How to rehome dog

[Anonymous]

My elderly mom bought a pandemic puppy from a breeder - was supposed to be a mini doodle, and it’s a maxi doodle. She can’t handle him and she’s going to break a hip trying. We don’t want to take him back to the breeder - clearly they are unscrupulous and we are worried they wouldn’t have dog’s best interest at heart. He’s a sweet, loving, large and hyper dog. I’d take him but we already have a geriatric dog aggressive dog at home and can’t make that work. We are asking friends and friends of friends first, of course, but what other ways are there to find a good home for this dog we love? My mom is totally torn up - she and the dog are devoted to each other. But she can’t do this safely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My elderly mom bought a pandemic puppy from a breeder - was supposed to be a mini doodle, and it’s a maxi doodle. She can’t handle him and she’s going to break a hip trying. We don’t want to take him back to the breeder - clearly they are unscrupulous and we are worried they wouldn’t have dog’s best interest at heart. He’s a sweet, loving, large and hyper dog. I’d take him but we already have a geriatric dog aggressive dog at home and can’t make that work. We are asking friends and friends of friends first, of course, but what other ways are there to find a good home for this dog we love? My mom is totally torn up - she and the dog are devoted to each other. But she can’t do this safely.

Did your mom sign a contract saying she would return the dog? I think if so, you have to return it there.

[Anonymous]

Why not train the dog?

[Anonymous]

Take it to your local shelter.

[Anonymous]

No, it wasn’t an adoption. It was a straight up purchase at what I expect was a puppy mill. Place looked fine (Amish farm) but my mom did all the research and she didn’t know what to ask/look for. I don’t think they care what she does with the dog and we wouldn’t trust them in any case

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elderly mom bought a pandemic puppy from a breeder - was supposed to be a mini doodle, and it’s a maxi doodle. She can’t handle him and she’s going to break a hip trying. We don’t want to take him back to the breeder - clearly they are unscrupulous and we are worried they wouldn’t have dog’s best interest at heart. He’s a sweet, loving, large and hyper dog. I’d take him but we already have a geriatric dog aggressive dog at home and can’t make that work. We are asking friends and friends of friends first, of course, but what other ways are there to find a good home for this dog we love? My mom is totally torn up - she and the dog are devoted to each other. But she can’t do this safely.

Did your mom sign a contract saying she would return the dog? I think if so, you have to return it there.

Yes, looking at the contract is step one. Most breeders have take-back clauses, though this one obviously has issues, but I'd still start there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it wasn’t an adoption. It was a straight up purchase at what I expect was a puppy mill. Place looked fine (Amish farm) but my mom did all the research and she didn’t know what to ask/look for. I don’t think they care what she does with the dog and we wouldn’t trust them in any case

Definitely, 100 percent a puppy mill. The Amish are in deep with that. I wouldn't even consider a potentially reputable breeder in the state because of it.

Can you try posting on a local listserve like Next Door before surrendering her? Send out some email blasts to family and friends? Sounds like she doesn't really have many issues and it is more a bad fit for your mom. A dog like that that was adopted as a puppy into a loving home should have many takers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not train the dog?

Unfortunately my mom isn’t trainable. She is almost 80 and she has sent him to a boot camp and he came back well trained...but she can’t seem to learn how to be the owner he needs. My mom has a had a horrific Covid year full of loss and trauma - she didn’t make good decisions about this dog. Now she and he are in a pickle. But they have tried training, and the dog learns but she finds reinforcement and consistency hard. Again, she is in her late 70’s.

[Anonymous]

OP is she local?

[Anonymous]

Where are you located? Google doodle rescue for your area.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/IDOGRescue/about/

Breed rescues are fantastic. Good for you OP. We have rescue dogs from Lab Rescue and Keeshond Rescue. Someone out there will have a perfect home for the doodle!

[Anonymous]

I know of two rescues that specialize in poodles and poodle mixes - Somerset Cottage on Northern VA and For the Love of Poodles in Richmond. They are both great rescues.

[Anonymous]

She is local, yes. And thank you for the rescue resources! Very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it wasn’t an adoption. It was a straight up purchase at what I expect was a puppy mill. Place looked fine (Amish farm) but my mom did all the research and she didn’t know what to ask/look for. I don’t think they care what she does with the dog and we wouldn’t trust them in any case

Puppy mill. Our rescue sometimes takes dogs from these places when they’ve outlived their breeding usefulness. The owner says to pick them up by X date before the dog is destroyed, often with very short notice.

[Anonymous]

Look for a rescue group for the breed of this dog.

[Anonymous]

The Amish are infamous for running puppy mills, where dogs are badly treated. They are bred to death, kept in stacked pens in barns, etc. No one should buy a dog from them - rewards them and causes more animals to be harmed.