Posted: 5/9/2013 5:08:34 PM EDT
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So the wife and I went to pick out our new boy puppy last night. It's a 5 and a half week old goldendoodle that we will be able to bring home from the breeders in 2 more weeks. We have narrowed the names options down to:
Joey Jake Bentley Tucker Tank Duke Here are the pictures of the puppy!!! 
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Please tell me that the breeder has at least performed all appropriate health testing on both parents prior to breeding this litter. That doesn't mean an annual vet check up. It means x-rays for hip and elbow dysplasia, thyroid testing, echo of the heart, x-rays for patellar luxation, screenings for Addison's disease, and an eye exam for progressive retinal atrophy. These are hereditary issues common to both breeds, so it being a mix won't decrease the likelihood of your dog being afflicted by one or several of them. If your breeder hasn't conducted these screenings, he or she is not a responsible breeder and you should eject. At a minimum, you should not pay for a puppy whose parents are untested. The majority of breeders breeding doodles and other "hybrids" (aka mutts) are doing so to cash in on the current fad and don't do the responsible things that an ethical breeder should do. Neither do they offer any sort of health guarantee or assistance after you take the pup home. Doodle breeders in particular like to use the buzzword hypoallergenic, which has been proven to be false.
I know I sound a little preachy, but I hate seeing good people being taken advantage of by unscrupulous breeders. If you've done your homework and your breeder has done all the health testing, offers a guarantee and lifetime support for all his/her pups, then by all means fo. But if not, pleeeeeeaaaaaassssseee reconsider. That being said, the pup does look adorable. |
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I've named my dogs the following:
Murphy, after Michael Murphy Axel, after Matthew Axelson wiki page: Pic and plan on continuing the tradition. Just food for thought... |
