Frequently Asked Questions

About the Breed

The Standard Poodle

Regarded as one of the most intelligent and easily trained breeds of dog.
Originated in Germany and was standardized in France where it was commonly used for retrieving
Sporting (waterfowl) dogs - therefore excel in agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding.
Poodles have a dense, curly, non-shedding, hypo-allergenic** coat that requires regular grooming.
A pet owner can anticipate grooming a poodle every six to eight weeks.
Poodles are extremely people-oriented dogs and generally eager to please.
Standard Poodles in particular tend to be good with children.
They have a median lifespan of 11.5 to 12 years. Ours often live longer than this.

**Note: You'll probably find references stating there is no such thing. Here's our experience (25+ years). We've never had a puppy returned to us due to allergies and we've had many people come to us because they or their children do have allergies. The biggest allergy complaint we have had is if the puppy licks bare skin, the skin gets irritated but simply washing the affected area corrects the problem.

Parti and Phantom Colors

We love them. We think they're fantastic. What gorgeous, unique dogs! No, these colors do not meet AKC's standards for conformation shows. Yes, they are still pure-bred registered dogs. In fact, the breed was originally multi-colored. No they are NOT inferior in any way! We appreciate when those that feel they are keep their opinions to themselves. We think these people are ridiculous.

Breeding and Breeders

Thinking about adding one of our poodles to your breeding program?

If you're looking to start a breeding program, please do not contact us about our puppies. We do not allow them to be bred and we do not make exceptions. I am also not interested in mentoring. I "mentor" my daughter and that is enough for me. Why do we feel this way? Puppies sold for breeding are far to often treated like cattle and property, used as a source of income and discarded when they are no longer useful. This will not be the life I send one of my precious babies to. I made exceptions to this rule a couple times in the past and regretted it. It will not happen again.

You think breeding is easy money? Don't be a back yard breeder (BYB)

If you think breeding is easy money and just anyone can do it, please read.

In additional to all of that, if you're considering breeding Standard Poodles specifically, don't forget that starting at three weeks old, you also have to find the time to groom each and every puppy each and every week.

Rescue Poodles

I have always gotten my dogs as puppies. I had never given a thought to an adult dog that needed a home. Didn't have anything against it, just never thought of it. Since I opened our home to Jazz & Checkers I have a completely different view of rescue. These girls are WONDERFUL! SO loving and devoted! They love the car, the boat, the water. They do not want to be 12 inches from me. They gaze at me with total adoration in their eyes, wagging their tail when I speak to them. When they came here, they hardly wagged and did not play. Today they are the happiest dogs in the world! PLEASE give a wonderful dog a chance to be happy. They may have some issues, but be patient, work with them, it's very rewarding!
Check out Pet Finder Rescue (www.petfinder.com)!

Feeding

I used to feed the babies Eukanuba and/or Pro Plan. I no longer believe it to be the nutritious high quality puppy food it used to be. Instead we now feed our puppies Blue Buffalo and/or 4Health (a TSC exclusive brand). It is very important that the puppies stay on a Large Breed Formula the 1st year as they grow much faster than smaller breeds.

Trying to decide what to feed your puppy? Check out the below site for ratings on dog/puppy food.

Poodles are grazers. I recommend leaving food and water out at all times if possible as this is not a breed that over eats. We do this at all times so I really cannot tell you exactly how much any of our pets eats or how often.

Be sure your pup is getting a high quality Large Breed Puppy food for at least the first year of his/her life. Also, be careful feeding canned dog food and special treats to young puppies as it may be too rich for their little system. Best to introduce new foods gradually to their diet.

Grooming

The amount of grooming a poodle needs depends a lot on the owner. If you like to keep them trimmed down with a specific cut, then just like your own hair, they'll need a trim every 4-6 weeks. If you like you pet a bit fluffier and want to grow their hair out, or it's cold outside and you don't want to put a coat on them, then you won't need to trim them as often.

You can expect some monthly ear maintenance, which includes trimming and pulling ear hair as well as using an ear cleaner as a preventative (see Home Remedies). Of course, like every other dog, you'll also need to trim their nails.

Many people ask me what grooming supplies I use. The following items are available at www.petedge.com Where possible, I've included the item number.
(this list was last updated 1/28/2010)

Clippers

Oster Golden A5 2 speed (#OS28310) Comes with a #10 blade.

Blades

The quality of the blade matters. We recommend Zerion or Elite CryogenX-AgION Blades. Here is a list of blades with detailed information. Blades get hot so you'll need several of each. Start with the #10 blade (face, feet, tail - 1/16 inch) and the #7 blade (body - 1/8 inch).

Brushes and Combs

Master Grooming Tools Ergonomic Slicker Brushes (#TP353) and Master Grooming Tools Ergonomic Pet Grooming Combs (#TP407)

Shears

Master Grooming Tools 5900 Stainless Steel Series Straight Shears (#TP5242)

Shampoo

I use human shampoo with a cream rinse (Poodle hair is most like human hair). In August I use Dawn dish soap as a flea shampoo, seems to be the only time we have a problem.

Ear Hair Pullers and Ear Wash

Sadly, ear hair pullers are a necessary Tool. Curved Kelly Hemostat 5 1/2" (#TA175)
If you'd like to buy an ear wash, try Veterinarian's Best Pet Ear Relief Wash(#VT200) but I recommend checking out the Home Remedies section for an amazing ear cleaner you can make at home.

Nails

I usually I use my Dremel, but you can use a nail clipper, I suggest the kind with the guard that doesn't let you cut too far, availabe at pet stores. Don't forget Styptic Powder (#TP91205)!

Training

Don't hit a Poodle!! Don't hit any dog but especially, do not hit a Poodle. They are intelligent dogs who love to please. Hitting them will not help.

House breaking

We give our pups an excellent start on house training by using only positive reinforcement and playing on their basic instincts. Puppies tend to go potty on the surface they're used to. Therefore, if they're used to going potty on your rug, they'll continue to do so. On the other hand, if they're used to going potty outside, that's where they'll prefer to go. Also, puppies instinctively dislike soiling their "den", where they eat and sleep which is why it's so unusual for a pup to soil it's crate. Don't give them so much space inside unsupervised that they feel comfortable soiling the area.

One thing to keep in mind when you get your pup home, however, is that our puppies are house trained with a doggie door. They do not know how to tell you they need out. You have to be very vigilant until they know how to communicate their needs. Many of our new puppies families have had great success with hanging a bell on the door and teaching their pup to ring it when he/she wants out.

Check out www.dog-breeds.net/Housebreaking.htm for more information on housebreaking your puppy.

Crates

I highly recommend a crate for the safety of the puppy and your personal belongings. When not used as a punishment, puppies love their own place. Cover it with a blanket for that cave like feeling dogs love. There are tons of good sites that address crate training. I'd suggest reading several and do what seems logical and kind. Every pup is different.

This is one of of them: How to Crate Train Your Puppy

All pet stores carry crates so I wouldn't have one shipped. Get 42x28x31 at the least and 48x30x34 for larger males.

Barking

When you're home, it'd be better to work on training your dog/pup appropriately than using a bark collar or other such device. Here are a few quick tips followed by a helpful link.

This is maybe the simplest and most difficult. Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise, attention and stimulation!
As with all training, be consistent! The fourth time the pup starts barking in an hour don't get lazy, stay on the couch and give up.
Positive reinforcement. When he/she starts barking, stand between them and use a command (quiet, hush, no bark) firmly. If/when the pup stops barking, pet and reward them.

Excessive Barking: A Common Behavior Problem

Home Remedies

Ear Cleaner

Found a website that brags about a fabulous ear cleaner. Tried it and they are right!! Some of the ingredients were a little hard to find but they can be gotten online. Easy to make, cheap and truely more effective than any other ear cleaner I've ever used or heard of! The first ingredient can be gotten pretty much anywhere (Meijer, Walmart, etc). The last two ingredients can be found online at several websites including www.otcretail.com and www.amazon.com.

Indredients

16 oz ISOPROPYL ALCHOL
4 T Boric Acid Powder
16 drops Gentian Violet Solution 1 %

Instructions

Mix together in large bottle (the plastic squeeze dispenser bottles used for things like food decorating or hair dye - can be gotten from Jo-Ann Fabrics or Sally's Beauty Salon) and shake well. Be sure to shake well with each use). If ears are inflamed do not pluck hair or clean, flush with solution twice a day and wait for inflamation to go away (2-4 days). Treat twice a day for the first week. Once a week for the next 1 or 2 weeks and once monthly after that.

Skunk Funk Be Gone

Mix together 1 quart peroxide, two tablespoons baking soda, and two drops dish soap. Use a spray bottle to soak down the smelly spots and rinse. Magic.

Flea Medications and Shampoo

Yes! The original Dawn dish soap is an excellent flea shampoo! You can watch those little buggers perish right before your eyes. It's very safe (used on wildlife after oil spills). Regular baths will go a long way toward preventing fleas.

We try to avoid using flea medications and shampoos as it does not seem like a great idea to us to put something on your dogs skin to be absorbed into their blood that you're not supposed to touch yourself. However, sometimes a flea outbreak can get out of hand and it's totally unavoidable. At that point, we recommend Frontline PLUS and do occasionally use it ourselves (safe on pregnant and nursing mothers according to the packaging).

Products and Services

Microchip Implants

We don't require them, we don't do this to our puppies, and we don't have them for our adults. Why? Couple reasons. In part, because most vets do not check for them. If no one checks for them, then they do no good. Yes, some do check and theoretically, shelters will check. The decision is yours.

The other reason. They may cause cancer. Not proven. Again, the decision is yours to make.
Microchip Implants Linked To Animal Tumors In Research Animals

Dog Doors

Living on the lake the west wind is a problem, especially in the winter, so having a dog door is like leaving a window open). Gunner's dad (Gunner is a Jazz/Ruben baby who lives in Texas) told me about this wonderful motorized dog door that opens and closes similar to a garage door. The dog approaches with a magnet on their collar and the door goes up and closes a few seconds later. We love it! As an added bonus, no unwanted animals can get in either.
www.solopetdoors.com

If you don't want a motorized pet door or perhaps are looking for something a bit more simple, this is the best quality non-motorized pet door we've found! An excellent door.
www.freedompetpass.com

Pet Chime

We're often asked how to teach a puppy/dog to tell you he/she wants outside. One popular option is to hang bells on the door the puppy can ring. Here's another. We love this product. Our poodles learn how to use the door bell and love it. It's quite entertaining.
Lentek Pet Chime

Bark Collars

We don't like them. Who would? When you're home, it'd be better to work on training your dog/pup appropriately (see training section). When you're not home or if it's just not working and you need a solution now because you're neighbors are getting madder by the minute, perhaps its time to use a bark collar but please consider the age of the pup before doing so! We do not recommend use on pups younger than six months old. This is the collar we use:
PetSafe Comfort-Fit™ Bark Control Collar

In Loving Memory

At a pet expo they had a display of these wonderful handblown glass balls for your pets ashes (pendants too). What a great way to have your pet close!!

www.memoryglass.com

You could also get your pets ashes or hair turned into a lab grown diamond! www.dna2diamonds.com

Pet Portraits

Check out the work of Cynthia Christman. She does beautiful pet portraits. This is Max!

www.christmanportraits.com

PayPal

I accept PayPal payments for deposits/purchase only if I have already spoken to you and agreed to your purchase of one of our puppies. Cost includes the PayPal processing fee.