Hya guys, I`ve been an avid reader of these forums and I know that a few of you know exactly what you`re talking about re:dogs and their problems, so here goes and hope you can help me please...

Recently we brought a little labradoodle bitch puppy home. 2 friends had already chosen 2 of the litter that had been
bred by a farmer`s wife.
We fell in love with our friends` pups and decided to go ahead and buy Rosy...our pup!
The litter had been raised in a pigsty and with hindsight, we realise they`ve not been socialised at all.
We all agreed though that the pups had been kept very clean and well cared for, and the other two puppies are ok and becoming social. They`re both boys ...if this may make a difference?
But Rosy remains v shy and tbh terrified of us.
She runs away whatever treat or encourangement that we try.
Even so...we hope that she may have come to the right home as we`re late 50`s and calm and have allowed her some time to settle in.
We already have Tayla, a terrier mix bitch age 6yrs, who mothered Rosy when she arrived.
Tayla takes Rosy to explore the garden and Tayla`s still puppy minded enough to play, when Rosy wants to play and they seemed to`ve become friends and have a great time together.
Rosy`s fear is with us!!
And now after a month of settling in , we`d like to `win` Rosy over and build her confidence with us....
My hubby and I`ve kept dogs all of our lives ...but this is a 1st with such a fearful puppy and we`ve run out of ideas on how to do this?
I`ve tried looking at this from all angles ......taking into account her breed of lab x poodle......taking into account , that she may just be of a reserved nature?
But what I`ve noticed most is that Rosy doesn`t seem to get excited about anything except playing with Tayla.
We`ve tried to join in but Rosy just runs off.....again!
I`m home all day so she`s never left for any length of time and even when I go to the shops , she has Tayla for company.

help please........I`ve not worked the quote thingy `out` yet and I`m out with friends later, but I will look back and please feel free to ask me questions and I so want to `win` Rosy round.
BTW She`s 14 weeks now!

Re-reading my ^^ thread......have I answered my own question? Are we allowing Rosy to rely on Tayla too much?

thanks in advance for any replies.

Neither breed is typically of a shy nature - so there is no reason why it should be.

There is no such breed as a Labradoodle it is a cross-breed pure and simple.

I fear that as well as lack of socialisation - that neither parent will have even undergone the minimum of health tests and would therefore recommend you invest in a very good insurance policy. I do hope you didn't pay a large sum of money for the pup.

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With regards to the pup bonding with your other dog to the exclusion of you, yes, it does sound like this is what is happening.

This can be a great boon for house and other training - but isn't going to overcome the problems you are having with her.

You need to spend time with her on a one to one to build her confidence, and you need really to expose her to as many situations as you safely can (i.e. vaccinations permitting) to avoid problems with her later in life. Nervousness can exhibit itself as fear aggression later in life and give people the impression you have an aggressive dog when in fact it is unlikely you do.

Although - owning a cross-breed, you have no authentication of this dogs breeding, background, whether there were health or temperament problems in either parents lineage.

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When she does exhibit fear, don't try to soothe her - as this will make her think it is the right thing to do.

one of my girls can be quite 'edgy' with new things - and I just sort of respond with - oh don't be daft and carry on with whatever we were doing - the difference it has made has been quite significant.

Agree with above poster.

Also just a thought. It may be worth taking her to training classes which will have the double benefit. You will have a controlled and consistent way of interacting with your puppy therefore helping to build your bond AND you will get a nicely trained doggy out of it (hopefully).

Thanks for your reply Sue.....I hope that I got the quote function sorted .....

No, we didn`t pay a ridiculous current labradoodle price for Rosy, and agree that she`s a cross breed.
We used to breed Cocker Spaniels and we loved that time of our lives.......we, or our girls had a few litters and we went the whole way with lineage and health checks at the time.
Sadly our girls died of old age and then we sort of `got stuck ` with Tayla and liked her mongrel, sturdy, no health problems imput.
TBH we
Hopefully we can have the same with Rosy and many thanks for your reply!
I believe that you may be very right ......we need to ignore Rosy`s nervousness

I have to ask if you have had experience of breeding yourselves, why did you buy a cross-breed? did you ask about health checks - there are for want a better word "responsible" labradoodle breeders that - whether I approve or not - which I don't - do do all the health checks such as hip and elbow scoring, DNA testing for PRA and annual eye certificates.

many of the health problems in labradors are reflected in Poodles - carrying the same PRA gene and the tendency towards Hip Dysplasia - so even the arguement of "1st generation hybrid vigour" holds no water for this particular cross-breed.

Q 1 Sue......We sort of got landed with Tayla our mongrel terrier cross and tbh she`s been almost human .....Tayla has put our dear spaniel`s to shame ......she`s bright, she knows so many things and she got us questioning lineage?

Q 2 Sue......nope. we didn`t ask much at all about Rosy.....common sense went and our hearts kicked in.......but we would value help with her.....

Sadly that happens so often

I am not in any way decrying cross breeds or mongrels - what I am dead set against is the deliberate cross breeding of them often with no health tests, and usually for ridiculous sums of money,.

What's done is done, and she's here now and I am sure she is lovely.

I've got 6 labradors here and my eldest I call my humador - her 2 daughters and grand-daughter are similarly intuitive.

Training classes as suggested by Ninja Kitty are a good idea - some dogs can come through a poor litter raising completely unscathed - while others become very edgy - sometimes, as one of my own girls confirms - they can just be 'edgy' with no obvious reason.

I repeat what I said above that you should obtain some good quality insurance - M&S and More Than offer good cover for reasonable rates - Tesco and Direct Line also offer competitive pricing - but their limits are not as high.

Personally, I would go with a higher cover to start with - and if everything is OK at 18 months with no claims, look for a lower level of cover.

I do hope she settles for you and remains healthy.

ok.....our hearts ruled!
We were mad in buying Rosy ...for very little, BUT she`s here now....and plz send suggestions on how to win her over!!!

We have - you need to spend one on one time with her - coax her - but don't pander to any 'quirks' she might have - because this will make her believe she is right.

Socialise, socialise, socialise, training classes - and just get her into as many day to day - but not deliberately frightening places as you can

She may always be a little apprehensive - but if you can turn that into the need to check for herself rather than manifest itself as fear aggression - she should be OK

Any pictures

Hi she sounds lovely, Although you have said you have tried all the treats etc I would carry on for at least another month or two with the treat method.

I think maybe, cotton on to what her fave treat might be and use your other dog as a role model - for instance here Tayla - treat and fuss. And then here Rosy - treat (initially place it close to you on the floor) and then if she accepts a little fuss all the better, but at first maybe just let her take the treat from by you and say good girl Rosie (be sure to say her name) and go from there. Tiny steps

Good luck

Thanks Sue.......

yes got pics.....do you really want to see a depressed pup
Can pups be depressed???

[quote=I`mJoy;39819325]yes got pics.....do you really want to see a depressed pup!
I CAN send picsx

Hi I am impressed by so much knowlege on these forums and pop in often. I thought and correct me if I am wrong, Ladrodoodles, while crossbreeds were cross bred specifically for people who were otherwise allergic to dogs. Info please

This is not the case. As they are crossbreeds they can either a) have the poodle coat, b) have a labrador coat or c) have anything inbetween. My friend is a professional dog groomer and has a couple of regular labradoodle customers and their coats are a nightmare to groom and take much longer than her own Standard Poodles take. Another thing (cost) to bear in mind if you are tempted to buy one (and that's after you have considered all the possible health issues already mentioned by sue51).

I think all dogs can be depressed - poor little thing.

Treat training can be useful - just be careful that you are not rewarding her in a manner in which she associates undesirable behaviour with a reward - or you will be stuck with it - it's a very thin line.

Dogs have very short memories - so if the association between good and bad isn't instant - it's an opportunity wasted

Sadly, you are wrong. This was the original intention for producing this cross breed in Australia to have assistance dogs for disabled people allergic to dog dander - this however didn't happen with, as inky winky says, the coat capable of being any variation of it's parent's two breeds. (and Labradors moult LIKE MAD!!!)

I was reading an article by the vet who originally produced this cross - and he was horrified at how their breeding has taken off.

I've said all I am going to say on the subject on this thread - as it's not fair on the original poster - who now has the pup and needs genuine help to deal with pups behaviour before it does get out of hand.

Thankyou,and opologies to OP for going off topic.

To Sue and any other posters ......thanks for your help regarding Rosy.
24 hrs later and with us ignoring her shyness, Rosy eventually blundered up to us and actually wanted to interact with us!!
Blimey that was a 1st and a breakthrough!

She was a treat and wanted to play....We loved seeing the puppy `in her` at last and we made total fools of ourselves and got down and dirty and played back.......

We went with advice and didn`t pander to her but gave the body language of `get over it` and tbh we`re over the moon with the difference that just 24 hrs have made!

Rosy`s been a one off .....we `ve never met such a diverse pup ....and we bred cocker spaniels with success by comparing lineage and breeding our girls with the best stud......and none of our pups were so bloody minded as Rosy`s been.
We`re also aware that we`ve allowed Tayla to be Rosy`s surrogate mum and THAT`s stopping.
We were lazy and not fair on Tayla......who, mongrel tho she is ...you`d all love by default.
Picture a fluffy mess of a tiny dog that almost speaks ....and u`ve got a picture of Tayla!
Thanks again and with no doubt I`ll be back asking for more help regarding MISS ROSY...

I am so glad she is coming around - I hope she continues to rally (and we STILL need some piccies

Don't forget OP that dogs are pack animals and the pack has to have a leader. Your puppy is probably a bit fearful of you as she recognises you as the pack leader. Don't try to get down to her level, but stay as the "leader" of the pack. This will give her security as she'll rely on you to lead.

Hi all and especially Sue....I`ve bumped this thread because we have news of Rosy.
We took her for her 2nd health check and jabs and I`m sooo chuffed because we had a discussion with the vet , who said that Rosy`s not timid or in the least bit shy now!
She is a tad reserved but the vet believes that may be the poodle `laid back ` attitude coming through!

The whole health check showed that Rosy was absolutely fit and well and the vet questioned our concerns cos the ickle humbug stood on the table like she owned the world!

And then the vet brought another vet into the room to `look` at this gorgeous labradoodle and I was ready to marmalise Rosy for worrying us so much.

Thanks Sue for your advice, which I did follow.
I spent last weekend stomping to my washing line and totally ignoring Rosy , who previously ran in the other direction when she saw me coming.
2 days later and she approached me ..it was a tough weekend....but when she showed interest in me, I bounced a ball with our terrier Tayla and the flumping great labrador part of her couldn`t resist joining in!
We`ve (the royal we) have gone forward soo much since we last `talked` and your advice was spot on.
I do have piccies but not sure how to post them?

I am so glad she has come round, she sounds like a right little star

The 'checking out' might be a poodle trait - but my oldest girl is exactly the same - there't no nervousness there - but she has to be allowed to 'check things out' in her own time


If you add them to a site such as photo bucket - you can then insert links into the message using the little round icon after the jusitication link and then people can view them on Photobucket.

Alternatively, if you have something like a Facebook account, you can get the link to the picture by right clicking on it, and then just insert that using the link icon

I have an F1 labradoodle who doesn't moult at all. I brush him every day and, other than a bit of fur on the brush, there has never been any other loss of his coat.