What should I ask?

4978 Views 50 Replies 17 Participants Last post by Cdnjennga, Dec 7, 2009

Cdnjennga

Discussion Starter · Oct 5, 2009

So in the ongoing search for a poodle, I have applied for a rescue poodle through Petfinder and got through to the first stage which consists of a 30 to 40 minute telephone interview. During that time I of course get to be grilled by the rescue people, but I also get to ask questions about the dog etc. If I get through that, they call my 4 references (!), then do a home check, then I have to get approved by a committee, then if all that goes well I actually get to meet the dog.

Here's the dog I applied for:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14779863

Can anyone think of anything I should specifically be asking about? I've never gone through this process before and am only coming up with a few questions.

- I want to ask about the children thing (it says unknown for how she is around children, so I want to know more about that - I don't have any but there is a possibility that I might want to have them/ friends will have them, so I can't have a dog with big issues)
- I want to know how her vet check went.
- I'd like to see a full body shot if possible just to make sure her structure isn't horrific. I realize a puppy mill dog won't be the best example of a poodle, but I'd be hesitant to take on a dog with a big roach back or other structural issues that might cause problems down the line.

And that's kind of all I can think of right now. Idea?

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41 - 51 of 51 Posts

Keithsomething

· #41 · Dec 2, 2009

Elphaba jumps em =\
we tried using a baby gate a few weeks ago and she pounced right over it
((now we lock her in the laundry room when we leave, with scooter))

Its a cute dog, and I hope it works out either way for you Cdnjennga
whether shes the dog for you or not ^_^

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KPoos

· #42 · Dec 2, 2009

Keithsomething said:
Elphaba jumps em =\
we tried using a baby gate a few weeks ago and she pounced right over it
((now we lock her in the laundry room when we leave, with scooter))

Its a cute dog, and I hope it works out either way for you Cdnjennga
whether shes the dog for you or not ^_^

One baby gate is different than two on top of each other.:scared:

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Keithsomething

· #43 · Dec 2, 2009

hahaha oh I didn't read the 2 part
xD

I'd be entering that dog in agility things! xDD
((thats agility right the bouncing over stuff?))

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KPoos

· #44 · Dec 2, 2009

Keithsomething said:
hahaha oh I didn't read the 2 part
xD

I'd be entering that dog in agility things! xDD
((thats agility right the bouncing over stuff?))

Heck yeah she'd be clearing really high jumps no problem.

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Cdnjennga

Discussion Starter · #45 · Dec 3, 2009

More like I need to find a climbing event... Like wall climbing or something. Because apparently that's what she's good at.

Thanks for the well wishes! We'll see what happens.

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Cdnjennga

Discussion Starter · #46 · Dec 5, 2009

Just thought I'd update this. We met Heidi last night and she was very sweet but of course did show some odd characteristics that obviously come from her previous life. She seemed more comfortable outdoors than in, suggesting she spent a lot of time outdoors at the mill. Anyway, she was very likeable and seemed like she had a lot of potential, but unfortunately after spending an hour with her my mom developed a runny nose, itchy throat and cough... Yep, once again, allergies came into play. So I have decided to halt here and let her go somewhere else, as we just can't take the risk that my mom will be allergic to her. I also got a little bit of runny eyes after I got home (obviously had her on my clothes), which made me think I might also have allergies to her.

I guess what this has solidified for me is that I need a poodle, not some sort of poodle mix. My mom has had no allergic reaction at all to any of the poodles we have visited (even less than she does with the PWD). While finding a rescue does appeal to me, the reality is I have very tight criteria and am unlikely to find exactly what I need in the dogs that are available. So I will just cross my fingers that a beautiful boy is born in the litter that I have my eye on.

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Fluffyspoos

· #47 · Dec 5, 2009

Sorry about Heidi, Cd, =/ hopefully she finds a good home. I didn't even think about PWD's being a relief for allergy sufferers, you don't hear about them often (at least I haven't) as much as poodles. Fingers crossed for the puppy you're looking for!

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KPoos

· #48 · Dec 5, 2009

Good luck with the litter. Yes allergy sufferers can be very limited in the breeds that they can be around without getting a reaction. I cannot tolerate cocker spaniels at all. Although I'd love an English cocker, I cannot tolerate them and wouldn't put myself through the torture. Weird but I don't find myself allergic to cats or birds. I think it's just certain breeds of dogs.

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Cdnjennga

Discussion Starter · #49 · Dec 5, 2009

Fluffyspoos said:
Sorry about Heidi, Cd, =/ hopefully she finds a good home. I didn't even think about PWD's being a relief for allergy sufferers, you don't hear about them often (at least I haven't) as much as poodles. Fingers crossed for the puppy you're looking for!

I think poodles are definitely better than PWDs for allergy sufferers. When we got our first PWD, my mom was so allergic for the first few months that we almost thought we would have to give him back to the breeder. Of course we've had them for 20 years now, but I'm sure my mom's allergies would be better without them, she's just willing to live with them to have dogs. She did say though that she might get a poodle in a few years time, as she thinks she would be so much better with them. So maybe we will have 2 poodles in our family at some point.

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bigpoodleperson

· #50 · Dec 5, 2009

She will find a wonderful home. At least you got to meet her and experience this before bringing her home.

Any details on this litter you are looking at? I hope everything Finally works out! If the litter takes, when should puppies be born? Would it be a winter or spring puppy? What about this breeder made you want to get a puppy from her?

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Cdnjennga

Discussion Starter · #51 · Dec 7, 2009

bigpoodleperson said:
Any details on this litter you are looking at? I hope everything Finally works out! If the litter takes, when should puppies be born? Would it be a winter or spring puppy? What about this breeder made you want to get a puppy from her?

All going well, the dam will be bred around Christmas/ New Year's, so the pups would be born end of Feb and ready to go home in May.

The breeder is really just a poodle enthusiast. She's had them since she was a teenager and breeds, grooms and shows her own dogs. I liked her because she does full health testing, uses an outside stud (and puts a lot of thinking into who to use), raises the pups in her home and breeds for her own purposes about every 3 to 4 years. She currently has 3 dogs (including the grandma and mom). The 3rd dog is an 8 year old dog she bred who was returned from his family after a number of years. She is rehoming him with her parents, so I also know she stands by the pups she breeds. TBH she is kind of like my mom as a breeder. Her dogs are her passion and interest first, and puppy makers a distant second.

Oh and she keeps natural tails, which was one of my nice to haves. So really she fits all my criteria, including being only 45 minutes away! Fingers crossed she has the pup that's right for me!

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