Our dachshund Ralph had just died. I had just sold my retail store I had started 26 years ago. I felt lost and depressed. I needed a new "friend". Goldendoodle fame had just reached Minneapolis. I saw the photos of the beautiful white fluff balls with the big black nose and eyes and immediately fell in love. I had to have one. I've bred and shown Afghan Hounds,also Dachshunds. A designer dog would be a new adventure. Maybe I thought, the mixing of two breeds would promote better health and a longer life. Maybe there would be less cancer in a hybrid dog. The next decision was not as smart. I brought our doodle from an ad in the newspaper. The breeder would not let me come to her home and said she would meet me in the parking lot of a local resturant. What was I thinking! Every single red flag was waving but I went to the assigned place with my husband and grandchildren. We all picked out the fluffy white ball of fur with the large black nose and beautiful black eyes. The next nine months were hell. I found out from other buyers who had bought at the same "kennel" that these dogs were raised in a barn with with little human intervention. Our new puppy, Phoebe, shyed from human touch, would not look anyone in the eye, jumped on everyone who entered the house and in general had major disposition problems. She tried to make friends with Ethel, our 12 year old dachshund by sitting on her and hitting her with thoes great big doodle paws. Needless to say, Ethel was not her friend! I was held captive in my kitchen by a Goldendoodle for almost a year. On the plus side, Phoebe was housebroken in two weeks. I took her to training. I called people to come to the house to work with her and finally when I had knee replacement surgery and she insisted on jumping on me I had to send her to training stay at home camp. She came home a slightly better dog but soon forgot all she had learned due to me not being able to keep up with her training and reinforcement of what she had learned. I finally went to my vet to have a long conversation on what my future with Phoebe might be. I told him I didn't think I could keep her any longer. I truly felt Goldendoodles were for young people. She just wouldn't listen to me. I now knew she had come from a "puppy mill" and felt her behavior problems stemmed from her beginning envoirment. Dr. Spong looked at me and asked me to "Please give her another few months in our home".
OK. That was the best advice I ever listened to. As if by magic when Phoebe turned 1 year she turned into one of the most wonderful pets we have ever owned. She became affectionate, always looks deep into our eyes, listens to instructions and follows them, can go outside without a leash and stay right by our side, and her new best friend is Lulu, an 8 pound mini dachshund who she wouldn't think of sitting on. Her extreme intelligence always amazes me
I have tremendous respect and love for our beautiful Goldendoodle and couldn't for one minute picture life with out Phoebe.
