Follow up: Located a Labradoodle in AZ but have ?? PLEASE HELP

I'm calling on my reliable network here for assistance based on the background of this ginger female Labradoodle I located through a newspaper ad (I hadn't thought of looking in the local paper until a few dog owners we met while on a walk suggested it).
The dog in question belongs to a local breeder who had a ad for puppies plus an adult dog. It is the latter I called on. The owner, another Susie, told me Sydney is just under 2 years old and had her first litter not long ago--but it "didn't go well". She said I wouldn't want to know all the details but Sydney was missing the maternal instinct and demonstrated a fearful like behavior; the result being Susie would not breed Sydney again. I would imagine it's unusual for a dog who has whelped to not have this type of attachment - and if she failed to nurse her pups, couldn't Susie have cared for them? Susie stated Sydney is not aggressive, she interacts fine with other dogs, she has spent most of her time in the housing run with them rather than indoors with the family.

She also stated Sydney had a trial run with a family, which she insists upon as she wants both parties - adoptive family and dog - to be happy. She stated Sydney had been with a family but had a hard time bonding with the husband in the home; she attributed this to Sydney not being around men that much as her own husband had not interacted much with Sydney. This is a concern of mine also as, in addition to my husband, I have three sons - none of whom live in the house but do frequently visit.

Susie is charging $300 for Sydney, who will need to be spayed. Otherwise she is up to date on all immunizations. I have a tentative appointment to make the 45 minute drive out to meet Sydney in person (in dog?) on Sunday.

Question is: is it worth it to do so or are there too many red flags here? My instincts are hinting to me the latter.

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Member Since 2009Permalink Reply by susan pack on February 1, 2010 at 5:36pm

Thanks, Karen and/or Jack.....I do value your opinion. I had a hunch something's not quite right here - first of all, what happened that "I wouldn't want to know"? If I'm getting a dog to love and own I really want to know everything about it. And the fact that Susie suggested I keep Sydney in a play run on the veranda? I wouldn't do that with my kids....and that's how I tend to think of my pets! I don't even have a doggy door as I don't want an animal outside, especially in these desert surroundings,,,,which is another things, it's hot as h*** outdoors in the summer.

Susie, the owner, suggested a clinic nearby that could spay Sidney for a cost of about $70. I used a private vet in the past and would probably be more comfortable going that route.

Please tell me more about "puppy mills" as I was under the assumption those were only places that were pretty shabby and had many, many dogs in supply. I admit I'm naive to all this. When we got Casey, we researched the breeder and went to inspect the property and the bitch and stud before they even mated. So this buying an adult is all new to me....and I don't want to be sorry. It does sound like the dog is missing some sociability factors.

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Member Since 2009Permalink Reply by susan pack on February 1, 2010 at 7:39pm

Again, much appreciated reply....I am familiar with puppy mills in general, this sounded somehow different so after your BYB explanation it all came into clearer focus.
I also spoke to another advertised breeder, 3rd generation, who is actually a retired veterinarian, who was also of course very wary of this particular situation. He, too, as per my gut instincts and your sound recommendations, advised staying away from this type of placement.

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Member Since 2009Permalink Reply by susan pack on February 1, 2010 at 9:30pm

Not to worry, your two cents are worth a million-- I can't believe I didn't even make that connection - that if the owner Suzie was so concerned about not breeding Sydney again SHE would have had her spayed! Of course - that's a no brainer, it's sheer common sense and compassion. I did have a visceral reaction to hearing the story which was my heart talking to me, I simply didn't intellectualize it completely.
While I would love to be a rescue rehabilitator to a dog in need of such a placement, as Sydney does appear to be, I'm afraid I simply don't have the resources/time/training to be able to offer that to a pet right now and such a placement would indeed be unfair to both the dog, my family and myself.

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Member Since 2009Permalink Reply by susan pack on February 1, 2010 at 10:14pm

I have to tell you that as a former OB nurse, then infertility nurse, I thought long and hard about what it takes to be a "parent" (especially when some so-called designer babies came into vogue with egg and sperm donation) - not only did I give each of my pregnancies careful consideration but made sure to apply some of the same criteria before selecting a Lab! We set about locating the qualified breeder half way across NJ where we were living at the time....and then finding/running references on the dog transports to have her join us in AZ when we moved here 4 years ago. Truly the happiest day of the move was when Casey arrived at our doorstep.

I also felt such a sense of peace, when a couple of mornings after she died, I felt as if I awoke in the morning to walk into the master bath and turn to see her in the closet where she'd taken to sleeping - I cried out to my husband, "Casey's back!" and ran to embrace her as I felt my able-bodied dog nuzzle me under the arm....and then truly awoke in my bed at dawn with the realization that Casey wasn't "really" here but knowing, in my heart of hearts, that she had completed her journey.

I so want to offer that love to another canine - I love my kids, I'll love my grandkids, but the love of a dog offers a different kind of love that I so want to experience again. My husband, who was raised with dogs, thought he'd be fine without one in the house but has felt the tug - what joy it would give us to feel as if we were providing a home to a dog whose owner was no longer able to care for him/her and offer a loving alternative. I still find myself considering the possibility of a puppy, especially as my youngest son will be home from May - August upon his college graduation - and as wonderful as that alternative sounds, with other dogs "out there" in need of a home, I'm keeping my intentions open and hoping one does indeed find its way to our doorstep once again....

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Member Since 2009Permalink Reply by susan pack on February 2, 2010 at 8:38am

I can see how this poor dog needs and deserves to be removed from this situation. Regrettably, my husband had immediately realized yesterday after I told him about Sydney's background, that this was not the dog for us - plus, he'd have a very hard time seeing a dog in any type of bad situation and expressed his desire not to be in a position of obtaining one only to give it up. PLEASE don't get me wrong - I admire and support the rescue aspect of this but I don't feel we'd be up to such an undertaking. I would, however, certainly pass along an explanation of this possibly dire situation to Alison. Perhaps I can find out her contact information.

I'll be calling Susie today - if possible, let me know beforehand if there's anything in particular I ought to say....
Thanks so much,
Susan

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Member Since 2009Permalink Reply by susan pack on February 2, 2010 at 10:54pm

Welll......I am keeping my heart and mind open and I've followed each to this lead: http://cactusflowerlabradoodles.com/id108.html
The breeder, Linda, sounds lovely and reputable, genuine and caring. My 21 year old son is smart, disciplined, loving and committed (hey,,,he'd make a great pet!--and he's already housebroken!) will be home for 3 months before starting his career as a financial advisor. He would be great companionship for a new puppy who could potentially be placed in our home in June.

Not quite the older dog we'd been considering, but there's also something very special about raising a pup. My big concern was chewing but I've had *some* reassurances that doodles aren't quite as enthusiastic in that regard as labs, and I'd know enough to keep tabs on its whereabouts at all times, esp. knowing that someone would be home basically 24/7 during the early months.

Linda, the owner of Cactus Flower Labradoodles, directed me to the Doodle Kisses (?) site also where I saw some familar names. I want to do some more indepth reading over the next several days and, as always, open to opinions.

Doodlely hopeful,
Susan

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Member Since 2009Permalink Reply by susan pack on February 3, 2010 at 10:56pm

Thanks, Krista...I did see Sally -- she's pending adoption, good for her!

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Member Since 2009Permalink Reply by susan pack on February 3, 2010 at 10:59pm

Thanks, Suzey....Oregon is quite a ways. I had looked into CA as we're occasionally out there to visit #3 son at USC -- who now truly has himself set on raising a puppy. That's what happened when we looked into local breeders and the timing would be right. Much as I'd have loved to do a rescue I don't know if it's in the cards for us this time but I will continue to keep my eyes and ears open.