UPDATE!!!! I am no longer taking application for Mocha. Within one week I already have many really good homes wanting to adopt her. I have not firmly decided exactly who is taking her home yet, but it is likely one of these homes will take her on a test adoption period after she recovers from her spay surgery. She is going in tomorrow for her spay. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
It is with great sadness that I say that we must find Mocha a nice retirement home. I started serious formal obedience work with her a few months ago. In doing so, I noticed her ‘sloppy’ sits were not easily corrected. Any chance she got she would shift her weight onto her hip, sliding sideways into what we obedience people call a “Sloppy Sit”. I posted on facebook asking my obedience friends solutions to the issue. Everyone chimed in and several said “have her hips checked”. Finally, about 3 weeks ago I took her in for her Rabies vaccination that was due and spoke with the vet. It was Tuesday, a very slow day for them and they could fit her in that day for an x-ray. I decided why not, I wasn’t comfortable starting her in agility or drilling her in obedience without more information. The X-rays were done and I didn’t like what I saw. I sent a copy to Mocha’s breeder, who sent it on to her vet. He said he would call her mildly dysplastic in one hip. Several other poodle breeder friends agreed that the hips looked questionable. I had them mailed to OFA and this past weekend received the results. She is indeed a “MILD” and should absolutely not be used for breeding or performance sports.
What does this mean for her life? Well, a few things. She ‘might’ be mildly arthritic as an old dog. Whoever adopts her must keep her weight down, she needs to stay healthy and thin. She also needs lots of exercise to help build up the muscles around the joints. The worst thing you can do is not exercise a dog like Mocha. She has no arthritis now and if she is kept thin and active she will live a totally normal life. Her hips are ‘loose’, but they are formed correctly. The risk with agility is knocking a hip out of socket because they are so loose. The risk with competitive obedience is the same, there are some jumps and the repetitive sitting might not be the best for her hips long term.
In short, Mocha will live a long and happy life if she is with an active family who will keep her fit and trim. Someone willing to take her on long walks, hikes, swimming, etc would be idea. She can’t be left to vegetate on the couch all day every day. She is an active dog with an active mind and she wouldn’t do well in a home with that lifestyle even with perfect hips!
Mocha is a devoted family companion who is house trained, leash trained, obedience trained (Sit, Down, Wait, Stay, Come, Heel, Back, Off, Drop it, etc). She has no real prey drive, so a home with small animals would be fine. She likes my cats and is really good around very small dogs. Mocha is exception with all dogs. She is a little reserved with people she doesn’t know, but warms up quickly. She is a brown and if you have never owned a brown poodle you should be aware of a few things. Browns generally are very silly and slow to mature mentally. She reminds me of a Lab puppy. Very goofy, mouthy, and bouncy! She acts like a 7 month old Standard Poodle. She is also a little sneaky! You must keep an eye on her or she will attempt to counter surf for snacks. She is a chow hound and will try to convince you she is starving all the time. She can sleep free in your room or crated, she likes both. A crate in your room open might be a good middle ground so she can decide where she wants to nap. If you leave her alone, I would absolutely crate her or limit what rooms she has access to until she knows all the house rules. I would rather place her in a home with another dog. She has always had many dogs around and I am not sure how she would do in a home with no other dogs UNLESS one family member works from home.
Mocha will be spayed prior to placement. Her adoption fee will be $500.00 to cover her spay, heart worm medication (12 month supply to go with her), and shots for the upcoming year. I will only place her locally and whoever adopts her must stay in contact with both me and her breeder, Connie Hutchin of Highview Poodles. Connie is trusting me to find Mocha a fabulous home here in Texas. We must respect her wishes to keep tabs on her baby girl and send updates and fun photos. If you think your home is right for Mocha, please contact me for a visit.
More photos of Mocha can be found on her main webpage
~Becky