Dog's Name & Age:
Lady, 11
In a Word, My Poodle Is…
Comical
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Loving, loyal, playful, gentle, communicative, energetic, funny
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
cost of grooming
When, Where and How I Got My Poodle:
I found Lady at an animal shelter where she was ungroomed and listed as a "terrier mix." I wasn't in the market for a dog--I had gone to help a friend pick one out--but she wouldn't let me go home without her. A friend of mine who groomed dogs to work her way through college took a look and a feel of Lady, and declared this was not a terrier. She groomed her and we found we had a standard poodle with odd silver spotted coat. We think she might have some English setter or Australian shepherd in there that gives her the color and softness of her coat. She has been with us now for over ten years.
I'd Describe My Dog As…
Very funny! We have laughed so much in the last ten years! She often skids into a room like Kramer on Seinfeld. She pokes her nose in the middle of anything going on. She sits with her long paws crossed in front of her as if she only needed a cigarette holder and a martini to be the ultimate sophisticated lady. She is aptly named. Lady loves to go in the car. She will ride around with us all day and loves to stick her head out the window and sniff the wind. Everybody waves at her. When we walk her, people stop us to ask what kind of dog she is and marvel at her beauty. She is totally unique. She was 6 months old when we got her; we would love to have seen her as a little puppy. We can't imagine how anyone gave her up! Lady sleeps as much in our bed as she does in hers. But she wants what she wants when she wants it and will persist till we give in. She will play ball for hours if you let her. She can still jump about 4 feet in the air from a standing position. She runs like the wind, looking a lot like a fancy horse. Her tail is like a long plume because it was never cropped. I joke that it takes me hours every day to put the eyeliner on her. Can you tell we love this dog? All our friends know and love her, and our grandkids are nuts over her. She acts like their nanny. She is the best dog I've ever had. I think sometimes that if we just love her enough that she'll live forever because I can't imagine life without her.
Advice
- Just enjoy this dog and spend lots of time with her.
- Pay attention because she'll let you know what she wants. Poodles have a large vocabulary of words they understand.
- They need lots of exercise and love to play with you or other dogs.
- Love them, love them, love them, and they will love you back more than you can imagine.
