A woman thought she bought a sweet mini cockapoo pup (that usually weighs a maximum of 11kg) for £800 only to discover it wasn’t the breed she expected as vet bills and food cost her £250 a month
When Waffle’s owners discovered sweet photos of him online, they immediately fell in love with the pup who was listed as a “miniature cockapoo”.
But Charlotte Fallowfield, 55, was in for a huge surprise when he continued growing well past his estimated adult weight. Now the once-tiny pup weighs a hefty 22kg, and the shocked owner finally has answers on his so-called miniature status.
Charlotte admits she ignored some of the red flags when she spotted the ad online in 2019, like when the breeder demanded cash and refused to show Waffle’s mother.
The besotted owner was hoping for a small, easy-to-walk dog and decided to purchase the canine after falling in love with his images. After picking him up and noticing how quickly he was growing, she decided to get him a DNA test which revealed he was actually a sproodle – a mix of springer spaniel and poodle, with her 14 percent cocker spaniel in his makeup.
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A cockapoo is typically made up of a poodle and a cocker spaniel, with their estimated adult weight being a maximum of 11kg, while most weigh between 7 and 8kg.
Charlotte, who suffers from joint issues, now endures regular physical strain from handling her large pet and sustains monthly veterinary bills of around £250.
She’s also filed over £15,000 in insurance claims in just six months, mainly due to chronic digestive problems, allergies, and surgical implants in Waffle’s legs.
“I can’t lift him up off the floor,” Charlotte told the Daily Mail of her pet’s size. “I have to get other people to do that for me.”
The financial burden has been significant – forcing Charlotte and her partner to scale back on holidays. “He has pulled me over a couple of times where I’ve damaged my hands and my knees,” she added.
As Charlotte and her partner don’t have any children, they’ve been able to afford to pay for Waffle’s various treatments.
Despite all of their issues, Waffle has become a beloved pet for Charlotte, as she gushed: “He’s just such a loyal, loving companion that we’re prepared to to set aside all the other issues,” she revealed.
Now the dog mum is hoping that opening up about her situation will help others realise how important it is to get pets from reputable, licensed breeders.
“Don’t buy online from generic selling sites, go direct to either a breeder, a breeder’s own website, and check all their credentials,” she said.
“Be prepared to pay a lot more money and to be on a long waiting list. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”
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