Brandi, I am so sorry for both you and little Maudie!  Poor baby, the owners are totally at fault here....and then to resist giving her back to you is just crazy!  They really have no clue and are actually being "mean" in their ignorance (like trying out various dogs from a shelter!). 

Hope you get the little girl back quickly.  Someone else will be very happy to let this cutie pie into their lives!

I'm with everyone else...I would just go get my puppy back.  This lady need to think seriously about whether she is worthy of being a pet owner at all.  I hope that she will know now that she can't manage 3 dogs...perhaps she can manage 2...therefore her numbers should stay where they are. 

It may not be nice to tell her...but I would.  It isn't the puppies fault...puppies learn their behaviors from watching the adult dogs around them...and it sounds like the othe rdogs in the house are allowing Maudie to be the Alpha...otherwise they wouldn't just lay down and let it happen...adult dogs don't do that with pups...sorry...it just doesn't happen

Anyway, without further ado...I'd go get my pup...however you want to consider this experience...if it were me...I would chalk it up to a learning experience.  Perhaps now you want to do a home visit before you place a pup?  Or maybe you want to talk to the family a little longer...perhaps have them fill out a questionnaire...before yo uselel apup.  I use a questionnaire...it sure helps...

Whatever you do, Maudie is young enough...that you can work her through any learned behaviors from her time with this nutbag!  You may have to work a little harder this next time for her forever home...but I bet there is one out there for her! 

Good luck!

barbie

We just recently learned that you cannot put one thing in a contract that will protect your DOGS. You can cover your back but anything you put in a contract that is specifically for the protection of your dog it will not do a thing..it comes down to it being about trust issue. You can't make someone take care of your dogs the way you want them to be taken cared of not even contractually.  We recently went to check on some puppies of ours and they were living in filth. Contractually there is nothing we can do to get them out. If you want to see pictures an learn more you can e-mail me. darlaj@graysoncable.com 

We also learneed that position is still 9/10ths ..So if she is playing in a yard...

Maybe try to talk reason..you know the old fly/honey/vinegar thing... So, maybe you have already found her a home and it would be best for all. With the lady having health problems..etc. blah blah

I am so sorry Brandi, the situation stinks. I say get your dog back to. Geez this lady makes it sound like an unruly Rottie or something. It's a puppy, I mean really at this age they are trainable and manageable. I hope they are done trying to get more dogs now too. I would go shelter to shelter and give their names and unacceptable pet owners also so they can't get another dog.

Yes!  This "testing" of shelter dogs is ridiculous.  With their health issues and complete inability to train a pup they don't need to have any more dogs.  I just "love" how this owner blamed everything on a little puppy as if they come out the womb trained perfectly!  It's the owner's job to teach them which this ninny was incapable of doing or even learning how to do.

Brandi...I see no reason to NOT (gently) go get the pup...by explaining to the current owner that contractually she must 1) keep the dog as agreed upon in contract, or 2) relinquish pup back to breeder...as stated in contract.

Remember the hullabaloo over Helen DeGenarus giving a rescue away...well, the breeder-seller was legally within her rights to retrieve the dog.

Almost every rescue group we have here (except pound and Humane Society (and a couple of over-crowded rescues) state clearly that the animal must be returned to THEM if it does not work out.

Sounds as tho that woman is overwhelmed with illnesses ....and also the part of shelter dogs that didn't fit in so she returned them?????? WTH??? What does she think shelters are...Walmart????

Poor dogs! Excited to get new homes and then returned??? UGH! People like that make ME ill...

Talk to your lawyer, or someone who has a lawyer pal, and then, with contract in hand, get the pup!

Good Luck!!!!!

In all honesty I think her saying that she didn't want to give the dog to me was a show. I think that was all to make herself feel better. I am going to call her and see if I can't work something out. I have found several possible homes for her already. I am definately going to be more choosy when it comes to puppy buyers!! I really believed that this old couple truly adored her and would give her a wonderful home. They told me that they even had a room ready for her, with toys, new food dishes etc. Makes me so mad I couldn't see through their crap!!

I would get that puppy back as fast as you can!!  My Ana is a handful also.  She jumps onto kitchen cabinets and trys to take food.  She is just a VERY busy and VERY smart girl.  I would NEVER give up on a dog.  I feel bad for that puppy.  She just needs an alpha person and some one with some smarts.  She has every excuse in the book.  Sounds like her dogs are to be seen and not heard.   When Ana has her first litter I am now a little scared of what can go wrong.

I did get Maudie back. I posted about it in a new thread. She is now with a very loving family. They send me updates about her regularly. Thanks everyone for your help and input.