[114977]

I am sorry this happened to you, and I am hoping the breeder will be held accountable. I just have to say how adorable your puppy is! I've had many poodle mixes in my life, and while I would never go that route again, I loved all of them. But yes, I can understand being upset given what you paid.

 

[TeamHellhound]

If you want, you could probably tape her ears to help them lay flatter. This shows one method, which is probably the easiest one that I've seen. http://www.6stardanes.com/ears.html You would probably need to have her ears clipped with a #10 bade, though, to keep the hair from getting caught in the tape.

 

[HollyM]

A few other thoughts. A good groomer can minimize the flying nun look a bit. I think the key would be to not do a shag cut on the ears. Instead, let the hair keep growing with the goal of the hairs on the top and middle portion of each ear growing to the bottom part of each ear, then trimming only the bottom.

View attachment 476140

If you're really mad or curious, buy a Breed & Health Kit from Embark (usually on sale for $159). It uses saliva swabs which you mail back to them, and will test for which breeds are in her ancestry. If not all poodle, you then have proof, because our opinions won't hold water with the breeder or small claims court. Keep in mind that even with proof, at best the breeder might offer to refund your money but only if you give back the dog, which she will likely then sell again as a poodle.

Since you like this little girl and consider her part of the family, the more important part of the delux Embark kit is it will rule out testable, inheritable DNA genetic disorders. If it turns out that she's a carrier for one or more conditions, depending on which one(s), she won't ever develop that disorder. If two carriers breed, however, some of the pups are usually affected.

If one or more of her tests comes back that she's listed as 'affected', then at some point she will develop that disorder. This happens when dog inherits a copy of the same faulty gene from each parent. In that case you would want to notify the breeder, decide if you want to pursue a full or partial refund, and get pet health insurance. The better odds are, however, she won't test as being affected of anything, but it will give you a peace of mind, or the need for a plan.

The next time you see your vet, have them check her out for something called Patellar Luxation. This is a quick, manual exam of her knees, also known as the patellas. Hopefully this won't be a problem. If so let us know.

Good luck.

Thank you so much

 

[HollyM]

If you want, you could probably tape her ears to help them lay flatter. This shows one method, which is probably the easiest one that I've seen. http://www.6stardanes.com/ears.html You would probably need to have her ears clipped with a #10 bade, though, to keep the hair from getting caught in the tape.

Oh no, I wouldn't tape her ears. That would probably be uncomfortable for her

 

[TeamHellhound]

Oh no, I wouldn't tape her ears. That would probably be uncomfortable for her

It's up to you, of course, but lots of dogs have their ears taped (or posted, if they are cropped) and don't seem bothered in the least.

 

[Darling Darla]

I think she is adorable 🥰
Did you buy her as a registered poodle? You are getting papers?
she looks like a Toy poodle with a higher ear set. Is she teething? Do a DNA test.

 

[Mjoy32]

Honestly I hate to say it and its only my opinion but I think maybe there's a touch something else in your poodle? Even you admit you've never seen ears like that and I am not sure if I have ever heard of wait until the hair grows in... Here's a picture I found online of a papillion poodle mix...

 

[cowpony]

Oh no, I wouldn't tape her ears. That would probably be uncomfortable for her

A silver lining in all this is that she's probably going to be less prone to ear infections, as the erect ears will allow better airflow into the ear canal.

 

[TeamHellhound]

A silver lining in all this is that she's probably going to be less prone to ear infections, as the erect ears will allow better airflow into the ear canal.

Maybe, maybe not. My GSD, with her naturally upright ears, has had more ear infections than all my other dogs combined.

 

[buddyrose]

I just looked, it is ICA. International Canine Association

Your adorable dog does look like a mix breed, not pure poodle. But I'm NOT an expert on any of this.... it's just my opinion. There are many Vets who are very knowledgeable and could help determine this.

When I got my Tpoo, I was given the AKC lineage paperwork. Look at this page on the AKC website and the FAQs. Lots of good information here:
https://www.apps.akc.org/apps/contact/answer_center/faq_findabreeder.cfm#:~:text=Breeders can list AKC-registered litters on the AKC web,assist you in your search.

Yes, doing the research prior to getting a pet is important especially when you're not simply looking for an adorable Mutt. That's a lesson many of us also had to learn! You're not alone.

This is off the internet explaining how the ICA differs from the AKC:
What's the difference between the ICA (International Canine Association) and the AKC (American Kennel Club)? ...
Kennel clubs are pure bred dog registries in which the dogs must have documented lineage.
Whereas, the International Canine Association (ICA) allows dogs to be registered who are without documented lineage.

And since she does look like a ChiPoo to me here's a site about ChiPoos. I bet she's an amazing little dog.

Chipoo Dog Breed Health, Grooming, Feeding, Temperament and Puppies - PetGuide

A mix of Poodle and Chihuahua, the Chipoo is an energetic, friendly pup, who makes a great companion dog and loves to be part of a family environment.

www.petguide.com

 

[buddyrose]

It's up to you, of course, but lots of dogs have their ears taped (or posted, if they are cropped) and don't seem bothered in the least.

It's falling out of favor except with the AKC whose primary goal is preserving a breed's look. Obviously there are pros and cons to be found all over the internet.

From the AVMA:
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) policy is that they "oppose ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes."2 Their policy has been in place since 1999 and was affirmed as recently as 2012 when the AVMA added that they “encourage the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards”. (AMVA, nd)

and:
Is it ethical to tape a dog's ears?
When we look at the evidence, there is little to support the idea of ethically taping a dog's ears. Unless the dog has a pre-existing medical problem, letting their ears develop naturally will benefit the dog greatly. It will allow them to communicate properly with others.

If you're not purchasing an animal to show and it's role is family pet, why do anything that's possibly painful? I wouldn't.

 

[Piper 2020]

Sheltie ears are supposed to tip over. When Alex was a pup, one ear tipped and one stood straight up. The vet taped her ears for 2 weeks. She didn't seem to notice. When the tape came off, both ears stood straight up. She was happy with this and so was I.

 

[Raindrops]

Personally I see no ethical problems with taping. It's not painful when done properly. I'd probably tape if I had a breed like Chinese Crested. I do not see where there is any benefit to a floppy ear developing vs a prick ear. Prick ears are the most functional for general dogs as proven by evolution, though specific dog jobs may benefit from a drop ear (like hounds). Of course I love my poodle's tag ears to death! And perhaps for hunting dogs there are benefits to tag ears. But I'm not going to argue that a prick ear wouldn't also have benefits. I see it as a harmless cosmetic thing for those who tape.

 

[5girls1guy&apoodle]

Your dog is adorable! I think she looks like she could be mixed, but oh my I wouldn’t fix the ears unless it was gonna be a health problem. She is so cute and unique. I am sorry you got swindled though. I wish people could just be honest and do everything ethically, but that’s not how the world works. Seriously though she is precious, even if she isn’t pure bred or just badly bred. Enjoy her and do more research next time. She honestly gave me the biggest smile! You must smile so often now.

 

[mistyboo08]

My guess is mixed with Chinese crested. I have both.

 

[JayDee]

It's been 3.5 years since; how did it all work out?😕

 

[Dechi]

It's been 3.5 years since; how did it all work out?😕

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