Dog's Name & Age:
Jacque & Rene are 2 year old males from the same liter
In a Word, My Poodle Is…
My Poodles are Wolves
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Graceful and intelligent.
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
Low tolerance for boredom
When, Where and How I Got My Poodle:
My husband saw an ad in a small country store in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I got my dogs two years ago. They are the first litter of a breeder's family pet with a champion male. Although both parents are black, 4 white puppies out of a total of 9 were born. I fell in love with the cutest little white puppy, but of course, the kids wanted a black one. We made an offer for one of each color. At first, the breeder refused, but later accepted. We had a veterinarian look at them the first week. She said the black one had a heart problem so we exchanged him for another.
I'd Describe My Dog As…
Our two male Standards were pretty large puppies when we brought them home at 16 weeks of age. Their size made it seem that they should be more mature. It was odd to see that they had to learn to go up and down the stairs. During the housebreaking stage, we had an issue with one urinating everywhere on the hardwood floors. Our veterinarian suggested we keep them in crates during housebreaking. I thought it seemed cruel, but I grew desperate cleaning up urine several times every day. I decided to take the vet's advice. It worked instantly and proved that canines really are den animals. My mind was opened and I observed many other wolf-like behaviors. To date, they instinctively go into their crates each night. They obviously experience a sense of security and comfort there. Their crates are in a large room in the basement and they have pet door access to a fenced in courtyard. I began grooming them as pups. I use a slicker brush and comb about 3 times per week, I clip their face, ears, feet, and tail every other week, and they are bathed and body clipped about every 2 months. I use a grooming table, professional clippers, sissors, a good shampoo, and a blow dryer. I use a #10 blade on their face and feet, and a #4 on their bodies. I scissor cut their legs. I started keeping the ears and tail clipped short. Hair in the ears and eyes will cause yeast and conjunctivitis. My dogs can behave aggressively together and with other dogs. Reluctantly, I had them neutered at 18 months of age. It has modified their behavior slightly. I think Standard Poodles are beautiful, graceful, active, competitive, intelligent, wolf-like dogs.
Advice
- We live in a suburban-country neighborhood. I should have spent more time socializing them as pups. We go to a nearby dog park but they don't play very well with other dogs. The black Poodle gets sick in the car on long rides. Outside together, they compete with one another and are not as obedient as they are one on one with us. The electric fence is useless. They jump a 4 foot fence with ease. We installed a 10 foot kennel fence. They are excellent retrievers. Inside, unless a squirrel runs by the window, they are well behaved, loving family members. They make up and play games together with toys & bones.
