KS-Willie ADOPTED! Standard Poodle & Golden Retriever Mix Kansas City, KS

DRC Inc. has adoption requirements and policies in place to ensure the safety, well-being and appropriate home placement of every doodle dog in our program.
Adorable as they are, DOODLES ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE.
To read our complete DRC policies, please cut and paste the link below.

http://doodlerescue.org/note/DRC_ADOPTION_POLICIES_AND_PROCEDURES

MEET WILLIE! - LOCATED IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
TYPE: Goldendoodle (Possibly Great Pyrenees/ Poodle Mix)
AGE: 2.5 - 3 yrs
SIZE: Extra-Large
WEIGHT: 101 lbs.
COLOR: White
COAT TYPE: Soft, mixed, wool fleece, non-shedding; Will need grooming every 6-8 weeks
DOGS: Yes
CATS: Unknown
ENERGY LEVEL: Active, well mannered and settles beautifully, Needs daily exercise and stimulation.

READ MORE ABOUT WILLIE

ATTENTION BIG DOODLE LOVERS! If you have a special place in your heart for the gentle giants, then WILLIE IS YOUR MAN! Willie is a 2.5 to 3 year old, STUNNING Goldendoodle boy. He’s really more like a POLAR BEAR or abominable snowman (minus the “abominable” part) We joke of course and use the reference to highlight Willie’s extra-large size, his adorableness and the fact that like the fabled “Bumbles” of "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" fame, Willie has been sadly misunderstood for most of his life. His backstory is a tale in itself and one we plan on penning a “happily ever after” to.

Willie, is a suspected “Goldendoodle.” We say “suspected” because he was a “stray” who showed up on his saviors back porch in rural Kansas one day. Filthy, matted and emaciated from starvation, it was obvious to his savior that he had been on his own for some time and his sweet gentle nature told her that he had at one time, been someone’s pet. As luck would have it, the porch this colossal canine chose to land upon, happened to belong to a compassionate, young veterinarian who also just happened to work for the local SPCA animal shelter! Smitten with the burley boy, she and her children were determined to clean him up and find his owner whom they imagined was heartsick with worry, So after a good bath, groom, vet care and lots of home cooked meals, our beloved behemoth was christened “Willie” by his savior and along with the shelter, she tried to locate Willie’s owner. Sadly, weeks of effort were fruitless as Willie’s owner never came forward to claim him and Willie was adopted by a local family with the assistance of the SPCA. For over a year Willie lived with his new family but was recently returned to the shelter for displaying alleged "behavior issues.” Further investigation revealed that Willie’s alleged issues were circumstantial and not his fault or what we at DRC refer to as “user error.” Upon surrender, poor Willie was so terrified to be placed into a kennel, he acted wildly. Because of his extra large size, his fear behavior at the shelter and his puppy mouthiness that allegedly resulted in a pressure bite that DID NOT break skin or cause harm, Willie was erroneously labeled “potentially aggressive” upon return to the shelter. This in turn, put his life in potential peril. Being informed of this, his savior Mom immediately took Willie out of the shelter and back into her home for fostering with her and her 3 young children. Willie has been doing GREAT in her home ever since. Now both she and the shelter have requested the assistance of DRC to find Willie the perfect “forever” home and family. We know you are out there!

With the intent of providing full and complete disclosure, for the record, based on Willie’s size, his physical structure, coloring, habits and known temperament and with no known prior history as to his origins, we suspect he could possibly be a Pyrdoodle (a Great Pyrnese/Standard Poodle Mix) or perhaps even a purebred Komondor. Both breeds are “working breeds” and have become increasingly popular in rural farm communities like the one where Willie was found. He could also very well be a very large Goldendoodle which we also see often in the Midwest. Without a DNA test we can’t be certain. What is CERTAIN is whatever he may or may not be, Willie is a drop-dead GORGEOUS, sweet, loving, devoted BIG boy who just needs the RIGHT home and family.

His savior Mom explains:

"A year and a half ago this dog, I ended up calling Willie, came into my life. He either got lost from his family or was abandoned/dumped by his family and he ended up making his way to my back porch and didn't want to leave. He was filthy, unkept, skinny, intact and not microchipped. After a month+ of looking for his family and sending his picture and calling all the local animal shelters and veterinary clinics we took him in where I work at great plains SPCA and had him neutered and vaccinated then adopted him out to a new family."

"Unfortunately after being with his new family for a year and a half, out of the blue, they decided it was not the right fit for them and returned him to the shelter with claims of “behavior issues.” Things that neither I nor my 3 kids had EVER witnessed in the months that Willie was in my care. He’s been back here for over a month now and we STILL have yet to see any behavior from him that we would label as “aggressive." Willie actually is a BIG SWEETHEART! He LOVES human attention and really is a big snuggle-bear. He’s very loyal and is completely devoted to his family…. He’s a big boy and I guess I can understand how inexperienced dog people could misinterpret any expression of normal puppy/dog frustration coming from him to be intimidating and/or scary. Amazing that it took them a year and a half to determine that which is itself, suspect. Willie does have a lot of energy and needs space to run, regular exercise, consistency and structure in his life. While he was with his new family he may have developed some bad habits that need to be addressed with establishment of trust, with patience, positive reinforcement, provision of consistent leadership and continued training. Having to go back to the shelter caused him a lot of unnecessary stress which may have made things worse. Because he was so stressed in the shelter, in fear, he pressure bit a volunteer while being dragged into a kennel. There was NO wound. No puncture marks, no tare and barely a bruise. It was totally a fear reaction to being dragged against his will into a scary place. Because he was having such a hard time at the shelter, and from what I’ve been told by DRC, this is a common reaction of Doodles in shelters, I have taken him back to my home while we tried to find a breed specific rescue for assistance with finding him the BEST, possible placement. Thankfully, Doodle Rescue Collective answered my prayers.”

"Willie is high energy but is very sweet and loving within my home! He likes to play rough sometimes and yes...can be puppy-mouthy at times, but he responds beautifully to training and proper corrections from someone he trusts. He knows most basic commands and how to sit and shake. He plays well with other dogs and responds appropriately to other dogs signals and body language. He has interacted with my two cats without issue. He does seem to be too interested/prey driven with our rabbit. So no bunnies please! He has a large personality and a strong will. DRC says he “needs a job.” And together, we believe that anything Willie does that involves keeping him engaged and rewarded, be it with treats and/or praise, could qualify as "a job." He can be stubborn at times so he needs someone who is patient, who understands "the language of Dog" and can provide strong leadership, structure and consistency while showering him with all the love, time and attention he needs and so deserves. Willie has interacted well with my three children ages 9,6, and 4. They can leash walk him on their own without issue. He truly IS a gentle giant in that regard and would have no problem with visiting children. Unfortunately, I already have three dogs one of which is very geriatric and has a really hard time getting around and needs regular PT. The youngest of my three dogs does the best with Willie. But she's had two knee surgeries and consequently, has a hard time keeping up with him! Plus I want what is best for Willie and being a single mom with three kids and a full time job doesn't leave me with much time to give him regular exercise and to work with him. I LOVE this boy with all of my heart and know he is a good dog that just needs the right someone to love him, give him a chance and provide him with the home he needs and so deserves! Doing my best to try to be a voice for the voiceless.”

Willie will need a patient, dog savvy, ADULT ONLY home with peeps that understand "large, working breed dogs”, their personalities, temperaments, needs and requirements. A large yard surrounded by a physical fence at least 5' in height is an absolute MUST. He does well with other dogs and even cats. Resident pets will need to be introduced prior to adoption. The key for Willie is the establishment of “ trust.” Establishment of trust requires a patient nature, time and consistency. If you fit the bill, Willie may be the dog of your dreams. Willie is neutered, micro-chipped and is UTD on all vaccines and preventatives. He is certain to be a wonderful addition to the right home and family.

If you have a loving home to offer this doodle, please complete our online application by copying and pasting the link below into your browser.

http://doodlerescue.org/page/adoption-application-2

Or visit us on the web at:
doodlerescue.org

PLEASE READ OUR COMPLETE "DRC ADOPTION POLICIES & PROCEDURES" AT THE LINK BELOW.

http://doodlerescue.org/note/DRC_ADOPTION_POLICIES_AND_PROCEDURES

ADOPTION DONATION: $495