Standard Poodles??? UPDATE...Very Disappointed!

[Tuffcookie]

We lost our yellow Lab (Hunter) in June, due to cancer. We still have Dudley, a male Shih Tzu, who is about 8 years old. I just got a call from another city employeee. Her niece is moving into an apartment and has to find a home for her 2 yr old female black standard poodle.

I have always wanted a standard poodle. We had a toy when I was little and they are so smart.

Anyone here have a standard poodle? What should I know? I am very seriously considering this!

TC

UPDATE:

It was not the niece of the employee that had the dog. The niece had placed the poodle with another woman. It was this other woman that was moving (out of state, I might add) and she did not want to take the dog with her. She had contacted the niece to see if she wanted her dog back. The niece said she would never have placed her with the lady had she known her level of commitment! The niece already had another dog that did not get along with the poodle so she asked her aunt (who works where I work) to put the word out.
Now the lady that has the dog has changed her mind! She is going to take the dog with her! I was so excited today thinking about picking her up tonight. Even though I had not planned on getting another dog just now, once the opportunity arose, I was looking forward to it.
I guess I'll give Dudley some extra cuddling tonight.

 

[minkydog]

What should you know?! That their the best dang dog around. My old Minky is a big standard, around 80-lbs. I think most males are about 65-lbs, with females being a bit smaller. I never thought of myself as a poodle person until we got Minky. He is very loyal, smart, easy to housebreak, easy to obedience train, and he doesn't take up as much space as you'd think. And he is great with my handicapped son.

Poodles can have some health problems, like seizures and knee problems. Minky developed seizures when he was about 4. We give him medication and he's under control. His biggest health issue has been arthritis. But then, he's pretty old for a big dog.

Personally, I will never have any other kind of dog. I am completely sold on Standard Poodles. DawnCT should be along any second to confirm everything I've said. She had Jude for a long time, and now she has Conner.

 

[MiniGirl]

Deware the standard poodle!!! They will come into your life and steal your heart. I had my Rex for almost 13 years before we had to put him down. This was a couple of years ago, and just typing this makes me all teary. I still miss him and can't bring myself to get another dog just yet. He was such a great dog. He was smart, easy to train, very loyal, and just a great big lap dog. LOL!! My kids used him as a pillow sometimes, too. My only negative would be that they are higher maintainance than many other dogs. They don't shed like most dogs, so their hair will continue to grow and get longer and longer. Grooming them yourself is doable, but it can be a chore. Fortunately, they tend to love being groomed, so you aren't having to fight them during the process. Taking them to the groomer is another option, but, of course, that is more expensive.

 

[minkydog]

oh, yeah. Sorry, I forgot about the grooming. But on the other hand, they don't shed No wearing a dog-fur coat when you go out!

 

[Tuffcookie]

I'm prepared for the grooming costs. After having a Lab, I'm excited to get a dog that doesn't shed! I was used to "tumbleweed"!

TC

 

[Kae]

I gal I used to work with showed them & had quite a few. They were always great dogs. Now when she wasn't showing her dogs she did a standard real short cut on them.

Kae

 

[golfgal]

We had a standard poodle/sheepdog mix growing up and it was the smartest dog around. He was really easy to train as well. The no shedding thing was a big plus (think sheepdog hair/poodle curly ).

 

[duketennisgal]

Other than the grooming they are amazing dogs! My parents have a standard apricot female. She is a giant dog though, around 90 lbs (all the litters from the parent dogs are huge). She does have a seizure problem, the first time it happened it really freaked me out but she's on medication now and hasn't had one in a very long time.

They are very smart dogs, too smart sometimes! She's also a great guard dog which really suprised me, when I think poodle I don't think guard dog.

One of the best things to me is the fact that she doesn't shed, I have allergies and she's the one pet my parents have had that does not get me problems. I can't have a dog in my condo but once I buy a house I plan to get a standard poodle immediately.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I have a toy poodle named Libby and she has been the best dog ever. We love her! If I were to get a big dog, I would strongly consider a standard poodle. I have seen several and they are just beautiful.

 

[ladyhawk14624]

I grew up always having toy poodles. After I was married we got a standard poodle. He was amazing. He was small for a standard though, probably the runt of the litter. He lived to be 13. Now we have dogs that shed and although I love them to death I hate all the hair. Poodles are super smart too. Post a pic when you get one. (see....I'm convinced you'll be taking the dog!).

 

[rodeo65]

I'm prepared for the grooming costs. After having a Lab, I'm excited to get a dog that doesn't shed! I was used to "tumbleweed"!

TC

That's so funny! We call them dog tumbleweeds too. We have a huge labradoodle - so standard poodle with lab. Unfortunately, his coat is more the lab coat than poodle, although it does grow in length. So...we get a long hair growing, shedding mess. We have to have him groomed but still get tumbleweeds. So NOT fair!

On the huge plus side - he is so smart (poodle) and loveable (lab). Best of both breeds! I had the mid sized poodle as a kid and he was great too!

 

[yoopermom]

Not to bash labradoodles, but when people ask me about them, I steer them towards a standard poodle, instead. They tend to be very smart, trainable, want to please you, etc. Many circuses in the olden days used poodles in their dog acts for a reason! And I would personally rather pay a groomer once in a while, rather than have a shedding dog "constantly". They're lovely!
Terri

 

[erincon23]

My parents had a standard poodle (he's still around, lives with my brother now, who also has another standard -- one black, one white). What a great dog! They have definite personalities, and need to be kept occupied -- agility classes would be great for a standard. We have a mini poodle, and she's nowhere near as interesting or as smart -- maybe it's just this particular dog, but I don't think so. Both my boys have decided they're getting standards when they're on their own, from their contact with Seamus.

 

[NotUrsula]

I love them, but I'm a city dweller, so I don't have one. IME, Standards need regular run time, and I'm not a runner, so since I don't have a lot of land, I don't own one.

They were originally bred as hunting dogs, meant to retrieve fowl and even bring down deer.

 

[Anna_Marie]

My best friend has two standard poodles. They are the most loveable dogs! If we could have a dog, I would choose that breed. Hers are about 5 and 2, with no seizure problems as of yet.

 

[DisneyMim]

I grew up with a standard poodle. He was the greatest dog, thought he was human. LOL!! Very smart, loyal, and great pets. My brother has a standard poodle (my dog nephew) and he is a wonderful dog. As this is the Dis...Rocky loves WDW!! When my brother's family goes to Disney they always board him at Epcot. Now I know that it is closed now, but my brother toured the new Pet care center and said it was great!

 

[TLuvsD]

We have a black standard poodle female, now 10. She's about 55lbs and wonderful. We get her groomed about every 6 to 8 weeks (I leave her fur grow longer in the winter). She's smart, obedient and an absolute love. Great with kids, loves her family, doesn't cause trouble in the neighborhood (behind us they have a dog that will bark for hours, ours just ignores her). No health problems until she tore her ACL chasing leaves...just like a quarterback. She's fully recovered, bouncy, happy girl.
She does have a bath inbetween groomings, she is coaxed into the stall shower and just stands there while we wash her. Not too happy about it, but co-operative.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

So sorry it didnt work out for you.

When the time is right I know you will have another bff (best furry friend) to lgive lots of love to.

 

[Jennasis]

I'd be willing to bet that the lady who is moving is not magically taking the dog with her now. Instead, she is probably embarassed about the berating by the former owner and told the girl she was keeping it.

Dollars to donuts that dog is going to end up at the pound or, if the dog is lucky, she will offer it to someone else privately.

I would suggest contacting the local pound/humane society/aspca in the next few days and inquire about any "new arrivals".

 

[Tuffcookie]

I sent an email to the niece this morning telling her I hoped Lacey had a good home but, if for any reason,her present owner couldn't keep her to keep me in mind. I have concerns that she will move to FL with her, not be able to find an apt that will accept a dog, and Lacey will end up in a shelter. The niece is this girl's boss. The girl is moving to FL to work at another branch of the business they are opening down there.

TC