The beginning of this story is not one that we can put a particular date on. It’s a while. Years. It’s one of those things that we felt was right and started looking into but it wasn’t a guns blazing decision. It all started for me when we met Sly. Sly was our friends boxer (get it? Slyvester Stallone was a boxer in Rocky?) and he was one of those dogs that just seemed perfect. I’m sure he wasn’t…he probably did annoying things at times…but in my interactions with him, he never shoved a wet nose in your face or dug his head into your crotch or was overtly aggressive. I gotta give Sly credit because he is the first dog that made me fall in love with the idea of having a dog inside the house.
Growing up, we had a dog….Barney Bear….he was a black and white Australian shepherd rescue that had no tail and long shaggy hair. He lived outside and I really wasn’t his caregiver AT ALL or even really played with him. He was so cute as a little puppy…like a little black bear as he ran around the back yard. I would watch my brothers play with him and my parents always took care of him. I was always just the observer. Or the one that liked to brush his long black hair. As he got older, Barney had a very strong protective instinct….and there was a group of neighborhood boys would be abusive toward him as they rode through our yard on their bikes. They would take sticks and hit him and we found out later when he had little cuts. I remember crying about him being hurt. At first we didn’t know what the cuts were from….a wild animal? another dog? Then later we found out.
I remember the time that we were in the driveway and we actually saw the neighborhood boys were coming down…ready to cut into our yard to go past where Barney was hanging out. There was only one path to the woods and it was in our yard. My dad saw the boys had sticks in their hands, he ran down the hill, caught one of the boys just as the teen lashed his stick at our barking Barney….and Dad took him by the shirt up to his house to report him to his parents. I’ve never seen my dad move so fast and I was so proud of him….he was like a superhero protecting our family. It was also one of the few things that I remember thinking “this is truly evil”. Hurting this innocent creature.
In those weeks, Barney got more and more aggressive….he didn’t like us kids playing with him and would start to growl at us little ones. I would go to brush him and he would growl and bite at my hand and the brush. I’m sure it probably didn’t feel good to him but as a small girl, I didn’t fully understand…and I just got scared. Looking back, I’m sure that my mom and dad felt terrible about the entire situation – this tragic thing happened that we couldn’t control and they had to make a responsible decision for our family and for Barney’s well being. Soon Barney was gone…my parents found a family that had more land and no young kids. It was a good decision for Barney but we all cried. Even me….and I didn’t even play with him. It was just that he was our dog. And then he was different. And then he was gone. We never got another dog after that.
Years later, I met Sly. He was an inside dog (which was a fairly new concept to me. Barney only ever came into our garage.) and he was so gentle and sweet. He never growled or invaded personal space. He was good with kids and loved cuddles. It was very different than I remember Barney and it proved to me that things could be different. Forgive me if I sound like a crazy person….it’s just that when you only know annoying dogs or aggressive dogs, it just really sticks with you to find a well adjusted family pet.
Over time, I met more and more family dogs…inside and outside pets…all of who were sweet and gentle. It changed my heart about dogs….that not all dogs had sad stories…and also made me realize that I wanted a happy family pet for my own boys. Then when Will turned 2, he started asking about ‘our dog’. We casually started looking at local rescues. Years went past and three kids later, Will and Weston were both SO adamant about getting a pup. They would talk about what they wanted….a fast dog, a big dog, a little puppy, a dog that would chase them, a dog that slept in their room. At the beginning of 2015, we amped up our search for a rescue. We asked around to friends. All of my siblings have dogs and they all have opinions about the types of dogs and where to get them. It became our ‘search’.
After talking to basically everyone that we ever met with a dog, we came to realize a couple things. We wanted a dog that wouldn’t shed (we don’t have time to vacuum everyday guys), one that had a temperament that would be good with kids (can’t get rid of them!) and one that would get big enough (bigger dogs apparently are more likely to be calm). We started looking for a doodle – either a labradoodle or a goldendoodle and there were so many times we came close to finding the dog. We looked at rescues in neighboring states, dogs of all ages, and Craigslist. But it seemed like every time we got close, we didn’t qualify or something happened (some adoptions require you to have a fence, some require you to not have really small children, some that were literally adopted out from under us, etc.). We talked about expanding our search to other types of dogs, but every time we came back to this idea that it should be a puppy and it should be a doodle.
Finally last year we began looking at goldendoodle breeders. If I sound disappointed that we didn’t find the right rescue….I was. In my mind, a rescue is the way that we were going to find ‘our dog’…but it just didn’t happen. It’s not that we are opposed to responsible breeders necessarily….quite the opposite…we think that responsible breeding is an awesome way to have healthy, well adjusted dogs. But we understand that rescues exist because you can’t always control circumstances. Rescuing in our mind is born of compassion. To clarify – we don’t support puppy mills or folks that breed dogs that have no way to care for the puppies and dogs as they grow. That’s not responsible.
So after researching hundreds of breeders….we found a breeder almost two hours away that has golden doodles that fit our ‘want’ list. They are born and raised indoors, around kids, and they can help us with getting a second generation doodle (an F1b) that has the probability of shedding the least. That was the last thing on our list…but if we could choose, we would want that option because the dander and saliva have the potential for allergies the most…and since a couple of our family members do have allergies (hay, pollen, dogs, cats, insects, etc.) we wanted to limit that exposure. It’s not a perfect hypoallergenic solution…but it’s as close as we can get.
We found MustardSeed Ranch breeders and chose to have a male puppy hopefully with a red coat (all our boys tend to have a ginger phase and when presented with the option…that felt like red was our fur baby the most). Our little guy was born November 19th…the day after Weston’s birthday…and we received a bunch of photos of our new little guy from the breeder. I gotta tell you…it felt like I was pregnant all over again and was full-on in that nesting stage. I couldn’t wait till he was big enough to bring home!
At Christmas, we told the boys and they were so excited. We wrote a letter from Santa telling them that their ‘paw-some’ new friend was delivered to the wrong house and we would have to go pick him up. Of course, the boys thought we were getting a possum….which was hilarious 🙂 In January we were finally able to bring him home. Best day ever.
I know that some people will feel like we should have waited for a rescue…and I totally understand. Remember I was disappointed too. But I also feel like everything happens for a reason. Please understand that I don’t think our dog-story is over. We want to adopt a rescue in the future and give Bear a fur-sibling. There are so many dogs out there that need a forever home. I hope that you also see that our situation is that we have four small boys ages 6 and under…and before our newest family member, they were terrified of dogs in general….and getting a puppy – they were excited and brave to hold him (of course, Weston still had the longest adjusting period – that photo of him with Bear in his lap was a milestone!) and now, they are able to be bolder and accepting of other breeds and other friendly dogs. Sure – our friend’s great dane is still a little intimidating – but they don’t scream and cry and run away in terror anymore 🙂 So we do feel like we made a great decision and imagining our life without Bear is heartbreaking. The moral of the story is that supporting rescues and supporting responsible breeding – they are both good things…and at the end of the day, you have to make a decision that is best for your family.
So how did we decide on the name? Well, the first one that Jeremy wanted was Eddie. Get it? Eddie Bower? 🙂 And I wanted Bear for my old dog Barney Bear. We also tossed around the idea of Brooks, Demo, and Noodle. In the end, we went with Bear because 1. it’s the one we could agree on. and 2. the Breeder calls the dogs by animal names and our little guy was dubbed “Bear” on his listing….it was fate 🙂 Technically speaking, Bear is MY dog – we made that clear to the boys so that it squashes fights and already, we have seen indications that I am his alpha…which drives Jeremy crazy 🙂 His nickname is Chewbacca Sugarbear. You know. Because Star Wars everything. I call him Bear, Boo-boo, Chewy Bear, Sugarbear, and Bear-bear and pretty much any combination of those things 🙂
He should grow to about 55-65 lbs when he’s full grown and is already so patient with the boys. He is definitely in that puppy stage where he is putting his sharp little puppy teeth on everything….and we are teaching the boys to cry/squeel like a mama dog and hide their fingers in their armpits. It seems to be the best deterrent right now. He is terrified of the rain and will not go to the bathroom outside if there is any wet weather….so that’s our biggest obstacle for house training. We will stand out there for twenty minutes under the umbrella with him sitting on our feet crying and the moment we go inside, he squats. But other than that…training is going really well. Oh and he doesn’t like ducks. We found that out at the park 🙁
Other than that…he is just the friendliest little guy. He LOVES new people, his stuffed beanie babies and sneaking off to chew on our sofa. And he is sleeping from midnight till 6 in his crate like a champ. Bear is still learning to run fast – which is hilarious to see because his little legs get tangled up sometimes. And I love that he is such a serious looking boy….it’s like him and Will both have the same temperament 🙂 OH and his tail! He has the curliest tail that wags fiercely at all the boy’s friends. He is learning to socialize with other dogs….it’s been one of those slightly terrifying things because you just never know how they will react….but so far, so good. He loves playing chase and is a master at figuring out how to nap under furniture 🙂 He loves nesting in a pile of my clothes….so I keep teasing Jeremy that I don’t need to clean up because it’s Bears bed.
Overall…we are just so in love. He really does feel like our family member! Like we were always meant to have him. And I’m sure all you other dog-moms are probably just nodding your head knowingly 🙂 I know it seems dramatic….and in some ways it is….I never saw myself as an indoor pet person…or someone that would be able to ignore the dog-toots…I was scared that he would hate us or the boys wouldn’t adjust….but he is such a comfort to me personally….like this long-lost friend….in the form of a baby dog 🙂 I love him so so much. And that my friends, is our story about our newest boy Bear and how he came to be a Bower 🙂
p.s. A reader had a great suggestion of what to do if you do have little ones and have a heart for rescues….call a local rescue in your area and ask if they need item donations or any other things your kids can get at the store….it will teach the little ones to have a heart for the dogs still waiting for their forever families and rescue centers always need help! And if you are local to us, Walton County has a list of ways you can help. This is the website we used to make donations 🙂
It’s Sylvester not Slyvester.
Awww! My 4 yo son is Eddie and since he was born I’ve called him Eddie bear (rhymes with Teddy bear), but usually just bear. You could’ve done both names! He’s adorable.
He’s so adorable! Such a wonderful story, and I’m glad you found a pup that worked for your family!
While I think if rescuing is possible, you should do it, I wouldn’t as long as I have small children. I can think of three friends right off the top of my head that had to return rescue dogs because they showed signs of aggression after they were brought home — sometimes months later! With adult dogs, you just never know what they’ve been through. It’s heartbreaking, but the safety of two-legged family members (especially the little ones!) has to come first.
Anyway, congrats on the newest addition!
It is funny. You don’t know there is a hole in your life that needs to be filled until you bring in a dog. Mine is a rescue, and I adore her. Some rescues make it VERY hard to adopt from them – fence, kids under a certain age, etc. I had one tell me I couldn’t adopt from them because I worked outside the home, and their dogs couldn’t be left for more than 2 hours at a time. You need to do what is right for you and your family at the time. I firmly believe that families get the dog they were ‘meant’ to have. Like God’s will or something. Congrats.
He is so cute! I love the pictures of him with the boys. I think animal respect is an important lesson to teach kids. Love watching him grow along with the boys.
I know there is so much conflicting advice out there when it comes to dogs, but the “alpha”/dominance concept is really outdated, and unfortunately regained popularity bc of Cesar Milan who is a complete hack. (Not just my opinion- even the American Veterinary Medical Associaton agrees). If you’re interested in more updated training techniques, look into “nothing in life is free” as well as Ian Dunbar, Karen Pryor, and Patricia McConnell just to name a few! Good luck with your new pup!
So cute! And so brave of you to add a little puppy to the mix – can’t wait to see more pictures and how you work puppy into our DIY / House / Life.
So sweet! I never saw myself as a “dog person” until we got our two goldendoodles, who are now 1 year and 3 months respectively. We too searched for a LONG time for a rescue but eventually went with a responsible breeder/family friend because my husband grew up with poodles and goldendoodles and had his heart set on this breed. We love our dogs SO much! I can honestly say they get even nicer as they age, which certainly doesn’t happen always. Our 1 year old doodle is already SO patient with our 3 month old puppy, dangling toys for her and showing her the ropes. One trick for the puppy biting (that you can do, probably not the kiddos)…when the puppy is biting you, just very lightly curl his lip under so he feels his tooth. He will associate biting people with biting himself. It got our puppies to stop almost immediately. Enjoy this great stage!!
I am so sick and tired of everyone feeling like they have to justify buying a dog instead of rescuing one. It isn’t your business people. If you personally want to do rescue then do rescue but don’t put your garbage on someone else. I bought my dog too because I don’t want to do rescue. I don’t want a dog that might have issues. I wanted a puppy so my kids could experience that. I don’t think you need to write a whole page about why you didn’t rescue. If you want to buy a puppy then buy one. SO sick of the way this world is going.
Just had to get that off my chest today.
I loved this post! I loved the photos! And most of all, I loved the number of 🙂 emojis you used. It makes me happy to see 🙂
Congrats on finding Bear!
Oh, I’m so excited for you! We have ALWAYS had rescues. Until now. Our Goldendoodle was our first non-rescue dog for a lot of reasons that were very specific to us. And I am so glad to have him – he is the sweetest, gentlest old soul you can imagine and has been that way since we got him at 16 weeks. I hope you have the same amazing relationship with Bear 🙂
I’m disappointed by this whole post.
Your parents could have controlled what happened to your childhood pup — they could have brought him inside. He then wouldn’t have been abused by the kids walking through your yard and likely wouldn’t have gotten aggressive with you.
“Goldendoodles” are not a breed – just a marketing scheme to make money. Additionally, they will shed and saying that you chose one because they won’t is misleading.
I totally agree! Who cares how you get your dog! So annoying!
Are you implying that all rescue dogs are garbage? If so, you’re completely and totally wrong. I had an amazing dog that I adopted at 1 1/2 years old. She was perfect with people of all ages, including those with special needs.
Additionally, you seem to be implying that puppies are not available in rescue, which is also untrue. There are many puppies killed every day in shelters because people prefer to buy instead of rescue.
Obviously, but Sylvester Stallone goes by “Sly” very often. He titled his book “Sly Moves” and owns a bottled water company called “Sly Water”.
Geez, chill. Bred dogs can have PLENTY of issues. Over-bred dogs can be aggressive and downright dumb. And the pet population in the US is overpopulated. PLUS, I’m sure she knows those GOMI peeps will throw rude comments her way (much like you) so this covers the “why wouldn’t you just adopt/rescue” questions she would get if she hadn’t thoroughly explained of the process.
#damnedifyoudodamnedifyoudont
Oh my goodness–he is such a little love nugget. Who cares how you got him? We have one rescue and one from a breeder and we love them both and feel like they both were “destined” for our family. I’m definitely the ALPHA to my little Roxie (she’s the only girl besides me in this family of boys) so I feel like she and I always stick together. I love it! Keep the pics coming! 🙂
Thank god for the grammar police.
We trained our dog to go outside in the rain by standing there with him without an umbrella. Just put on something you don’t mind getting wet, and wait there with him while he gets wet. Tell him he’s a good boy and just wait. It’s no fun for you, but once he learns, it won’t be an issue.
Oh, Katie, he is just adorable! So happy for your family! I have always been a cat girl…had cats my entire life and we have 2 indoor kitties presently. For many years my hubby tried to talk me into getting a dog. It would be good for the boys, he said. They would love to roll around with him, he said. I was nervous…after all, I’d never really had a dog (well, that’s not true…we had a Husky for a very short time when I was a child but she kept digging under the fence and getting out and eventually, my parents got rid of her). Anywhoooo, I was nervous…it was like “here’s a llama!” I had no idea what to do with either. Well, one day a co-worker of my husband said he had a 1-year old Bernese Mountain dog that he needed to find a home for. OH. MY. GOODNESS! I adored those dogs and I thought they looked like bears. Well, we got him, fell in love and I was done for. He became a part of our family like I never imagined. He was bigger than 3 of my 4 boys when we got him! He was the best. We lost him to cancer October 2015. But, the Lord allowed us to get another one this past August and he was 19 weeks old! We love him to death and I am definitely the Alpha. =) Our Axl is just so sweet and funny (and chewy!) and he completes our family. I still love my cats but they are NEVER as happy to see me as Axl is. Sorry this is so long…Congrats on Bear and I know he will be a blessing to your family. Hugs.
Wow! What an adorable puppy! Congratulations on your new fur baby 🙂 I was so excited for the story of him since you posted his photos on Instagram. Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to see all the photos as he grows up with your boys. So precious!
We got super lucky with our rescue, we got him as a 3 month old puppy just days after he was abandoned. It took me 10 years to convince my husband to let me get a dog…and he’s MY dog, not the kids dog. lol! I get it, really! It took him almost a year to accept my hubby as a ‘second’ alpha and show him the same respect he shows me as his main alpha. Having a dog is the bomb.com for real! You’re going to have so much fun! Just beware, they grow even faster than kids! Gah!!
Could you go into more detail how you researched responsible breeders? I’m like you, my heart is with rescuing a dog but with family allergies, we may need to go the breeder route to find our dog. I’ve been following local rescues for years with no hope for the type of dog we need/want. And I also, want to find a responsible one but I’m overwhelmed were to begin. Thanks in advance for any help!!
Do you still have the name of your breeder? We are looking for a responsible one but I don’t know where to start or how to search. Thanks!
I live in Massachusetts and have absolutely no concept of an “outside dog”. This sounds horrible! Perhaps this is why almost all of the rescue dogs available here are from the south? Really, our dog and all of the dogs we know who are rescue dogs are from Tennessee or Georgia (ours is from Georgia, according to her records). We really are all wondering why the rescue dogs are all southern born and shipped up here to find families who will care for these poor creatures. Hard to believe people leave dogs outside all of their lives! Is there any way you can explain the inhumane concept because I really have been trying to figure it out!!!
Welcome to the dog mom club! He’s adorable!! I grew up with rescue dogs, but then I developed allergies so when we got our newest pup I did a TON of research and got an Australian Labradoodle from a small local breeder and it was SO worth it! Gracie is seriously the best dog. You should feel 100% okay about getting the right dog for you! I struggled with the same rescue guilt, but the fact was that nonshedding, calm, standard/large size dogs just don’t get dropped off at shelters very often… As long as people aren’t supporting puppy mills then I don’t think it’s anyone’s business to guilt folks!
Also, if you’re looking for random doodle puppy tips, a few things I’ve found with Gracie (who is now 8 months old) that might help:
– Socialization is great! Our older dog wasn’t very well socialized and he has issues now… Puppy obedience school or play groups are great, or if you have a neighborhood message board you can put out a call for people with pups of similar age for play dates (less stressful than dog parks/stranger dogs). Also, Home Depot and Lowes are usually really nice about letting you bring your dog in so they can get used to new places/people/sounds!
– With puppy finger biting I found that pulling my hand away fast and/or hiding it just made her think it was a game, so if I just put my hand firmly splayed on the ground without moving it (while making the yelping noise) she would get bored and leave it alone much faster. But she was definitely a nibbler!
– We got potty bells to hang on the back door and trained her to ring the bell when she has to go potty, which is AWESOME (now I don’t have to try to psychically sense when she has to go )
– The one big thing with doodles since they don’t shed is grooming. I started brushing Gracie a bit every day when we first brought her home and trimming her nails, playing with her ears/paws, etc so she’d get used to being groomed and handled, and lots of warm gentle baths. Now she has a lovely coat and is a dream to groom! Doodles that don’t get enough proper grooming can end up with serious mats and coat/skin issues and often have to be completely shaved… So it’s good to embrace it early on If you need any recommendations for good doodle grooming tools I’m happy to share!
Sorry for the absurdly long comment… Clearly, I am a bit dog obsessed!
I’ve been following your blog for YEARS (stalker! :)) and never felt compelled to comment until this post. I am sure that some will judge…such is life. But, I’m loving the work you put in to making the best decision for your family. I volunteer at a local rescue and have fostered many, many dogs in their transition from abandoned pup to cherished family member. Your boys will learn so much by having a furry family member. We have three quirky and fabulous pups in our home and love every crazy moment. Enjoy this new reality…dogs bring some much love and joy to us…and they ask so very little in return.
Really? That’s what u feel compelled to say after this awesome/ heartfelt post?!!
Our 6 year old 80 lb pup is scared of the rain too. The only way we can get her to use the bathroom in bad weather is by walking her on the leash. For some reason even if it’s raining the leash turns it into a fun, happy thing. She’s so spoiled. Bear is a sweet pup.
I love this Katie! Such a great way to bring a fur-baby home. Your story of your childhood pup is truly heartbreaking, the poor guy. I definitely understand your hesitation to get a dog before now. But it seems like time has healed that wound. 🙂 Can’t wait to see more pics of him growing up with your boys! Lastly- yay alpha-mamas!
We have whoodle (wheaten terrier/poodle), and the puppy biting phase with our 3 and 5 year old was the WORST!! We used the “be a tree” method. When puppy bites, stand up and put your arms up…be still and silent! When the kids actually did it, it worked great!
We actually did a lot of research just by googling. We would make a checklist of everything we read…like a breeder should allow home visits, interaction with the mom and dad dogs, contracts that ensured that proper care would be taken, adequate testing for genetic problems, socialization of the animals, etc…if a breeder doesn’t do all of those things along with providing recommendations from past puppy owners, it probably isn’t legit. There are a million sites that have a million suggestions.
xo – kb
Thats funny because my grandfather had outdoor dogs…they also were allowed in the garage like ours…and he is in the north. I imagine that Massachusetts is very different than the south with those extreme winters 🙂
xo – kb
That’s wrong…they couldn’t have controlled it. That’s like saying you can control people who do terrible things…Barney had free reign of our yard, garage and front yard…including a fully enclosed area under our deck. You can’t blame my parents for trespassing and abusive kids. My parents did the responsible thing. Once they saw what was happening, they reported the kids to their parents and figured out a good situation for our dog. And I’m sorry you don’t like Goldendoodles…but seriously, this is my newest little fur baby and I will defend the fact that he is AWESOME.
xo – kb
I just meant it in terms of…he listens to me and not Jer 🙂
xo – kb
I love your nicknames for Bear. Our Willow is a Golden Retriever. She and I are the only females in this family but the boys have given her a blokey nickname – ‘Wilskies’. No chance for a sweet female addition here. 🙂 She’s all dirt, mud and adores her boys! Oh and she loves, loves, loves sleeping outside. Our yard is her happy place.
It’s amazing isn’t it how judgemental people are. Do your own thing, there’s no need to justify your family decisions to anyone!
Enjoy your sweet boys and your sweet Bear.
x
I’m from MA too! The concept of an “outside” dog is weird to me too but perhaps because we have more extreme weather and temps? The dog we had growing up was outside a LOT and had a lot of freedom but that was also before the strict leash laws.
I too have wondered why so many dogs come from GA – we’ve been looking into adopting for a while! I looked at the website for the breeder the Bowers chose and they have something like 40 females! That’s shocking and sort of disturbing – sounds very much like a puppy mill (even if they don’t consistently have all 40 moms living with them at once). I don’t know what the laws are but maybe they are different in GA? I’ve never come across a “breeder” even close to that around here.
Bear is so cute! I’ve been waiting for this post for some time, because I could read between the lines that you are about to get a puppy anytime soon 🙂
I’m running a small dog training school with my friend I so basically have to give you a tip 🙂 forget the alfa, the dog should be a companion and you can still teach him many things including good manners around kids even without “pushing him to the last position” in your family.
I believe the book When Pigs fly! by Jane Killion could be a massive help (plus it’s quite funny!). You can get it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/When-Pigs-Fly-Training-Impossible/dp/1929242441 and my friend who has a bullterrier kennel give it to every new owner of their puppies!
Hi Katie!
We also have a doodle from Mustard Seed! We actually got our pup when Mustard Seed was in the DC/MD area. Our sweet Stella is almost 8 now, and she is wonderful…and every time we are complimented on her disposition, we 100% “blame” the breed. She is very sweet, very loyal, and very smart. (And she really, truly, doesn’t shed!) We don’t have children, so I can’t speak to that, but I have never seen Stella be aggressive to any one, or any dog. Welcome to the doodle club! (Oh! and be prepared…doodles LOVE to shove their head between your legs when they want attention/want to be petted!)
He is adorable. What a great family pet. Your boys will cherish the memories of growing up with Bear. So sweet!
I would also search for Gabby Harris, I’ve been to couple of her seminars as she visits my country (Czech Republic) quite often. She has a book about ethical animal training and is a very lovely person. She works with dolphins mainly but her learning concept actually works for any living creature!
I think it all depends on why and what/who for you are buying your dog. For example I wanted a staffordshire bull terrier because of it’s nature – energy, relationship with people and expecially kids, great sporting dog, perfect size and body constitution (quite small but very stiff). I could never ensure that with a rescue staffie or with a staffie cross, even if I got a puppy. These things were more important for me than getting a rescue dog (but probably getting loads of issues together with that decision), so I bought a pedigree puppy and don’t feel bad about it at all. From that time, I’ve also volunteered for local shelter and have had numerous dogs at home for helping them to get ready for new homes.
On the other hand, if I just wanted to get a dog for a family, just a companion, no matter what,I would go for the rescue one. But never with small kids.
I have also been a subscriber to your blog for years now, as others above have mentioned. Firstly, I am absolutely in love with Bear. I’m happy you were able to change your relationship with pets through him. Also I feel that it is no one’s business where or how you got the dog, as long as it wasn’t through a puppy mill. I also want to get a rescue but I want certain characteristics in a furry family member and if I can’t find a puppy in a shelter, I would do the same as you did. Don’t listen to the haters. When your kids are older, you can always get rescues, but a new dog needs to fit with your specific circumstances. #teamkatie Also, I hope you continue to share pictures of him on instagram and your stories through the blog. A little animal story can bring joy to many people’s days; to know a smile is spread just because of sharing a silly story of your dog (or kids) really can be special. Thanks again and good luck to you.
Do you really think a breeder with 40+ mothers is providing adequate care and socialization of the animals? The only type of breeder that would be cranking out that many puppies is a puppy mill.
The mama dogs are all fostered through other families – so there aren’t that many dogs at a single time. I visited the location and saw the way it was done.
xo kb
I’m sorry – I didn’t mean the alpha thing like it was a training technique or anything – more like I am the one he listens to and it drives Jer nuts 🙂
xo kb
So most of the mamas are all fostered – that way the dogs are all taken care of and the breeder can still be sure that they are healthy and socialized and get adequate attention. Sadly there are a lot of places in Georgia where they have lots of dogs all living on the property full time – in crates without any care or medical attention.
xo kb
Growing up we had indoor dogs, at one point 4 in the house! They were all had very different personalities but loved all the same! I’ve been a long time reader so it’s exciting to see another “baby” in the mix! Looking forward to watching him grow! And if you haven’t already discovered them, Nylabones or Kong toys are the way to go! 🙂
He is so sweet! And, I hope you all have had a chance to soak up that delicious puppy breath! It’s my favorite! 🙂
Eish. Katie. Goodness, girl. This whole post began like an apology for growing your family and these comments seem to have me thinking that it’s STILL an ongoing apology. You are accountable to your family and God. If you got him from a rescue, someone would tell you it was a bad choice for a family with kids. If you got him from a breeder, someone would tell you that you’re awful for not getting a rescue. If you wrote about training with a clicker, someone would tell you that’s manipulative. I grew up with parents that showed dogs and I’ve heard everything from how terrible it is that these dogs have to spend so much time in crates traveling to how terrible it is that they are so spoiled and don’t live the lives of ‘real’ dogs. Honestly, you’ll never make everyone happy. Please don’t let your “blog life” ruin the joy you find in your REAL life. These opinions don’t matter and it’s easy to pass judgement from an armchair. Congrats on Bear. He’s adorable. Also, I really like how your photos placed him with so much texture (the fluffy rug, woven pillows), it shows off the dimension of his fur nicely.
I have a 4 year old Goldendoodle and he is the best! We taught him when he was a puppy to ring a bell when he needed to go outside and it was the best thing we did so we didn’t have to guess when he needed to go out, he would just let us know. He is still a chewer (only on toys now, thankfully) and loves his soft toys, the best ones we have found are Fluff and Tuff, little pricey but instead of taking an hour to destroy it takes months or he has had some for 2 years that are still great. Can’t wait to see more pictures!! 🙂
“There are many puppies killed every day in shelters because people prefer to buy instead of rescue.”
This is a fact. So yes, it is everyone’s business.
I’m kind of astonished that anyone keeps their dog outside. I don’t understand that at all.
I completely agree. Why wasn’t the dog allowed inside? Dogs are social animals and want to be with their pack.
I do blame your parents, Katie. They could have had their pet in the safety of the house, and chose not to. Why have a dog at all?
I never comment – but Katie, it appears your “responsible dog breeder isn’t.” If you check with AKC, DCA, or HS, they all give the same guidance:
a responbile dog breeder “has at least the mother dog on premises and let prospective purchasers observe the dog and her health and behavior. Responsible breeders breed their female dog to the best male, not the most convenient one.”
They also “do not sell pups as a for-profit business.”
Frankly, people that are engaged with dogs know MustardSeed – and it’s reputation. While it’s an “above-average” puppy mill, it’s still a puppy mill, selling dogs en masse.
I completely respect your view to buy a breeded dog instead of a rescue with no judgement. I myself have a breeded dog, but I really wish you would’ve done more investigating.
Get off your high horse all you “rescuers”! No need for the lengthy explanation on where you got him from Katie, congrats on your puppy- he is adorable! I got a puppy recently too- not from a rescue, not from a breeder, from a …..gasp…. pet store!! He is an awesome Jack Russell mix, and we walked right in there, picked him out and paid $500! Outrageous!
AKC is a great place to start your search. http://www.akc.org/dog-breeders/
Congrats!!!
I think the best thing for kids is a pet!
I hope you find your rescue, but there is nothing wrong with buying from a responsible breeder.
Great to hear that! Well, to be honest, it will change when he reaches puppy teen age 😀 he will listen to none of you.
Men are like that, and what we did at our home – we got another puppy, girl. They say that men are better with female dogs and women are better with male dogs. Totally true in our household!
Good for you! I’m sorry that you have to explain yourself so much…people stink sometimes. My neighbor has a Goldendoodle they named Dumbledore and he’s awesome. So loving and friendly! We have 2 dogs (sent you a New Years card with their pictures!) – a Puggle (Birdie) that we got from a responsible breeder and a rescue (Bogey) that we got brought up from Mississippi. We lived in a very small condo when we got Birdie and had some serious small dog requirements to fill, so a chosen breed was best for us. Birdie was way harder to house break, but clearly came from a very loving home. She’s 9 now, but has never once bitten a person, thing, or ruined an object in our house.
Bogey and his siblings were found in a trash bag on the side of the road. He was shy, anxious, hard to socialize and we’ve only had him since November, but he’s also amazing. He’s 7 months now so a bit in his terrible two’s (puppies regress in behavior between 6-8 months just when you think you’ve got them trained), but we’re working on it. He’s difficult with children though and I wouldn’t leave him around my 3 year old niece unless I was close by. I don’t think he’ll bite anyone, but he does growl and I don’t want to encourage that behavior or scare her any. He gets better each day and we love him so much. Turns out though rather than a “beagle mix” he’s a Bluetick Coon Hound so QUITE a bit bigger than we were thinking he was going to be, ha ha. Risk you take with rescues though. 🙂
Anyway, congrats on the dog and continue to do what’s good for you. Be sure to socialize him with other dogs as well as people, is my only bit of advice.. you want a well socialized dog that you can bring to all your boy’s ball games. 🙂
Last words…
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Love your Bear Bower! Congratulations!
We got our current dog from a breeder almost two years ago. I had a bit of a hard time with the idea of a breeder at first, because, like you said, there are so many dogs in shelters that need a home. Like you, we really had to think about what was best for us when it came to adopting from a rescue or buying from a breeder. The easiest question that we asked ourselves started with the breed we wanted, which was a Rottweiler.
With all dogs, it really comes down to finding a responsible breeder, which, we did. It sound’s like you did too! 🙂 As I was doing my research, I was just completed bombarded by information about learning about breed standards and why they are SO important when it comes to responsible breeding. Good breeders respect the heritage of confirmation of dogs.
I disagree with the person who said to disregard the alpha thing. There are several breeds of dog, (like my beautiful, sweet, smart, Rottie named Zeke,) who ABSOLUTELY require an alpha figure in the home. Without a person whom asserts himself/herself as the alpha…well, that’s when you hear bad stories about large breed dogs hurting people 🙁 . And just because my Rottie isn’t the leader of the pack in our home, doesn’t mean that he isn’t a ‘companion’ for us, or that we are mean to him in any way. In all honesty, he is pretty much my child, but I also respect that fact that, ya know, if someone showed up at my home to cause me harm, my Zeke would put that person down in about 5 seconds.
My boyfriend is actually the alpha, and while I’m a close second, Zeke definitely pushes the boundaries just a little more with me than he does my boyfriend.
From what I’ve read about doodles, they don’t have that natural inclination to want to be the leader of the pack. But, at the end of the day, he is still going to be a dog that weighs 50-60 pounds who could easily knock someone down and hurt them on accident – which is why it is SO IMPORTANT for them to have that person in a family who they will respect and listen to. In this case, that is you 🙂 Maybe it’s just the term “alpha” that is off-putting to people, but I think that all dogs, in general, need their person. Does that sound preachy? I don’t mean it to be. 🙂 It’s just, you know, bad situations arise when it comes to people who underestimate their pets. Little dogs can be just as vicious as big ones 😉
There are also perks to being the alpha of the home home too – which makes you super lucky! Zeke downright pouts when my boyfriend is gone, and he is sooooo happy when ‘his dad’ gets home. There is serious bonding time why he comes through the door that makes me incredibly jealous. He just isn’t that happy to see me when I get in from work 🙂
As an aside, when I researching breeders, I spoke to a vet friend of mine. I had mentioned we were looking at puppies in Lancaster PA – she is a vet in Scranton, and I thought it might be a fun roadtrip for us to meet up on. She told me that I should absolutely steer away from that area and the idea of adopting a puppy from Amish areas. Apparently, lots of the Amish run puppy mills. One of the easy ways that she told me to find out is to ask about the health of the other puppies in the breed and see if there were any pups that were “unadoptable.” She said that usually one or more would have a heart problem or some other issue. Sure enough, I asked, and two of the puppies from this litter weren’t available for adoption – one of them had a hole in is heart 🙁 . So yeah, that’s an important question to remember to ask when looking at breeders.
Bear Bower is SOO ADORABLE! We are also parents of a goldendoodle and can’t say enough wonderful things about the breed! We named her Ginsburg after Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court Justice (we’re both attorneys so we knew we’d have some sort of legal affiliation with the pup’s name!) Our best advice is to potty train using a bell by the door. We purchased ours on amazon (it was maybe $15?) and hung it up by the back door that we use most often, and started with her right away when we got her – 8 weeks old. We would tap her nose or paw on the bell whenever we took her out. Now she’s learned to use the bell to communicate with us. If her water bowl is empty and I didn’t realize it, she’ll ring the bell and then sit by her water bowl! Dogs are so smart! Best of Luck with the new pup!!
Darn you Katie! You’ve given me the puppy fever! What an adorable addition to your family and how lucky Bear is to have those 4 boys to grow up with. Oh the activity your house must be buzzing with!
Well to avoid all confusion, the breeder owns the dog and keeps the mother on premise to breed till 10-12 weeks after the puppies are born. When the dog is not being bred, the mother dog lives at a guardian family home that is close by. You can always ask to visit the dogs that are at guardian homes. This allows for the dogs not to be overbred and for them to have lots of attention and to have great health care as well as to retire to a family that already knows them and loves them. You do need to be on a waiting list in advance so that no puppies are being bred that don’t have homes waiting for them.
xo – kb
I love your pup! He’s beautiful. I’ve never had a dog from a breeder, only rescues. But I appreciate you took time and research before you settled on a breeder. As a person allergic to dogs, I know how hard it can be to find the right pup (and not have it adopted out from under you). We have rescued a purebred schnauzer (escape artist and chewer), a goldendoodle (missing half his teeth because someone had kicked him), a schnoodle (returned six times for being a power chewer), and a puppy carin terrier poodle mix (including a bidding war). As a whole hearted dog lover, I am so glad you have found your right pet! There’s always judgement in the dog community- just like everywhere else- so I’m just happy that you have given another puppy a good home. We will always have dogs in our home!
I’m so happy for your family, Katie! Having a dog is the most amazing love. They steal your hearts and are such important family members. Thanks for sharing your honest story. It’s unfortunate that so many people are judgmental. Giving a dog a safe, loving home is all that matters.
I’m sorry it seems like an apology. I guess I was still working through the whole thing too. As I was writing this, I figured out that I had a preconceived notion and in the end, you are right…what matters most is that we got our little guy and he is awesome 🙂
xo – kb
You know, any time that a tragic thing happens, people do try to figure out how they could have done things differently. I’m sure my parents went through that. But I don’t blame them. Blaming them is saying that it was their fault those kids chose to do a vicious thing. If Barney was an inside dog, it still could have happened when Barney was playing in the yard. In a global sense, bad things happen to pets all the time. It effects no one more than their loving owners. Please be respectful of that.
xo – kb
I live in Canada (much colder) and grew up on a farm outside a rural community. Nearly every farm family I know had an outside dog. Meaning the dog was provided warm shelter (barn, garage, shed) but spent nice days outside and wasn’t allowed in the house.
Thank you Michelle!
xo – kb
Did I say that Katie? Did I say they are garbage that is why I don’t want one? This is why people are so sensitive. Read it as black and white don’t infer your thoughts into my thoughts. I know there are puppies at shelters. I know there are good dogs in shelters. It is not your business what others choose to do and you have a lot of audacity to ask someone “Did you get that at a shelter?” None of your business. There wouldn’t even need to be shelters if people were more responsible to begin with.
Oh man….that’s sad! And apparently I didn’t know that ‘alpha’ had another meaning 🙁 I just meant it like I was his boss right now…boss, mama, lady in charge…whatever you want to call it 🙂 Who knew?!
xo – kb
I am glad you are planning on keeping Bear inside with his family where he belongs. Cheers to your new family member and the memories to be made. Nothing like having a dog!
Gorgeous photos! I could look at photos of your boys and dog all day! Congrats!
Marilyn, I do think your statement was inferred incorrectly–because I did NOT take it that you meant rescue dogs were garbage. Although your attitude initially and in response to other comments is really out of line for this page. Please choose your words kindly, as “people are sensitive” isn’t really a sound argument when what you choose to say is clearly hurtful towards others.
Either way, I totally agree with you that unfortunately we do judge others too quickly in their decisions. It is completely understandable that someone would choose to buy from a good breeder because they want to ensure their kids are safe and that the dog fits their home’s lifestyle. It is not our place to determine what is right for a family, and unfortunately so many people, including Katie Bower, have to over justify themselves to the public.
Very dignified response Katie. And totally agree. Your parents made the right decision to stop the abuse when they saw it, and to make sure Barney had a home where he would be more happy at. Very selfless decision on their part. Not every family is the same, and therefore we should not be so quick to make judgements on others for what they choose to do.
Love your pup, and so glad you took the time to find a one that fit your family so well! Doesn’t always happen like we may imagine, but happens exactly as it should. He looks like he’s made to be in your family completely!
I don’t get that feeling from the website. They have a dozen puppies available and dozens to “pre-order.” Also- it shows on the website they are ready to go home at 8 weeks. So what you are saying and what is publically available information are not cohesive. You can choose to get your dog from anywhere, that’s your right. Just don’t pretend this place is some loving breeder that isn’t pumping out puppies for profit
Was just discussing this earlier with a coworker. For our family, dogs live inside. I have them because I enjoy their companionship, and yes having them live where I live, ensures they are not too cold, too hot, wet, etc. I pay the price, because my house is coated in fur, and never feels clean. But we get love and joy constantly in return from our two 60 lb dogs because they are always with us.
My parents on the other hand, their dogs were always outside dogs. I grew up in South Carolina, so we have pretty mild winters and sometimes very hot summers. I will say though, while the dogs always stayed outside (would come in occasionally for a visit), they had shelter, shade, water, food, lots of play time, walk time, love and care. My parents always paid attention to the temperatures and shelter they provided their dogs. Never did we have an issue with them being overheated, too cold, etc.If it was too cold out, the dogs came into the insulated garage. If it was too hot out, they were given breaks inside. They were very healthy. They took them to the vet, and even in one dog’s instance my parents forked over $4000 on two leg surgeries. They loved their dogs.
So while both home lives are completely different, all dogs are cared for and loved well.
Of course unfortunately there are always those that do not care for there dogs, that do place them outside, chained up, and never give them any love or affection. We had a rescue dog that lived that life, and it broke my heart to know that–but his last two years were a very spoiled life indoors! Not sure why so many dogs seem to come from down south, but I can’t imagine it is solely due to the fact dogs are left outside, vs inside.
You bought him from a puppy mill. That’s where pet store dogs come from.
Many people let their dogs stay outside, especially in warm/mild climates like the southern U.S. As well as farm dogs that work outside etc. it also encourages the kids to go outside more to play with the dogs. if you want to bring an ANIMAL inside your house permanently please feel free, but if you really think about what’s natural, it’s for all non-humans to live outdoors. Pets are not people. People should not be shamed for keeping animals outside generally speaking.
Dear Sally,
You are rude and unkind. And obviously you don’t know as much about dogs as you think you do. Not all dogs are meant to be inside dogs. Some dogs can’t tolerate it. Plenty of dogs prefer to be outside to be able to roam, chase squirrels and dig up bugs. Heck, some dogs are working dogs and are bred to live outside. Don’t be so cruel as to assume you know all there is to know about any given situation or dog and then attack someone for sharing an obviously painful part of their life. Shame on you.
Hey, Katy,
Why don’t you share a painful part of your childhood history and let us all pick it apart and lay blame and tell you what you or your parents should have done. Let’s see how you feel. How cruel do you have to be to attack someone’s parents for a situation that you don’t know all the details to and can’t possibly imagine how hard it all must have been for them? There’s this thing called compassion, Katy. Try it on. You’ll probably hate it at first but if you keep wearing it, eventually you’ll be a much less bitter person.
Congratulations, Katie! He is absolutely adorable! I’ve had my furbaby Libby for 11 years and I can’t imagine life without her. I tell her all the time that God made her specifically for me–and I truly believe that–so I totally get it when you say it was meant to be. I’m so glad you and your family are enjoying him. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story and the wonderful photos of your new puppy. 🙂 It sounds like you put a lot of thought into your decision and chose the dog that’s right for your family. We have a Goldendoodle too, and our journey to get him sounds very similar to yours. He was the perfect addition to our family. We wish you many years of happiness with your furry Bear!
I think she meant garbage in terms of people’s opinions – not that the rescue dogs themselves are garbage.
Good grief. This is exactly why she felt she had to “justify” purchasing a dog from a breeder.
And for the record, Katie, you don’t have to justify anything to anybody. Your life, your family, your dog, your blog – no excuses needed.
Amazing that you looked at literally hundreds of rescues and talked to literally everybody you knew and you were left with literally no choice but to go through a puppy mill to find this guy. But thankfully you researched HUNDREDS of breeders before you settled on MustardMill.
AGREE – so sad that Katie felt the need to have to justify so much of this post but I am so happy for her and her family.
We lost our Maggie in August 2015. It took a long time for me to feel ready to look for a new dog since she was so great (she was an adult rescue before we had kids but was great with them, too). We found a Pitt/Pointer mix who was about 8 months old. She was so great with our kids when we visited her at the shelter. The shelter folks had only good things to say about her. We brought her home and she totally freaked out at our neighbor girl. Just upon seeing her outside. Same age as my daughter but a different race. Who could predict that? It freaked us out. We tried to introduce them again later. Same thing. That dog was a hard no. We just didn’t feel like we could take the chance. She was already so strong and would only get bigger. We have a lot of young friends so we had to return her. I would have NEVER guessed it would have gone down that way but it did. We ended up with another rescued Boxer (like Maggie) who was a tiny little puppy they rescued from a hoarding situation. She’s been great. The thing with dogs is that they can have bad experiences when only a few months old that stick with them forever. I’m guessing something must have happened with the Pitt mix we briefly had. Sigh. All this to say, you have to do what’s right for your family. Bear is adorable. Oh, and I grew up in Texas and everyone had outdoor dogs then.
AMEN!!
By the way – I wanted to apologize if I sounded judge mental in my comment – I didn’t mean to come off that way at all, but I’m afraid that I did after reading a couple other comments. To tell the truth, I was putting off doing some work and just started typing this really long conversational comment! So, yeah. 😉
I am by no means an expert on anything having to do with dogs – people get so weird and judgemental. At the end of the day, Bear looks like he was custom made for your family. Like, looking back now, I can’t imagine us with any other dog than we have…i consider ourselves so lucky that we ended up with the breeder that we did, and the puppy we got. As your puppy-baby grows up, I’m sure you’ll feel the same way. <3
Last thing – Bears tail?! I die. That's one of the cutest things ever.
I understand! Hopefully my comment didn’t come across as snarky. Legit trying to be helpful
We did. I’m sorry that our choice disappoints you…we still stand by our decision and feel that it was the right choice for our family.
xo kb
I noticed that some other readers are looking to add dogs to their families and wanted to mention that our sweet rescued pit bull hardly sheds at all. And there are so many in the shelters here in Georgia who will be euthanized if not given a chance.
Erin M If you are interested in an Australian Labradoodle (which I would recommend as their coats/temperment tends to be more consistent/less straight up poodle) I researched breeders for years and eventually we got our dream pup from Valley Vineyard Labradoodles in Oregon. Not sure where you’re located, but Mary at VVL is amazing and her dogs are so incredibly wonderful! Small breeder with limited litters, the pups raised in their home with a huge emphasis on temperment to create really awesome dogs. 🙂
Well maybe the best thing is for you to call them and ask the questions yourself. I know for us we started the process in spring and we didn’t get Bear till January. And when we did that there were no dogs available immediately. I can’t speak to the breeders emotions or intentions…only what I observed and what we received which is a healthy and happy pup that fit the bill for our family – he was well socialized, up on all shots, came with genetic certification and was kept inside (we met his doggy mom and brother!) and was born in a house with young kids and raised not in a kennel. A puppy mill is a dangerous accusation with serious implications.
xo kb
Yes! My brother has two pits – a blue nose and a red nose and loves them 🙂
xo kb
I don’t mean any disrespect but, in response to the question/comment of “who cares how you get your dog,” the reason people care is because many, many wonderful animals are put down in shelters. If more people would “adopt instead of shop,” more of these animals could be saved. I’m not dissing Katie as she obviously is aware of this issue, wanted to adopt from a rescue shelter though it didn’t work out, and explained why her family made the choice they did. It’s just a bummer to see commenters saying things like “who cares” like the topic doesn’t mean anything because, in my mind, it is a really important issue.
Katie, your dog is adorable and I’m glad you all are enjoying him so much!!!
That puppy is so darn precious. I’ve had mutts, pedigree, rescues and now a “designer hybriď”, a Maltipoo. Have loved them all. I would also prefer a rescue but it’s what fits with your family best and it’s nobody else’s business or for them to judge!. I’ve had to get rid of a rescue, which broke my heart, but it was for HIS best interests and ended up being the best decision for him. He went to a friend’s home that suited him much better. For the judgemental folks, I wonder if they’ve considered adopting children or have just had natural?!!!
You obviously need to calm down. No one asked the Bowers to justify where they got their dog. The reason why people get upset is because pet store puppies come from puppy mills where dogs are overbred, tossed out when they’re used up, and the puppies that result have loads of health issues. Reputable breeders (*keyword being reputable) are the ones that help keep the breeds healthy whereas puppy mill breeders/backyard breeders only care about money.
Oh no it didn’t at all sweetie. Obviously this is all new to me…I didn’t even know there was a thing about the “alpha” title/training techiniques! Ha!
xo kb
Congrats on your new puppy! What a sweet little guy! Your boys will love growing up with their own dog. Thank you for sharing the adorable pictures! Good luck with house-training and those sharp puppy teeth. 😀
Congratulations!!!! We got a pup around the same time as you. In our case it was a 6mth old golden from a rescue. Turns out the original owners had a ton of kids and couldn’t keep up. So we got a full-bred golden but at the rescue. We were also looking and breeders. In the end, the right one finds you. Our 15 yr old rescue passed last spring, we just couldn’t be without a dog any longer.
FYI – a good training tip with kids is to give the pup a fabric (for the smell) lined basket (I have a wicker with fabric lining) and put all their toys into that basket only. When you get a new toy, put it into the basket, not to them directly. Clean up the toys during the day (until trained) and always put them back into the same basket, which is keep in the same place. (I have a doggy corner with his crate and toy basket a little separate from all the kid stuff.) It will just help the pup figure out what is theirs vs. the kid’s a little faster. Otherwise you run the risk of the dog that eats shoes and socks and chews up favorite kid toys, etc. If you start now, they should have it down by the time the teething stage is over.
I also train a potty word. I use “quickly, hurry up.” So you wait until they are starting to actually go, and then say your word over and over until they are done. Eventually that meant I could open the door in the middle of the night or in terrible weather and just scream “quickly, hurry up” and the dog would know to go pee fast and then come back in! It’s way better then using some kinda of poo-poo word.
Hope you are enjoying your new pup as we are enjoying ours!!! I’m loving all the pictures! Bear is a cutie!
Good luck!!!!
Congratulations on your new family member! A dog is the best thing ever! I have two Standard Poodles, one that I purchased and one that I rescued after she was abandoned during a hurricane. I love them both to the moon and would either purchase/rescue again and again. It just depends on the situation. The bottom line is that your family is happy and you will grow to love Bear so much you will not be able to imagine ever living without him. The only tip that I would give, is to be careful about going to dog parks if that is on your mind. Not everyone takes good care of their dogs and it is not good to get up close and personal with a dog that might have issues, both health or otherwise. I quit taking mine when I realized this fact. However, with your four little boys, Bear will get plenty of exercise and socialization.
Keep the photos of that little cutie coming!!!!
Wow, so great that you felt the need to berate Katie for decisions her parents made that were totally beyond her control and made in the distant past, because the only possible reason for making such a comment would be to try to make her feel bad.
That little guy is seriously cute.
I must agree that I found the justification for buying a dog totally unnecessary too, you had a specific list of requirements in what you wanted in the ideal pet, which is obviously going to be very difficult to find in a rescue. Going to a breeder was a logical choice, and anyway, it’s your dog and your decision.
No matter what you do there will always be someone in the comments whinging that you did the wrong thing in their eyes, don’t let these joyless people drive you nuts.
Please consider adopting or buying a standard poodle if you have allergies! Working in the veterinary industry I saw so many “guaranteed” doodle breeds that ended up shedding and upsetting the owners. Poodles on the other hand, do not. I used to roll my eyes at them but we recently adopted a standard poodle and she is amazing. Funny and smart and loyal. And so clean! Most importantly she’s amazing with kids. I don’t know why poodles get overlooked!
To find a good breeder start with the AKC website.
One look at the Mustard Seed Ranch website and seems pretty clear it’s a puppy mill. If that was the right/best choice for your family, so be it. You have the right to purchase a dog wherever you want. But why have a tediously long post attempting to defend that decision and that actually ends up advertising for them? Did they give you a discount on your pup? Did you actually go to the “ranch” to pick him up? Based on what their website says, once you’ve paid your deposit you can go check them out in person. Did you?
Congratulations, Bowers! Bear is a cutie and there is nothing more precious than little kids with their dog! I love the picture with Bear holding his comb!
My best puppy tip is to tie a stuffie onto a rope (or clip it onto a dollar store leash) and let your kids pull it behind them. Sometimes I would even clip it onto my back pocket as I went about getting dinner ready, etc. Puppy chases and bites the toy, not the humans. We taught our kids “diversion” tactics like this to distract pup to chew on something other than their hands or ankles. It gives the littlest kids some power in the situation, too, so that they don’t feel so ‘victimized’. 😉
This book was helpful when we were training our puppy. https://www.amazon.com/Before-After-Getting-Your-Puppy/dp/1577314557
XO!
We didn’t get a discount. I wasn’t trying to advertise for them…just shared the source because that is the biggest question I got. And – like I’ve said before…puppy mill is a label that has serious implications…I wouldn’t throw that around if you have never been there. I have been there…visited and picked up the dog ourselves. We even brought our kids…and we would never do that if we thought a place had unhealthy or unsocialized animals.
xo – kb
Thanks! That’s a great recommendation!
xo – kb
He is adorable and I love his hair/eye color combination! We have an 8 year old 1/2 Brussels Griffon 1/2 Yorkie named Berkley who is definitely a mama’s boy (yay for me)! He loves all people but doesn’t care for other dogs. He is curious about them and likes to exchange a quick friendly sniff and then he’s done after that. We should have socialized him with animals other than my cat when he was a puppy! Lol! I feel for you having to defend your choice of buying a dog. We bought Berkley but we too had specific things we wanted in a dog that was right for our family. Sometimes it just isn’t achievable with a rescue. Berkley used to love chewing on my fingers (only mine) when he was teething but that stopped when his adult teeth came in. Now he just chews on the toys we give him. I am so excited for you guys!
Congrats! Doodle are seriously the best dogs EVER! We have three boys and a labradoodle named Scout. He is sooo patient with the kids. You made a really good choice. Mine is 7 months old and we are just now going to doggie training school. He tends to pull really hard on the leash and it scares me when the kids want to hold him, the training is helping a LOT!
Good Luck!
That picture of William on his side, with Bear under his arm…I feel like this is a flash-to-the-future. A grown up William, with his best mate, a little grey around the chops & world worn, but a tonne of good times & memories. Maybe taken on the day William leaves for college. A picture that will make you sob when it’s Bear’s time to leave this Earth.
Katie, we are thinking about adopting a goldendoodle or labradoodle. Can you tell us a little more about life with bear? Now that he is older?
How much time did you invest in the first weeks and months? How long until you could leave him alone? I am trying to plan ahead and figure out how much time we need to take vacation from work (we both usually work from home, so don’t think we’ll leave him alone a lot). Thank you!
In the first weeks, they are just like any other puppy! They need constant care and watching. We had him house trained within 6 months but I think that is pretty average. We are home all the time so we just timed potty breaks every couple hours…taking him to the same place each time and saying the same thing each time. The hardest part is the chewing…he still will find things to destroy (plastic dinosaur tails are his favorite to chew). He is also crate trained so we feel like that is part of him doing well.
xo – kb
Late to the game. So late! I remember reading your blog a month or so ago (I had taken a break on all blog reading–just busy. Life.) and saw you got a dog! We have a Labradoodle who will be 10 in January and we just took in a one-year-old Goldendoodle who needed a home 🙂 We had a Standard Poodle that we adopted but he passed away in October. So now we’ve had a Poodle and two Doodles. Our Goldendoodle is sweet as pie. She’s what I always wanted (we got our Labradoodle from a responsible family breeder when we got married as a gift to ourselves–she was in our price range and a Goldendoodle was not. We have adopted our other pets. It’s a balance!) Anyway, love reading about Bear! Our Goldendoodle is white and her name is Luna 🙂 And our Labradoodle is buff colored and named Buffy. All are fabulous family dogs–Standards, Labradoodles and Goldendoodles. OK I’m done ranting about doodles and poodles 🙂 Hi Bear!