Deciding to get a F1 Mini Labradoodle
Okay so my family really wanted a doodle puppy – you know, those fluffy mixes? We zeroed in on F1 Mini Labradoodles ’cause they’re small-ish but still sturdy. First thing I did was just Google stuff like “mini labradoodle puppies for sale near me”. Big mistake, man. Tons of sketchy sites popped up asking for deposits upfront without even showing parent dogs. Felt shady as hell.
Figuring out how to spot legit breeders
Started digging deeper into what makes a good breeder after almost getting scammed twice. Came across some key things real breeders do:
- Let you visit their place – no “meet in parking lot” crap
- Show mom AND dad dogs – health tested with paperwork
- Raise pups inside their home – not in some stinky barn
Called my vet for breeder recommendations too. She gave me three names but warned they might have waiting lists. Better than risking a sick pup though!
The breeder visits
Visited all three breeders over two weekends. First one had gorgeous puppies but the place reeked like pee. Nope. Second breeder seemed great till I asked for health clearances – got all defensive about “overpriced vet scams”. Walked out immediately. Third place felt right the moment I walked in. Puppies were toddling around a playpen in the living room, mom dog was chill and healthy-looking.
Asked about a million questions:
- What shots have they gotten?
- Can I see the hip/eye test results?
- How do you socialize them?
She answered everything patiently, even showed me their chew toys and feeding schedule. Put down a deposit that same afternoon.
Bringing home Baxter
Eight weeks later drove back to pick up Baxter. Got all his paperwork in a folder – microchip details, vaccination record, even some puppy food samples. Best part? The breeder texted me three days later just checking how Baxter was settling in. Felt good supporting someone who actually cares about the dogs.
Moral of the story? Never rush buying a doodle. Good breeders exist but you gotta kick tires like buying a used car.
