almost (they're white but so 'fresh' still)!! I told her no Responsible breeder would allow people to come see newborn puppies, let alone before 6 weeks and their first vaccs! Clearly not knowledgable people. And here's my other sister (in Melbourne) doing her homework and getting a Schnauzer from a Reputable breeder she met at the Melb. Royal. At least one is listening. I mean.....don't Poodles and Golden Retrievers both have their own separate eye problem issues??? Why mix it up with a non screened set of parents????

This is my other sister who lives in London. :D :D :D ;) What else can I say?? FINALLY......My sister is the proud owner of a lovely Chocolate Miniature Poodle called Louis.

;) I have "ear dippers"! I use a Spaniel Bowl for inside, so no dipping ears in it. Try putting A chamois under the bowl area. More absorbent than a towel.

This is a very sad situation. I had a similar problem with a mare of mine (who I'd owned since broken in at 3 years old) she went from being a sweetie to dangerously agressive. I spent two years trying to "put her right" a long story which involved Vets, tests, herbs, animal behaviour experts etc. etc. Finally when she viciously attacked my daughter who was 12 at the time (the mare was now 13, I had been going to breed her but decided I couldn't because of this problem) I arranged for her to be PTS. I had no other choice really, sure I had made the decision that only I would handle her and did so but my daughter had gone into the paddock and was patting her, commenting on how improved her disposition was after a course of herbs when BANG...mare ran at her after she had begun walking away, picked her up, shook her and threw her to the ground, reared up and as I came running, waving my arms yelling and screaming at the mare she spun around, just not landing on my daughter as it appeared she would do and took off up the paddock. I had given it my best shot. This kind of thing happens with animals quite often and sometime we have no idea of why really. Kind of coins the phrase "She went mad and we shot her".

I believe early socialisation is crucial for development of ALL BREEDS regardless of whether they are going to be Guide Dogs,Police Dogs, herd sheep or cattle, sniff drugs at airports or just be a Pet, that should be a pleasure to be around and a good member of the K9 community. I know that a lot of farmers do not make 'pets' of working dogs but perhaps many do (and more should) as those that do have found this improves the metal state of their dogs. The majority of "Working dogs" in Police, Customs and Guide Dogs have a 'home life' not disimilar to their Pet counterpart. They would never have made it through their difficult training if their breeders had not given them the stimulation (toys) and socialisation they needed to develop whilst still puppies.

Yeah..she's a Legal P.A. Research is her thing. Plus she'd been researching different breeds for a few years now. Thought she'd never settle on one.

FIRST thing I told her...apparently this one has a cover too. I've seen quite a few Schnauzers doing agility/Obedience and told her she didn't want Jnr. getting out while no one was watching!!!

Yep..I have to find the fine line between being helpful and "smart ass know it all!" You know how family can get. I think the toy is just a "Generic" schnauzer .....but my neice thought it was cute! :D

My sister is a very high maintenence woman grooming wise ...hair, nails, clothes, pedicures, lash extensions $$$$. The list goes on. She is one who will have a pre booked regular appointment at the groomers for her pooch. I'm sure they will manage the brushing etc. between visits as long as the dog is kept professionally clipped.

Nah, Jed..actually you are echoing my concerns when they first told me.....but they are going to take him to training (where I'm sure they will learn as much as Ziggy does) and they are getting a male because the breeder has advised them they are 'easier' than bitches. My brother in law has had experience with dogs such as Labs pre marriage but they haven't had a dog in their lives (over 20 years) so it's certainly going to be a enlightening experience for them. My sister doesn't really have much experience (training wise) at all as she is five years younger than me and all the family dogs were my thing not hers. It could be interesting. My money is on my youngest niece and Dad. My hope is that if the breeder thought them unsuitable for a 'novice ' family she would have steered them away.

Yes, and Aunty Liz is doing some more reading on Schnauzers too (did some when they first mentioned the breed as a possibility) and my daughter found a "Schnauzer puppy soft toy" the other day that we left at Grandparents for my young neice Eliza to have! They are all so excited.

Same! Hope there is no long term damage. Guess he must have his body weight on his side too. Poor fella.

Well after years of procrastinating my sister is finally getting a dog. I guess they finally buckled to pressure from their youngest (10 year old girl same age as my youngest) She is animal crazy and loves coming to my place because of all the animals here. Also both girls (the elder is 15) loves my mums dog and spent alot of time there so have had a dog in their life but none of the work associated with them. I am so pleased they are getting a Schnauzer (Standard/mid sized) as I think they have done their homework and this is a breed that will suit them all. Non smelling, non shedding, can be outdoors and indoors. I would have given the girls a Cavalier Puppy but Cavaliers are just not a breed that is suitable for them for a number of reasons. AND the whole family spent a fair bit of time with the breeder at last years Melbourne Royal which is terrific and lead them to the decision. So anyway, the litter was born on the 17th of January, they are going up to visit when the puppies are 6 weeks old and they are getting a male. They have purchased a puppy pen for him already as I strongly suggested they should get one to make things safer for everyone. Amongst other things of course! :D So now I am a Schnauzer "Aunty". I know my sister will be looking to me for doggy advice so I'll have to be really careful. My first piece of advice to her was "Be guided by your breeder, they are more than happy to answer your questions"!

Funny but Basenji jumped into my head too as I saw a bit of Native dog/dingo type in him???? He looks a "camp dog" type, cattle dog/Kelpie mixes. E.T.A. After reading through the rest of this thread I'm wondering whether I should add a "disclaimer"! :D