Standard Poodles and hello!

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Louism

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Hello all,

My name is Louis, Im a 22yo and although Im not a horse person I am a hound person :)
I will be moving next year which will enable me to get a hound of my own. After speaking to Cayla, I ws convinced to follow my heart and go for the breed which i have always loved which is...the GSD.
I have had a number of others on the short list which I have slowly removed.
I wanted to remove the Standard poodle off the list (I have always loved these) so i decided to go and see my friends family's standard poodles. I can however say that they are firmly on the list as I fell in love with them. They were so intelligent! They have 3, each totally different but all totally living for the family. After the guard dog stage when i entered and they got to know me a little better they we so gentle. We took them for a walk and let them off in a secure field to play. They were so healthy (fed raw) and it was such a lovely sight. After the walk was over, they each found a human and fell asleep in our laps.

I will eventually have 2 dogs, I am currently thinking 1 poodle and 1 GSD however I would like to introduce one maybe a year later (i would review this at the time).

I have a few questions then :)

1) what are peoples experiences with standards?
2) Would they get along if I was to introduce one a year later? (I mean this breed wise)
3) what one would people go for first (this is my first own, own dog if that makes sense).

I able able to bring dogs into work (they would be in an enclosed run outside, walked at lunch and have general interaction during the day and inside the house at nights. They will be pets, i have no interest in showing and want them bred for health not looks (silly poofy balls or a frog dog). I dont care if they are slightly too tall or or if their nose is a little wonky, health and being able to do activities with them (Not dancing) is paramount.

Cheers guys!
 
Welcome to the forums, Louise!

Another poodle lover - hurray! I was feeling somewhat lonely in here (though I suspect there are closet poodle people here, just haven't come out yet, tee hee).

Standard poodles, IMO are superb. I would have one, however a miniature is taking up so much of my life with grooming (which I do for a living) and it needs to be small enough to fit thru a small dog flap. So Miniature it is for me - and I'm smitten anyway.

As you have already experienced, poodles are so full of fun. They are canine clowns and will do whatever they dream up to make you laugh. And while that might sound a bit like cognitive thinking, I don't put that past them. A few other things to know about poodles:

- I was told by a poodle breeder/show judge/all round expert that their personalities in general are somewhat dictated by their color. Odd, I know, but it seems to be true in my much more limited experience. So from that point of view, avoid Red, Apricot, Browns. Go for Black or White. I do know of nice versions of every color. However the red/brown/apricot ones that I know tend to be bit scatty. The more even temperament tends to be black/white/cream. My brother has an absolutely cracking nature Blue standard as well. No matter WHAT color you go for, make sure you get one that you've met the parents and think the temperament is what you want.

- Poodles do NOT think of themselves of dogs. And while they do get along with other breeds, they tend to think of other canine counterparts as BENEATH them. They do see themselves as higher on the food chain and will want to be bonded with the first person they meet. So if you're getting your pup/dog - be sure that YOU are the first one that he/she meets because that's the one that s/he will lock on to be the love of their life.

- A poodle if properly socialised should accept another dog if introduced later.

- The best poodles are ones that are mentally and physically exercised regularly.

-Don't count on your poodle NOT wanting to dance LOL - cos chances are he'll teach himself to do so! They do well in flyball and can in agility (though sometimes they lose a bit of time because they bounce rather than go flat out - tho the agility experts will be able to tell you better.

- Do expect a fairly expensive grooming bill. Yes, you can DIY it, but my best advice would be don't try to learn it yourself - go to a grooming school for a day's tuitition to lean how. If you are near Scotland, I can give you the name/number of the place to go (the poodle person mentioned above). But their grooming needs are far greater than that of almost any other breed of dog, so be prepared in advance. Ring round to groomers if you don't want to DIY it - get prices - and most importantly - VISIT the shops! I charge roughly £65 for a standard poodle in scissor trim and it must be done every 4-6 weeks. Some I clip short every 6-8 weeks and charge a wee bit less, but even if the clip is a short one (called a kennel clip or retriever clip) you still should have the feet/face/tail done and the ears plucked a bit more regularly.

My brother, who has the standard poo, used to have a GSD (that was a police academy reject) and I don't think he could say which one he likes better.

Good luck! :)
 
Hi,
Thanks for such a thorough explanation.
Just to clarify it is Louis not Louise which people always seems to read Louism as Louise on the car forums I am on (I should have learned by now).
I would be after a black bitch. My friend has 1 white, one black and one which was bred by a black and a white.
Grooming wise they will always be clipped short (I have my masculinity to consider :P). I have a friend who is a groomer who I am sure would be happy to show me what to do and would always be there if I needed any help. The family with the poodles also clip their own and they are only up the road from me. I am in Hertfordshire so I am quite far from Scotland I am afraid 
It was also great to hear that your brother has gone from one to the other and loves them both.
 
Doh! Sorry, didn't mean to insult your masculinity by calling you Louise! ;) Just me moving at about 1000 mph as usual. Sorry!

LOL, and as for the longer hair do equating with being too feminine...if I suggested to my husband that I was going to shave short OUR mini poodle, he'd be rather upset! (go see the piccies here http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=415170) He loves the fluff ball erm...fluffy! LOL But if I were to put him in to a show trim (eg poms/bracelets on the feet and big liony bit) he'd probably put his foot down to that too!

So you're sorted for the grooming bit -that's cool.

They're fabby retrievers and if you were to work her, you'd certainly be exercising both mind and body.

My brother certainly does love his German breeds (think he's going to add a Dachshund to his mix) to add to his German car collection. LOL
 
Welcome :) While I forgive you for not deciding to join the GSD mafia yet (PM me if you need a breeder recommendation when you do :p) I agree a standard poodle is a smart choice and there are several competing at working trials alongside the sheps in the UK :D
 
CaveCanem said:
Welcome :) While I forgive you for not deciding to join the GSD mafia yet (PM me if you need a breeder recommendation when you do :p) I agree a standard poodle is a smart choice and there are several competing at working trials alongside the sheps in the UK :D
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Hello and thank you. I have been following these threads from a few weeks under a work name however i decided to speak and as such needed to sign up as a solo :)

I will have a shep eventually, its just which one would be best to come first. We shall see what happens. I like to be prepared well in advance for such life changing decisions.
 
I briefly worked for a breeder last year, they were so bloody high maintenance it really but me off, but of course you don't have to have a show clip!!! ("DO NOT let her near water whatsoever. Don't put her back in kennel unless it's TOTALLY DRY. Then check again. Then an hour later incase she's peed") arrgh!
Anyhoo, that aside, they were a bit hyper but incredibly clever. They're actually on my "to have before I die" list now too!
 
stargirl88 said:
I briefly worked for a breeder last year, they were so bloody high maintenance it really but me off, but of course you don't have to have a show clip!!! ("DO NOT let her near water whatsoever. Don't put her back in kennel unless it's TOTALLY DRY. Then check again. Then an hour later incase she's peed") arrgh!
Anyhoo, that aside, they were a bit hyper but incredibly clever. They're actually on my "to have before I die" list now too!
Click to expand...

lol hello, i wont be performing the show clip, it will be short (ish) and i will call it the man clip.
 
Just a little update on this, I hope to get my puppy in march from a breeder I like however if not march and her pups, she said she would help me find one at the right time through her contacts.

So I will be looking for a black standard poodle early next year and a shep the following spring.
Woop woop.
 
My parents used to breed and show standards, my 1st dog was a chocolate bitch called Bonnie, she was a real character and used to take my hand in her mouth and lead me to where she wanted to go! usually the biscuit cupboard!! She used to sleep in the bed with me ok so she used to have most of the bed it was only a single one! We had many standards over the years but she always stood out as the best. Good luck with the pup and I look forward to pics!!
 
Thanks guys, it cannot come soon enough, they are a lovely breed (again looks wise only with the man clip). It would be great if it could be March, I better get a wriggle on with finding the right house then aye :P
 
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