We purchased a black lab for our kids 8 months ago. First, I checked their website which looked really nice and called on the phone asking for a chocolate lab with the intention of window shopping. They said they had one, only to get there 2 hours later for the old bait-n-switch telling me the chocolate lab was just sold, but would I like to see the black lab? I said OK.
They brought me the dog (our dog Buddy) and he looked great and was REALLY CALM. I had my 1 year old and 3 year old toddlers with me and explained that I wanted a good family dog which WOULDN"T be high maintenance and easy going, in which he seemed to be at the time. They explained the whole crate training thing and how he comes with FREE training, etc. Of course, we fell in love with the 4 month old puppy. They offered him at a couple of hundred dollars discounted as he was almost 30 pounds and Bruce said that they were going to have to sell him or get rid of him due to the law defining the weight and size of a puppy. (The total we paid with the cage, etc. Still came to $2000 plus).
So we took him home and to the vet only to find out he had an upper respiratory infection and kennel cough. The vet put him on antibiotics and deemed him unfit for adoption. She also wasn't 100 percent sure if he was a purebreed lab (in which he is supposed to be as he came with papers). I called Bruce and told him the dog was sick, but that I would see if he got better and will keep him if so. He did get better, BUT after a few days of medication he became EXTREMELY hyper and crazy, in which he WAS NOT in their facility. Of course, I couldn't return him because it would break my kid's hearts and it was after the period of time in which I had to return him after being deemed unfit. But let me tell you that either due to his illness or sedatives, this wasn't the same dispostion he had in their facility.
Many times, out of frustration, I called Bruce about the out of control issues with the dog (ie: eating our walls, baby wipes, furniture, cushions, nipping my kids, -you name it!) and I brought him in for several training sessions with no avail to the problem (s). I now have him in training at PetSmart and see SOME improvement, but EVERY DAY is a challenge-even for the trainer.
He is almost a year old, and he still can't hang out with the kids as much as I would like, nor can I leave him alone for 2 seconds in my kitchen without damage control. He is very sweet, but a total handful! I should have just had another baby-it would have been easier! He has eaten all of our screens, pool cover, baby swing, jacuzzi cover, digs up our cable wires, etc, etc.
His trainer says he has a lot of anxiety. After reading the other complaints about American Bredders, I can see why!
My beef is that they made everything seem so easy (this is my first big dog, as I have 2 cats and grew up with a bichon frise). The sales girl (who was pregnant at the time said how she has 4 labs and how easy they are-bull%!)
I wish they would have recommended another breed or would have refunded my money. Even with his out of control issues (which I considered temperment) they said they couldn't refund due to PERSONAL REASONS.
Anyway, we do love our dog and he is part of the family, but it is has been a L O N G road. My friend came over the house the other day with her toddler, and he was in his crate and actually growled at the toddler (which shocked the hell out of me being he is good with my kids). He does jump up and bite me when I am outside with him (playing), but it really hurts and he is almost 80 pounds now.
I hope this place goes out of business. I know my situation may not sound as bad as some of the others, but when you sign a paper guaranteeing good health, temperment, and a purebreed and your left wondering, it really sucks!
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