We’ve all seen those heart-melting puppy photos online and imagined bringing home the perfect furry friend.
That’s exactly what Charlotte Fallowfield thought she was doing.
But instead of the hypoallergenic, miniature cockapoo she believed she was adopting, she ended up with a very different dog—and a serious warning for anyone thinking of doing the same.
Charlotte recently opened up about her unexpected experience on ITV’s This Morning, chatting with hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley about the emotional rollercoaster of bringing home her pup, Waffle.
Love at First Sight—But Something Felt Off
Charlotte shared how she had been searching for a small, allergy-friendly dog due to her sensitivities.
When she saw Waffle advertised online, she and her partner couldn’t resist his adorable face.
They arranged to meet him and were instantly smitten.
But even during that first meeting, things didn’t feel quite right.
“We weren’t allowed to see him with his mum or the rest of the litter,” Charlotte explained.
“They wanted me to pay a deposit right away and even tried to get full payment that night.”
Despite her instincts telling her to walk away, her heart was already invested.
“We fell in love with him,” she admitted. “That was the problem.”
A Terrifying Glimpse of His Mother
When Charlotte returned to pick up Waffle, she demanded to see the mother.
What she saw broke her heart. “They dragged out this poor, terrified black dog from a barn.
She was shaking, not allowed inside, and they wouldn’t let her near Waffle.”
That moment confirmed her fears—something was seriously wrong with the setup.
Still, she couldn’t bear to leave Waffle behind.
Waffle’s Growing Body and Growing Problems
It didn’t take long after bringing Waffle home for the surprises to keep coming.
As he started to grow, it became clear he wasn’t a cockapoo at all.
Charlotte had expected a pup weighing around 6–11kg and standing under 40cm tall.
Instead, Waffle ballooned to 22–32kg and now stands 45–55cm tall.
The vet eventually confirmed he’s actually a Sproodle—a cross between a Springer Spaniel and a Poodle.
But Waffle’s size wasn’t the only unexpected challenge.
A Long List of Health Issues
Charlotte went on to describe a string of health issues that have followed Waffle since he was a puppy.
“He’s allergic to grass,” she said. “He can only eat beef and pork, has a dog version of IBS, and a massive overgrowth of yeast on his skin.”
To make things worse, Waffle had parasitic infections early on and has already endured two major surgeries for torn cruciate ligaments.
Luckily, Charlotte had pet insurance to help with some of the costs, but she acknowledged not everyone would be financially able to cope with the same.
A Cautionary Tale for Other Dog Owners
Host Ben Shephard asked her what advice she’d give to others considering getting a puppy.
Charlotte didn’t hesitate: “Be incredibly careful with online ads—especially those on social media or unverified websites.”
She strongly urged people to go through licensed breeders and check they’re registered with the local council.
“Looking back, the £800 we paid should have been a red flag.”
The Lesson Behind the Cuteness
Despite the rocky journey, Charlotte still clearly adores Waffle and wouldn’t trade him for the world.
But she hopes sharing her story will help prevent other families from getting caught in similar situations—especially those who may not have the resources to manage a dog with ongoing health problems.
Got a Similar Story?
If something like this has happened to you, the This Morning team wants to hear from you.
You can email the show or reach out to the Daily Mail with your story.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1 and is also available for streaming on ITVX.