1. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE POODLE
Yes, the poodle is an excellent choice for people with allergies.
They are considered the #1 hypoallergenic dog. Their hair is like our human hair, and thus no shedding. They are
excellent with children (no matter how young or old), and will play for hours. THEY ARE ONE OF THE SMARTEST DOGS WITH
THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER BEING #1. Sometimes, the poodle is so smart, it is scary how much they know.They are very loyal
and loving to their family. But, they tend to make many friends whereever they go. Poodles want to be by your
side 24/7, and I call mine Velcro dogs because they are never far from me. Their favorite place to be in the whole world
is on your lap or sleeping in bed with you. The poodle can be a "couch potato" when you want him to be, or outside
playing, walking, hiking, etc. They are very athletic dogs, and most of them love the water. My poodles are not
hyper, and will not bark excessively. They have been taught from a young age when it is appropriate to bark and
when they should not bark. I have raised the majority of my poodles from puppyhood to adult. Never have any of
them been destructive in any way. There is no chewing on furniture, table legs, flooring, etc. Give them plenty
of chewie toys, plush toys, puppy treats, etc, and they will not chew on your things. It almost sounds like I am
describing the "perfect dog", and in a way I am.
2. DO MALES OR
FEMALES MAKE BETTER PETS?
Everybody has a different opinion on this question! Both male and female poodles make great pets and it is usually
just individual preference as to which one to make part of the family. I personally feel that males are much more loving and
get more attached to you than the females do. The main factor in people choosing a female over a male is that they worry about
a male dog lifting their leg on things as they get older. I have 2 stud dogs,
who are also house dogs, and I rarely have a problem with leg lifting. Neutering a male and spaying a female is highly
recommended as this keeps them much healthier since they will not be used for breeding.
3. TEMPERAMENT
This is probably the most important issue with prospective poodle owners. Speaking
only about my own dogs and puppies, I have to say that my poodles are the "official people greeters" in my house.
Yes, they will bark like crazy because someone is at the door, but once you are inside the pandemonium stops. Then my
poodles become "people dogs". They love to kiss, sit in your lap, play with children, bring toys to you, and most of
all their tails never stop wagging. My poodles love children, and will play and cuddle with them as long as you let
them. They have the sweetest dispositions, are not hyper, do not run and hide, and are very gentle. In fact, if
you are not a dog person, then my house is not the place to be. You must sit on the floor and fawn all over
them because they just love it. If you are not paying attention to them, you will either get a scratch on your arm or
leg with their paw (pay attention to me), or end up with a dog or two or three in your lap. They do not
have a MEAN BONE in their body. So, I have to say the temperaments on my poodles is excellent!
4. ARE YOU PUPPIES AKC REGISTERED?
Yes, everyone of my poodles is registered with the AKC and some are dual
registered with the United Kennel Club which is another dog registry. I do this so that I can show in both the AKC and
UKC shows.
5. AT WHAT AGE ARE YOUR PUPPIES READY FOR NEW HOMES?
I do not let my puppies go until they are 8 weeks old. At this
age, they have had their 1st thorough Vet health exam, hearts checked, shots, knees checked, stool checks for worms, even
though I have wormed them several times before 8 wks. When you come to pick up your puppy, you will be provided with the following: a
clean, well-groomed puppy, AKC papers, pedigree, health information, Certificate of Health, and feeding instructions.
6. WHAT TYPE OF HEALTH GUARANTEE DO YOU OFFER?
My contract states that you must take the puppy to
your Vet within 36 hrs. to make sure that there are no health issues. Even though I know there are none, it is better
for you and me to know that your puppy is as healthy as I stated. I know they have no contagious diseases that would
affect their health. Additionally, they have a Florida Certificate of Health that guarantees them against serious genetic
defects for one year.
7. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM AN 8 WEEK OR OLDER PUPPY?
Of course the #1 question is always about housebreaking.
I recommend crate training as the easiest way to start the housebreaking. In general, dogs do not like to dirty where
they sleep. The crate should not be a large one because the puppy can move about too freely, and can potty at one end
of the crate and sleep at the other. I use medium crates for my dogs, and my adults are provided with nice,
soft sleeping blankets. In puppies crates, I use newspaper as a lining and put a small blanket at the other end.
I also give them chewie toys to play with in the crate. Eventually, the crate becomes their "den" where they feel very
safe and comfortable. Do not expect an 8 week old puppy to have much control over his bladder. Their little bladders
cannot hold much fluid, and therefore, they need to potty often. I have never liked the idea of paper training!
To me it is double work because you then have to teach the puppy to go from the paper to the outside. I take my
puppies out many times a day, but they still have accidents. I recommend you confine them to an area of your home
that perhaps has tile so accidents will wipe up easily. Some people have luck with the "wee wee" pads, but I personally
have never used them. It is a lot of work housebreaking because the puppy should be taken outside after waking,
eating, drinking and playing. I use the command to "potty" so they know why they are out there, and eventually, they
learn that potty means bathroom time. A lot of praise and a special treat goes a long way to let them know how good they
did. Many of my puppy buyers, have called to tell me how easy it was to housebreak their baby. POODLES ARE
VERY SMART and want to please you. Also, water should be limited in the evening to help with the
housebreaking. The less water, the less pottying. NEVER give them water in their crate during the night.
For those of you who work all day, the crate is the best place for the puppy to be. This way he is safe, and your home
is safe. He can be left food and water in the crate, as it can be a long day for a puppy to go without. PUPPY
QUARKS - puppies by nature are very curious little beings. They want to investigate their surroundings
fully to see what is in their big, new world. Puppies also are teething at this time, and their little puppy teeth
hurt when they "play bite". Do not let them do this, and reprimand them for this behavior with a small tap on the nose
with the word NO spoken very strongly. Eventually, they learn your fingers, arms, toes, etc. are off bounds. Do
not think the puppy is mean - he is only making his teeth feel better. VERY IMPORTANT - poodles are
very sensitive to your moods. They know when you are mad or not feeling well. They do not like you to be mad at
them. Never, ever hit your poodle, scream or holler at him in a loud voice, or lock him in the crate as punishment.
They are so sensitive that they get very upset because for some reason they have made "the love of their life" very mad at
them. They will do anything to get back in your good graces. A poodle only needs to be spoken to in a calm and
loving voice, and they will know exactly what you expect of them. THEY ARE SO HAPPY TO PLEASE YOU!
8. ARE YOU ADULT DOGS TESTED FOR GENETIC PROBLEMS?
Yes, my breeding dogs have been Optigen tested for prcd-PRA thru either
their blood or a DNA cheek swab for a very serious eye issue that affected many poodles in the past causing them to go
blind. With reputable breeders testing their breeding dogs, this problem is slowly becoming less of a problem.
I also have my dogs CERF'd by a board certified dog eye opthamologist to check for other eye issues, such as cataracts,
etc that only shows up on the CERF exam. My dogs also have OFA certification on their patellas which means they do not
have loose kneecaps that can sometimes incapacitate a dog and require surgery. My black minis have OFA hip
Xrays to make sure they have no hip dyplasia. In general I have tested my dogs for as much as I could, and I feel very
confident that you will be getting a very healthy and sound puppy.
9. WHAT TYPE OF DOG FOOD ARE YOU USING?
With the recent recall of so many dogs foods, it is a concern for every
dog owner. My dogs are now on Eukanuba Premium Performance, and they are doing very well on this food.
The previous food I was using was good up until a few months ago, when my dogs started to develop very loose stools. Ekanuba
was recommended to me by several of my breeder friends, and also my vet. Of course, my puppies are fed Eukanuba puppy food
small breed. Additionally, I mix a little bit of canned dog food into the dry food just for a little flavor. My
dogs are spoiled and will not eat just the dry dog food.
10. LAST BUT NOT LEAST
I am always available to assist you in any way. Help is just an
email or phone call away. Hope this information has been very helpful.
