Talk to me about Standard Poodles please!

[murieics]

I have an oversized mini. He’s about 17-18" tall (I asked for one that would grow to be too big, as I didn’t want a mini, but didn’t want a “standard” that was 24" either). He is awesome. My first poodle ever, and I love him.

I will say this- they are SMART. It can be a good thing, or it can be a bad thing. Overall Jake is very well behaved, but when he picks up a bad habit, it can be almost impossible to break. For example, we are having serious issues with barking. He learned last year that he can bark (from another dog), and now, he barks about everything. Are you going somewhere and not taking him? Barks. Did you bring him and now he’s gonna hang out in the car? Barks. Is the other dog going outside to go potty and he already went (so isn’t going)? Barks. Is he excited? Barks. (you get the idea). We purchased a spray collar for him that is remote controlled about a month ago, and it semi-sorta works. He knew instantly where the spray was coming from, so if he isn’t wearing the collar, he barks like normal. He then figured out that it is controlled by a remote. If he knows you left the remote somewhere, he barks. It can be very obnoxious at times.

Smart can be a good thing too, though. He can learn anything. And he picks it up FAST. He was a super star at his puppy kindergarten class. He’s super easy to train to do tricks, etc. The trick is (like someone mentioned above) getting him to believe he wants to do the trick. He knows how to do LOTS of things. If he wants to do something else (and he thinks it would be more fun), he will do what he wants instead. We have some problems with recalls, so he’s not off leash anywhere he could possibly get into trouble.

He is super calm inside (mostly), but has tons of energy outside. He’s extremely adaptable.

I also groom him myself rather than bringing him to a groomer. If you train them properly, it’s easy to groom them yourself.

Overall GREAT dogs. But they do have to be part of the family. Jake wants to be in the middle of everything (he’s pawed at my laptop 10 times while I’ve been typing this). And if he isn’t in the middle of everything, he will figure out how to get himself in the middle of everything. I don’t know if I will ever be able to own a different breed of dog.

[IFG]

I will say that I saw a drastic change in the behavior of our older dog at age 3. He grew up. He became the responsible one rather than the rambunctious puppy. Still lots of fun, just reasonable.

[IFG]

BTW, pic of the boys the day that they met. Mac has never looked that coifed since.

[IFG]

Kobe jumping in the snow, the two boys on the couch.

[IFG]

Last pic, showing how a short clip works. Kobe in the snow.

[TheBandit]

I have 2 Standard Poodles. LOFF them. Trying to convince hubby for number 3.

My male has a very mellow/goofy attitude and often comes off as being not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I think it is all an act. He just makes me work to make him work. He has done some agility training and is currently a flyball project. He is very protective and loyal, and has the best recall that I have ever seen. He also points.

My 6 month old female is much higher in energy and drive, but is still very controllable. Her mentality is bounce…bounce…bounce…flop… sleep for 2 hours.

Both dogs love to spend time outside and have the stamina to keep up with the highest energy border collie. In the house, they just find the softest thing in the room and curl up to sleep.

I love having non-shedding dogs now, but they do need to be clipped fairly short as longer hair does attract snow balls and sand. I keep the male trimmed down all one length with just a small tuft on his head. The female has her body and legs all one length, with the poodle tuft on her head and tail and longer ears. It suits her better.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/393174_10150475169920762_792835761_8558178_186028331_n.jpg

[FLeventer]

Standard poodles are great dogs. My friend has one and I love that dog. Everyone of them that I have met have been smart, good nature, and just a joy to be around. I may get one in the future.

[clm08]

Love the pics of all the poodles! I’m a mini poodle person, have had one or more of them in the last 33 yrs of my life, currently have number 5 and 6. They all lived to a ripe old age, 16-17.

It never ceases to amaze me how high energy they can be (dog park, hiking, trail riding, agility), but how calm and a potato couch they can be at home. As long as they have a couple good walks a day, they will settle to be a lap dog the rest of the day. Common traits have been extreme loyalty, people-oriented, affectionate, always very very smart, fast learners, goofy, all of mine have been very healthy, hence living long lives.

However, they each had their own personality. My first poodle was my shadow, went everywhere with me, leashless, sound recall, the smartest of them all. He was a little person inside a poodle body! :lol:

My matriarch poodle was dignified, never got into trouble, but played like a puppy until her last year. Her daughter was aloof, a persistant squirrel hunter who could sit under a tree for hours waiting for the squirrel to come down. She was the one who would hide when she knew we were getting ready to leave the house and wanted to round up all the dogs and put them in the dog run/kennel. Smart, but she got busted once when we drove down the long driveway only to return a minute later to pick up something we had forgotten and found her by the front door.

Her daughter is now almost 16. She, unlike her mother and grandmother, was not really into dog play. As a matter of fact, she is known as the “fun police” - has to bark and stop other dogs from having fun. She is afraid of bigger dogs and will snarl if they get close.

My youngest poodle is 4, very athletic, high energy, another die hard hunter, fast enough to catch and kill rabbits, patrols the yard for squirrels, and has tried to chase deer. He’s been the shiest with strangers, but he’s a rescue and came with some baggage. Unlike all my other poodles, this one is a barker and suffers from separation anxiety. He’s an agility star, one-person dog, and super affectionate and protective of me.

I’ll always have poodles in my life, and certainly more than one!

[IFG]

If anyone is in CT/RI/MA, my breeder is looking to rehome a 2 yr old spayed bitch…

[sophie]

My Std poodle, Stella, is 13 and I LOVE her. Couldn’t have asked for a better dog. And I’ve had many dogs before, all mutts, who were fun in their own way… but she is the best of all.

She may not be the average Std poodle: she is very shy (but never ever aggressive) of other dogs and of people she doesn’t know, and will try her best to ignore them all. Sometimes people take it personally that she is so aloof, but
I love that about her. I can take her anywhere and she never bothers anyone, be it person or dog. She’ll stay right by me and ignore everyone else. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.

She doesn’t bark except to say “someone is at the door” (one bark). She never barked before a friend of mine, with a badly trained, obnoxious barker, dog sat her for a month. But even after I got her back, I could shut her up with a word or a gesture.

She basically trained herself, I never felt I was training/teaching her anything, she just got it. I never took her to obedience / puppy classes. She understands and obeys to so many commands it’s amazing.
She was also VERY good and patient with my kids when they were young (this is actually THE reason I chose a Std poodle: my grandfather had one and I remembered how gentle this dog was with us naughty kids).

She is medium sized, about 44 pounds. She is an apricot but now that she’s older, she’s cream-colored. I think her coat is softer than, say black or grey colored poodles.

Very active dog we needed, couch potato otherwise. I could take her trail riding with my horse, no problem. When I am not around, she sleeps all day. (she definitely picked ME in the family…!)

At 13 she looks and acts like a 3 yo, EXCEPT…she is going blind (her left eye is all blue) and she is going deaf. She had repeat ear infections that the vet saw and treated, but I guess it took its toll. It’s SUCH a shame. But, now she is learning gestures…fast!
I will be a lot more diligent about cleaning the ears if I get another Std poodle.

All in all, I love her, and so does everyone who knows her.

[TheBandit]

@clm08;6127516

My youngest poodle is 4, very athletic, high energy, another die hard hunter, fast enough to catch and kill rabbits, patrols the yard for squirrels, and has tried to chase deer.

Hubby had a mini poodle growing up that was just like that. He used to take down ground hogs regularly as well.

[Bluey]

If you don’t mind the coat and the necessary care of said coat, all else a poodle is can be summed with one word: Wonderful dogs.

I have known poodles that were ranch dogs, rounded up cattle along with ACDs.
The poodles would jump up and ride on the horses, behind the rider, when they got tired.

Like all smart dogs, they are not a dog to be put out in a kennel or backyard and forgotten, they will invent something to do and the owner may not like it.
They are breed to live with their humans and be part of a family more than most breeds are.

Poodles were initially hunting dogs, because hunting is what their family did, also circus dogs, because they are very smart about learning tricks.

Poodles will become whatever you want them to be.
They are infinitely adaptable to living with humans and help with whatever their family does.

[clm08]

Adding some pictures of my 2 minis:

The 4-yr old playing at the dog park with bigger dogs:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2964984364856&set=a.2964923803342.151278.1269032601&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2965018085699&set=a.2964923803342.151278.1269032601&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2965065966896&set=a.2964923803342.151278.1269032601&type=3&theater

Running agility:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=211378902205833&set=t.1269032601&type=3&theater

The almost 16-yr old blending in with her doggie bed:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2964963204327&set=a.2964923803342.151278.1269032601&type=3&theater

and at the dog park:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2964979524735&set=a.2964923803342.151278.1269032601&type=3&theater

[Alagirl]

And I need glasses…about the second time I read ‘Shetland Poodle’…

:eek::lol:

[jreventer]

[QUOTE=Eggplant_Dressing;6123219]

About 40% of Standard Poodles have hip displasia by age 2 so can’t jump up on your bed, climb stairs, etc. w/o pain. Make sure the papers have the hips certified ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ for all bloodlines & generations.[/QUOTE]

http://www.offa.org/stats_hip.html

According to OFA around 12% of poodles are dysplastic. Of course not all poodles are having their hips screened by OFA (and honestly probably not the majority and certainly not the poorly bred poodles) and of course this includes toy, mini, and standards, but would love to know where the 40% statistic comes from. Also, not that I am encouraging anyone to get a dysplastic dog or one that comes from a line with hip dysplasia. Please keep in mind that dogs with hip issues can be managed to live a normal life depending on the severity (through medical and surgical management). Again if you are getting a dog from a breeder, please make sure they do all of the appropriate testing and don’t purchage a dog unless the parents, siblings, etc have good/excellent hips. But if you are getting from a rescue don’t discount a dog that might have mild hip issues if you are willing to maintain.

@Eggplant_Dressing;6123219

The breeder I buy from is very perticular about who they sell to: 1) must have owned a St Poo before and know the hair/grooming upkeep, and 2) must have at least one adult home at all times…the dogs will get depressed and may pick up bad habits if left alone for long periods of time.

Again have to comment-I know this is your breeder so everyone is different but, I think it is important that people realize they can own a poodle and work full time! I got my standard while I was in school and since then have worked long hours. Yes it means when I am home I have to do a lot to get the energy out of my dogs and I have to work very hard to socialize them. But I cannot imagine if someone had said I couldn’t have my poodle or belgian tervurens because I worked and am single! I would invite anyone to meet my dogs and see how well socialized/friendly/well adjusted dogs they are. Of course their temperaments are a testament to good breeding but you can have a well adjusted dog and don’t have to spend 24/7 with the dog.
Also as the breeder of my tervurens said once- I commented that I wasn’t sure a certain person would be a good owner for the breed since they had never had this breed before. She kindly reminded me that at one point in time I had never owned this breed either!!! And she took a chance on letting an 18 yr old college student take one of her dogs! So while it is very important for breeders to educate and thoroughly vet their prospective homes I think it is important for breeders to not discount first time homes.

I will also second what someone said about the leading with their mouth. All of our poodles love to do that especially with kids. They can be taught not to (or you can stick a toy in their mouth to occupy them) but it is a poodles thing!

[wendy]

I love that link to the hunting poodles! SO awesome that someone out there is actually still breeding them for what they were meant to do.

I think the stupid haircuts they use in the show ring turn SO many people off from the breed. They look ridiculous in those poofs, so different from their real beauty and athleticism in a nice trim clip. Anyone who has clipped a horse can learn how to trim a poodle.

[lcw579]

@IFG;6127668

If anyone is in CT/RI/MA, my breeder is looking to rehome a 2 yr old spayed bitch…

I swore I wasn’t ready for another poodle since losing Snuggles but looking at all these pictures has me jonesing for one.

I’m near Philly so not that far…

[quote=Alagirl;6128209]And I need glasses…about the second time I read ‘Shetland Poodle’…

:eek::lol:
[/quote]

I have seen them at Devon groomed like ponies so you weren’t that far off. :lol:

[IFG]

[QUOTE=wendy;6128820]

I think the stupid haircuts they use in the show ring turn SO many people off from the breed. They look ridiculous in those poofs, so different from their real beauty and athleticism in a nice trim clip. Anyone who has clipped a horse can learn how to trim a poodle.[/QUOTE]

The haircuts are actually practical for hunting. Per the AKC:

"The breed originated in Germany as a water retriever. The stylish “Poodle clip” was designed by hunters to help the dogs move through the water more efficiently. The patches of hair left on the body are meant to protect vital organs and joints which are susceptible to cold. "

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=IFG;6129803]
The haircuts are actually practical for hunting. Per the AKC:

"The breed originated in Germany as a water retriever. The stylish “Poodle clip” was designed by hunters to help the dogs move through the water more efficiently. The patches of hair left on the body are meant to protect vital organs and joints which are susceptible to cold. "[/QUOTE]

Well, then is the pompom on top of the head to keep their brain from getting cold, but the one at the end of the tail is for … ?:lol:

Seriously, miniature and standard poodles are one of the few types/breeds of dogs that you won’t find many warnings about, like with so many other dogs.
If you don’t mind their coat and it’s care, they are wonderful dogs for most anyone, any place.

[Burbank]

the bob on the tail is the bobber

like I said before, would love a poodle but don’t want to deal with the hair, the idea of pulling the hair out of the ears…ouch!