Riverview Goldendoodles/Alisha Epps review: unethical behavior 3

We wanted a hypoallergenic/low shedding mini Goldendoodle and settled on Riverview/Alisha Garlick/Alisha Epps after she stated in an email to me "the puppies are non-shedding from a long line of non-shedding coats". This was our number 1 and primary request. Her website describes how attentive she and her family are to their dogs and puppies, that they are handled extensively, and that the sires and damns are non-shedding (which they very well may be). Plus, we could receive the puppy in the spring when we had the time to put into training before our schedules wouldn't allow for that time. Thus all in all I felt I had made a good choice. WRONG! I flew to Salt Lake City at a considerable expense and met Alisha Epps at the airport to pick up the 8-week-old puppy. She stated that she only accepted cash, which I brought. After I got the puppy home I noticed that she was shedding which I attributed to stress from the flight and being away from her littermates and mother. This continued and I thought that this was an issue of her puppy coat until a friend with a Goldendoodle said that hers did not shed as a puppy. Two weeks after having the puppy I texted Alisha with this information. I had texted her the week before asking about the puppies worming schedule prior to 8 weeks old which Alisha never responded to. By the way, I continually had to repeat my texts to her after my deposit by PayPal was made as well as request pictures of the puppy. This should have been my first clue…however she did respond to the text about shedding stating that another buyer had this issue, which prompted her to have a DNA test done. She said she was so sorry but the test showed that the father had a shedding variant, which my puppy had acquired. She offered to replace the puppy in 6 months and after I returned the puppy at my expense. By this time our expenses would have totaled over 1, 000.00 on top of the cost of the dog. She also stated that she was doing us a favor to offer an exchange stating, "We don't guarantee coats." At any time during this transaction did her website or the contract mention this. Plus she had emailed me guaranteeing that her puppies were non-shedding. I found out later that she had the DNA test results 11 days before I texted her about the shedding and although she said she had contacted "all of the other owners" she obviously had not contacted me. She refused to compensate us for her mistake until I threatened legal action and social media posts sharing my experience. She then stated we were "blackmailing" and "bullying" her. We felt that she had totally misrepresented this puppy and had not been honest with us. And, if she is as attentive and experienced as her website claims, how could she not have known that the puppy shed before delivering it to the airport? After weeks of haggling back and forth with this woman, the puppy had bonded to our Labradoodle, and us and we had spent countless hours training her. We kept the puppy and settled for a 500.00 refund after she emailed, "take it or leave it." Thus, we paid $1, 500.00 plus 500.00 in expenses for a shedding puppy. I could have adopted a dog at the humane society had I wanted that. We consulted an attorney during this interaction and still plan to take her to small claims court in Eagle Mountain, Utah where she resides. Our puppy is 5 months old and she has traveled with us extensively. We constantly receive comments about how cute she is and asking what type of dog she is. When we say "Goldendoodle" 9 times out of 10 the person will say "no way," "you've been duped," "that can't be a Goldendoodle," etc. Most comments are that she looks like a miniature Golden Retriever or a long haired Dashund with long legs.

I have never done business with anyone that has treated me with such disregard. She was rude, had no empathy for our predicament, refused to negotiate on any terms other than her own, made us pay for her mistakes, and demonstrated greediness beyond anything I have experienced. I would not recommend doing any business with Alisha Epps. I'm sure there are owners that are happy with the dogs they bought as indicated by the comments that she has allowed to be posted on her website. But there are too many knowledgeable and professional breeders out there that back up their puppies, complete DNA testing prior to making promises and will do whatever it takes to assure that their customers are satisfied.

The process of purchasing a puppy with all of the planning, research, time and concern that goes along with it should be a positive and joyful time. Our experience buying our Labradoodle 4 years ago from a breeder in Paso Robles, California was exactly that and more. Our stress with Riverview/Alisha Epps could have been somewhat diminished if she had attempted to meet our needs even halfway not to mention the lingering question of how she could not have known the puppy was shedding upon delivery.