KSPOO

We are looking for a standard in the Savannah, GA - Beaufort, SC area, but will be traveling to central FL this week. I'd love to hear any suggestions of breeders!!

We have found Lifestyle Standard Poodles in FL, and will be stopping by the see the puppies. I feel like the breeder is very open and willing to provide information, etc. But, I'm trying to be cautious, and I'd just love to hear other's opinions and if anyone has a puppy from this breeder!

Thanks!

Rowan

I'm not familiar with this breeder but I checked out the website. I don't see any mention of health testing, but admit I could have missed it.

Have you researched Stargazer Poodles? I've heard great things about this breeder. Stargazer Poodles |

You can also check with PCA for breeder referrals in your area. Welcome to PCA!
http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/Breeder-Referral.htm

KSPOO

Thanks for your reply. She said the grandparents were tested, but not the parents. She did send me the pedigree and a link so I could do some searching...

Rowan

Did she say why the parents weren't tested? What about further back in the pedigree? All good things to research.

She also uses PayPal which can be problematic, and has a "no refund" policy (on your deposit). What if she can't find you an acceptable puppy--acceptable to you ? High volume breeders tend to follow these policies whereas reputable breeders rarely guarantee a puppy's availability. If they don't have one for you within a reasonable amount of time, your get your money back. At least that seems to be the norm, but I'm no expert.

I'm sure others will weigh in but these are red flags for me. This is a useful thread for the PayPal deposit and contract issue: Breeder is changing the rules.

KSPOO

Thanks for pointing these things out. She did tell us the deposit is non-refundable if we would just decide to back out, but if there was a health issue with the puppy, etc it is refundable. Of course, as you pointed out, it would be important to make sure all is in writing. We weren't too concerned about the deposit, though, as we are stopping to see the litter this week on our way to Orlando, so should we decide to go with this breeder, we'd be putting a deposit on a puppy that we're able to see, play with, etc. But that is great information to know about paypal!!

I'm definitely going to do my digging, but from what my husband was told, several of the dogs in the puppy's background were shown and champions, and so all of those dogs were tested. He said the breeder told him that the parents aren't tested, as she doesn't show anymore.

Thanks again for the advice. Any and all advice is welcomed! We are mainly concerned with getting a puppy that is happy, healthy, and comes from a loving, well socialized environment. With all the genetic testing and so forth that is available, it's somewhat hard to determne where to draw the line for a pet. I hope that makes sense!

ArreauStandardPoodle

I know absolutely nothing about this breeder, but do feel health testing on the parents should be a priority. If all four Grandparents are fully tested, it is a step in the right direction, but even at that, would want to see no less than hips and eyes on the parents, and know that the pups are at least clear by parentage of Von Willebrand and degenerative myelopathy.

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PoodlePowerBC

I'm afraid I totally agree with Arreau here. My last Spoo's parents were not tested, but apparently Grandparents were. He died very prematurely just shy of 6 years of heart failure, but he had bloat at 16 months, horrible allergies, eye problems, digestive problems, etc. We loved him to pieces, but I personally think if the breeder had of been a bit more responsible, some of our heartache could have been avoided. When I emailed her to inform her he had bloated, I had no reply at all. And I heard she was using the same breeding pair :(

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Walk with someone who will accompany you willingly, preferably a dog.

3dogs

If looking for a Pet & price is an issue (it was for me) then I highly suggest going with a Rescue. I got my Leif from CPR 1 year ago. He is awesome & everything I wanted in a Poodle. No, I don't know his health in his pedigree because he was a stray, but I also am not expecting a rock solid healthy Poodle for $350 that I paid. He was already neutered, up do date on shots, heartworm tested & on preventative so in all honesty I saved a huge amount of $$. Yes, he may develop issues & that is the risk I was willing to take on giving a dog a 2nd chance in life. If every person deserves a 2nd chance then so should the dogs we produce.

If looking for a Spoo then look up Sanjia- a White/Cream Spoo. He is young under the age of 2 I believe & energetic. I think a good class in obedience, Agility or Rally would be a great idea with him. Carolina Poodle Rescue is in Pacolet SC, near the Georgia & NC border. It seems like you might be open to this idea. Not sure why this Spoo hasn't been snapped up, I would if I didn't already have 6 dogs.

KSPOO

Thanks for all your input! Price "is" a factor. We really need to keep it under $1000. It seems that there aren't a lot of standard breeders in this area, so lots of puppies end up being out of financial reach because they'd have to be flown in.

PoodlePowerBC - I'm so sorry to hear about your spoo. We just lost ours, and like yours he didn't come from a totally tested background. Although he was a healthy, fantastic dog, he got sick suddenly and passed away a couple a few weeks ago at 7 1/2. Absolutely heartbreaking so I do understand where you're coming from!

3dogs - We initially checked into rescues, but kept running into age requirements for children. We have a three year old, and we were seeing a minimum age of 10 at most of them, and one that said 5.

I need to search the pedigree info she sent me (from what I understand some of the genetic testing is available on the same site) and do some research.

I appreciate all the input, and in the meantime, if anyone knows of breeders in GA, or central FL, please let me know. We'd like to check out as many options as possible.

zyrcona

It is good that you were able to see the puppies in the breeder's home and that you seem to like the breeder and the dogs, but think some of the information you've been given may not be correct. Being health tested is not a prerequisite of being able to show a dog. Showing evaluates how closely the dog physically (and temperamentally on a very basic level) conforms to the breed standard. Health testing is very important, however, if you are considering breeding a dog, because you do not want to risk passing recessive genetic diseases or other conditions that are yet to materialise on to the next generation.

I had a look at the site and the dogs look nicely cared for, but the design was kind of gimmicky and tacky. The spinning animation around the cursor did my head in after a few minutes. :-(