little flower

Hello all
seeing as half the UK seam to be in NS thought someone might be able to help with this question.

can you buy labradoodles in NS or should I buy one now and bring it with me in August. ?
how old does a puppy have to be to travel it would be 6mths old?

Please help solve my Dilemma

The4BellsLondon

dont know about buying one in Canada but dont think there is an age restriction on travel - maybe 8 weeks.

Purley

I would have thought it would be a lot more expensive to bring one from the UK than to buy one in Canada.

Down the bottom of the page this post is on there is an ad for some in BC and you just have to Google, although some of them appear to be in Australia - maybe there is a Nova Scotia in Australia?! Actually none of them appear to be in Nova Scotia - one is in Texas!! Anyway, I'm sure a search of the Internet will find some.

http://www.hoobly.com/6358/1816/0/

Funny the link for Willow Hill is in BC and all the dogs and puppies looks like Goldens rather than Poodles. I guess that is the problem when you are dealing with what is really a cross breed, you can't rely on what the puppies will look like. I thought the popular ones had the colour of a Golden but the curly coat of a poodle.

destinationnovascotia

I saw a few on Kijiji Halifax earlier this year so I don't think that you would have any problem getting one.

I would wait rather than stress a young dog with a journey. Also it will be cheaper for you.

raine66

I found this breeder but it looks like they only have goldens.

http://scgoldendoodle.tripod.com/golden.htm

Our Goldendoodle Fergie, we bought her in Ontario though......

Arris

Hi Little Flower,

You could ask Co-Writer (i'm sure she'll be along later) as she breeds Border Terriers & has sent them overseas on occasions so she will know for sure regarding age of puppy for transporting.

HTH, Arris

Piff Poff

I would wait 'till you got here - save some pennies. They seem to cross almost anything with a poodle around here - stops the shedding you know? You may not see adverts straight away but you will get one in time and I personally don't think it's fair to ship a young puppy to a new country where the owners are also new to the country and have so much to do in the first couple of months of moving - you may find your self too busy for a puppy straight away.

Also check out petfinder for puppies and young dogs that have been surrendered. I'm not sure if there is a forum for doodles but quite often those forums have links to finding what you want. I know with the Chow forum I frequent they will spring a chow from the shelter and do transportation relays to get the chow to his new home.

saskia65

Hi
I'm bringing my 'doodle to BC when I move. She's just turned one and she's already almost five stone in weight. I would recommend you wait to buy a dog as I think it'll be cheaper in Canada, and it'll be less stressful for the puppy too. The savings on the transport alone will be worth a fortune and I reckon from a quick scan that you'll pay the same in $ for your dog as I paid in £s.
Also, don't assume that all doodles don't shed, there's no guarantee, and some shed like mad.
Seems all round to wait though if you are set on one.
Sas x

Co-Writer

Well, although I agree with the others that it will probably be cheaper buying your puppy in Canada, can I be cheeky and ask why you wish to go for a cross bred dog? If it is because you have been told they do not moult, then as they are a 50% cross bred, 50% WILL moult and will be as allergenic as any other dog. It amazes me that folk will pay much more for a crossbred dog that they have no idea of temperament, or coat type etc than they will for a pedigree dog.

And if the breeders say they have more vigour etc, then they are lying, they will have the same propensity for ailments as both types of parents, and both poodles and Labs (or goldens) have plenty of hereditary problems.

Having said that, the ones I have met have been nice enough, but everyone was an overpriced crossbred. Sorry to rain on your parade, but it bugs me when any dog is purely bred for monetary gain.

You can send a puppy overseas from 10 weeks.

saskia65

I agree, labradoodles go for silly money. They've become designer pets. Mine is gorgeous but does shed. Wouldn't swap her for the world tho'.

dbd33

Why else would anyone breed dogs?

Co-Writer

I am going to assume this is a upfront question

Reputable dog breeders will do so for various reasons, they first and foremost will have a great love for the breed they have chosen. They may work with the breed, they may show, or do agility or obedience with the breed. What usually happens is that they get drawn in (as with many hobbies, they grow on you) slowly, and after a few years decide they would like to breed a litter so they can keep a puppy for themselves from their bitch....who may by now be titled in some way or another.

Before the breeding takes place, the bitch will be fully health tested for any of the hereditary diseases that the particular breed may be liable to, she will have been fed a good diet and excercised well to bring her to the best of fitness in order to go into a pregnancy in the best health. The stud dog chosen for her will have been given much thought, probably for up to a year beforehand, so that the dog compliments the bitchs good points and has the better points that the bitch needs. He will also probably be titled and will have had the same health tests. The stud fee will be roughly the price of a puppy.

While the bitch is in whelp (63 days) the breeder will be readying for the "event", a proper whelping box, bedding, the bits and bobs needed for a normal whelping, (various stuff such as scissors, wipes, iodine, towels etc) When the time comes for the bitch to whelp, hopefully it will be a safe and happy time with the bitch pushing out her puppies easily and (relatively) calmly. On the other hand of course it may well need veterinary attention to assist or even a ceasarian, which will cost the price of at least one puppy.

Then comes the rearing, the pups are pretty dependant on mum for the first 3 or so weeks, but the breeder will be working flat out to keep things clean and well, (I dread to think of the hours put in over rearing a litter from conception to them leaving home) Once they start to be weaned then the REAL work begins and although its a great and joyful time, it is exhausting (if done properly) Feeding a litter of pups to the time they will leave for their new homes is also extremely expensive, probably up to as much as the price of two pups.

The socialisation that goes into those precious pups is astronomical, any reputable breeder wants their pups to be bright happy and social little creatures who bound up to people with obvious delight in their presence. This does not just happen, it takes time and commitment. Finding the right homes for the pups is also time consuming, not just holding ones hand out for the dosh to the first person who comes along. I spend an enormous time on the phone finding out as much as I can about prospective puppy buyers before they even get to come to see my puppies. I also expect some of that back from the puppy buyers, they need to be sure I am not a puppy farm (mill)

At 8 weeks my puppies have their vet check, first innoculation and their microchip, this also costs a bundle, but you just do it as it is the best for the puppies and for the new owners who then only have a couple of weeks before the second jabs and the puppy can be allowed out and about. My pups will also be kc registered and come with insurance for the first 6 weeks.

I breed only for ME, of course bitch's generally don't just have one puppy, they have a ltter, so it is up to me to see to it that these pups find FOREVER homes, not just the first person who ooh & ahhs over them It takes time, but these are pups I have laboured long over, I probably have mum, granny, various siters brothers and other relatives in my kennel so I know the family inside out. I am there for my pups and buyers for the rest of that dogs life as a back up, and I will take back any dog bred by me for whatever reason at any time in its life, I bred it, it is my responsibility. All of the above mean that although I will not usually be out of pocket for any pups I breed, I am not making megabucks, but am being reasonable rewarded for my time and effort.
This is what responsible breeders do.

On the other hand of course, there are puppy mills and back yard breeders, they will quite happily just hold their hands out for your dosh, and walk away.
The pups may not have been socialised, they certainly will not come from health checked parents and will definately not have had any vet checks or jabs. And don'e bother asking any post buying questions, they will not be up for any of THAT nonsence!!!

Most breeders or pedigree dogs (purebred) are reputable, but like anything else in life, we tend not to hear about the good stuff that goes on, quietly day in, day out. It is the bad, the puppy mills, the dog fighting, the odd plain bad breeder, who doesn't give a s**t.

Sorry for the rant, but I hate it when people just think we are in it for the dosh. I am a realist, "dosh" is nice, but most breeders only have one or two litters a year, what they "earn" from their pups would not get them a good flight to Canada!!

Arris

A great post Co-Writer.

I worked in rescue kennels in the 80's - including The Dogs Home Battersea, very sad some of the sights I saw

I only wish all breeders were like yourself & then i'd like to think there would be less abandoned & unwanted dogs in rescue kennels.

dbd33

That seems to boil down to wanting the world to have more dogs that look like yours as well as making a small profit. All fine and good but there's nothing there that can't apply to someone breeding cross-bred dogs or barnyard kittens. Surely someone who cares about animals would make the effort to encourage genetic diversity and so the general wellbeing of the dog population by avoiding creating more purebreds.

Souvenir

My SIL makes a packet out of keeping her Yorkies randy. Why anyone would want one of those nasty, yappy little f*****s is beyond me but it appears that people do and will pay handsomely for one.