Train Puppies To Stay With You

I always train puppies to stay with me. I walk my puppies on a leash from the time they are 8 weeks old for at least 10 minutes every day. Even 5 minutes of this gets them oriented to stay with a human when they are out and about. Later, around 8 months I start letting them off leash in a larger area providing it is fully fenced. My ranch is 5 acres, fully fenced, so it's a perfect training ground for this. I want my puppies to know that if it ever came to be that they slipped away from me in an unfenced area they are conditioned to return to me when I call them. However, this is not to say that I would EVER deliberately let a poodle go off leash in an uncontained area. Even the most trained Poodle can bolt if surprised or is over stimulated by something irrisistable like a rabbit crossing the path.

Actions to Take To Recover Your Lost Poodle

So your poodle got away. Make Flyers offering a reward and put them up on every street corner or bulletin board you can find. Once you've covered the are you think your poodle might be start putting flyers up beyond that area until the area is doubled.

Poodles can run for long periods and can cover a tremendous amount of ground when doing so. Alert animal Services. Let the Grooming Shops, Vet Hospitals, Feed and Pet Stores know by dropping off your flyers. Most dogs are returned if these actions are taken quickly.

What Do You Really Find At The End Of The Rainbow?

Leproochauns!!

Ivy and Ringo had a blast on St. Patrick's Day in San Francisco!

Poodles love to party for sure.

You two are SOOOO cute!

What Do You Really Find At The End Of A Rainbow?

lePROOchaunWitt.pdf Download this file

Leproochauns!

Ringo and Ivy are so happy to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in beautiful San Francisco!

You two are soo funny!

Maddie Is Loved!

Jacki---Maddie (aka Gina) is everything and more.  We fell in love instantly and now can't remember life without her.  She won the heart of our male standard within two days and now they are best friends--playing, romping, together nonstop.  She made one little mistake in ten days--has fully got the housebreaking down.  She is as advertised---really smart and a total love.  We can't thank you enough.  You are right--your dogs are a cut above the rest! Brenda

Poocation!

What a trip so far. After arriving at the Old Bahama Bay Marina we hooked up with Carmen Rolle who is a bus driver for the Grand Bahama Island. He took us all around the island pointing out places of interest and telling us of the Bahamian life.  His family has been here forever. For you that have read the Poisionwood Bible, he showed us a Poisionwood tree and explained how a lot of the native plants are used during a nature walk.  He introduced us to two local restaurants where we had some of the best local food imaginable. Last night he took us by a local home where an old guy was making conch salad using mollusks we had never heard about.  We are still alive this morning and it was the best conch salad we have ever had.  John Travolta has a home here. I guess if its good enough for him it’s good enough for us.

After much thought about which way to go (we actually ended further North than originally intended as Steve chose to run for comfort rather than directness when the gulf stream was getting surly coming across) we have decided that we will start with the Abacos cruise—we leave here today or tomorrow and will anchor at Great Sale Cay (uninhabited but world class anchorage and views) and from there make our way to various several day stops at Green Turtle Cay, Spanish, Guana, Marsh Harbor, etc.  we will see how long that takes us—I suspect a while—the snapper and grouper fishing is fantastic around those areas and we are looking forward to some of that.

That’s it for now.

Steve, Teresa and Winston

See the full gallery on Posterous

WOW Maks Is Sure A Good Looking Poodle Dog!

Jacki here are some new photo's of Maks I just took this week. I love his coat like this but as it starts to get warm we will have to go for a shorter and more comfortable clip,

but right now he is sure cuddly. 

See the full gallery on Posterous

Poodles Like Their Space

Poodles like to have their space. Too small a space promotes territorial issues when more than one Poodle is present. When mangaging a pack keep enough space there for your Poodles to be comfortable especially at times of high activity like early morning or around feeding time. This will prevent outbursts which can be upsetting.

What If My Poodle Bolts?

A poodle, or any dog, if thinking of bolting, will give you a clue that they are disoriented and about to bolt by running a little ways then stopping, sometimes turning to look back, they will be standing in a very alert in a sort of stiffened position, almost as if on tippy toes,  they'll be looking quickly side to side. It's that moment you should realize your poodle is probably going to bolt. Start recruiting help immediately if there are others around. You need; a leash, a runner to follow your dog should your dog go through with the bolt action, and you in your car to follow in case your runner wears out. If the area is fenced but there are open gates yell to those around you to please block the exits. Golden rule is to NEVER initiate a chase. If the poodle starts to bolt, give it moment before you start a chase but if you are going to loose sight of your poodle then you or someone will have no choice but to run like the wind to keep up. Fortunately with cell phones we have a better chance of tracking our runners while another gets a car for added speed and endurance.

What To Do When Your Poodle Gets Away From You In A Strange Place

If your Poodle gets away from you in a strange place and is disoriented follow these steps:

Stay Calm

Don't scream your Poodle's name, they pick up on your fearful emotions through your voice tone and this sends them into a fear response which leads to flight mode. Call your Poodle's name in a calm voice but loud enough for your Poodle to here you.

Squat down and call your Poodle in a calm happy tone.

Walk slowly toward your Poodle. 

If your dog is not leashed ask for someone to go get a leash that you can slip over your dogs head

If your dog starts to run ask the person who is most capable of keeping an eye on your dog to run after him/her. Go get your car and follow in your car.

Always good to drill this before you are doing it in real life. 

HOLD ONTO THAT NEW POODLE!

When receiving a new Poodle into your 

possession you should follow these rules until the 

Poodle is fully acclimated:

Always use a slip lead. Dog collars are made for 

identification and can slip over a Poodle's head quite 

easily in most cases because of the Poodle's narrow 

scull.  Slip leads will tighten and won't let your dog 

get away from you. The old fashioned "choke chains" and 

also the newer halter type "head apparatus" is a safer 

choice for new dogs. Remember Control the head - "Control 

the Dog"

Be sure to have a firm grip on your Poodle's leash 

BEFORE opening your car door when transporting your new 

Poodle from your car to your home. Better yet, drive 

your car into your garage or a space that is surrounded 

by a barrier so that in case your new Poodle does get 

away from you he or she will not be in the open spaces 

and lost.

More tomorrow.....

DIGGING BEING A STANDARD POODLE DOG

Hi Jacki,

Today is two years since we picked up Genevieve, the four year old with the great aversion to other dogs, actually most animals.  She will be seven years old on March 27th and is as full of energy as ever.

But, I must say that Genevieve is one of the smartest, most affectionate and gentle dogs I have ever known.  I can't thank you enough for allowing her to become a part of our family.  My brother and I are very attached and spoil her rotten.  In spite of that, she is very well behaved when required.  I take her in a bank, post office and mechanic shop where she can be standing by someone for some time before they even notice that she is there.  Where she used to be on constant alert for other animals, she is beginning to relax and more likely to seek affection from a human.

I don't believe I told you that I am allergic to most dogs, so it was very important to me to have a poodle so I could truly enjoy her and I especially like larger dogs.  In other words, she is perfect.

I do get asked about her long nose.  Is that a part of your breeding?  The groomer grooms several standard poodles and none with this long nose.  And her eyes slant which makes her very exotic.  I'm constantly told she looks regal, aristocratic, and the like.  I'm constantly asked, is she a show dog?  She is amazing.

But, I had to include a picture of her digging in the dirt like a real dog.  We have moles and with all the neighbors having dogs, we can't use poison.  

Thank you again,

Sandi

Hi Sandi,

Thank you so much for updating me on how Genevieve is doing. I really love the pictures of her. She is so pretty!

The long muzzle is common in the high quality lines that are in the show ring of today. Breeders have worked hard to get the proper length of muzzle instead of the broad skulled short muzzled poodle of days gone by.

Gevevieve's eye shape is what every quality breeder wants, per the standard of the breed. The eye should be oval shaped, not round.

You can learn more about the Standard of the breed at www.poodleclubofamerica.org under the Illustrated Standard of the Breed 

I just LOVE the digging picture!

So happy that she is bringing you joy. Genevieve looks very happy and loved in her pictures.

Thanks again

Woof,

Jacki

See the full gallery on Posterous

KITTY, KITTY, KITTY

 She reminded me so much of her Grand-Dam, Ella. Calm and insightful. I thought of her as having a touch of magic.

This proved to be true when her prospective owners called me to inquire asking who I might have available in a black female puppy. A family of four with two children in an age bracket I felt mature enough to be kind and gentle to my one special girl available. 

The man explained to me that the family was excited about adding a new family member. He said they had been playing a "naming game" and that possible names had been posted on their refrigerator. The kids had put typical silly kid names up for the pup so they were still considering name suggestions. When I told him I had been calling her "Kitty", the line went quiet. After a few moments he said, "You're kidding right?" I explained I thought the name fit her and that I had been having fun saying KITTY, KITTY, KITTY when playing with her.

He replied, "That's very strange because the only name my wife, who was the least excited about a new puppy, had reluctantly submitted a name choice because she wasn't happy with the other names that had been picked. He said it was in BIG RED letters on the refrigerator as to block out all the undesirable choices. It was "KITTY"! We both got cold chills.

Well needless to say Kitty became a part of the family as is living happily ever after with her loving family. 

Mom's a photographer and sent this lovely New Years Greeting.

GROOMING YOUR STANDARD POODLE DOG AT HOME

Dear Jacki,

I have read your advice on grooming and learned so much. Your experience and guidance is always clear and professionally presented. 
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions.
I love your website. I began looking at your site while I was waiting for my girl to be born, and I have found it extremely informative. Poodles, standards in particular,  are such a great and versatile breed but good mentoring is a definite requirement for the neophyte. Which I am.
One of the first things I learned and implemented was – and I can’t remember what you all it – laying her down on her back between my legs and getting her accustomed to being handled. What a valuable lesson. Not only is she agreeable to the  grooming process, she earned her Canine Good Citizen title at 9 months old. Being handled is the hardest thing for puppies to calmly accept.
Your generosity is very much appreciated.
Thanks again,
LC

Monsieur Louie The Poodle Phones Home

Happy thoughts from an Admiration Poodle family.

"Louie is the best dog in the WORLD and we absolutely adore him! He is a great addition to our family and just perfect for us. When we go for walks, people are always smiling & commenting about how beautiful he is. He is such a sweet, loving dog and we are so happy we have him."

SB

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Poodle Colors: What Color is My Poodle?

According to the AKC registration application the variety of Poodle colors vary:

• Apricot
• Black
• Blue
• Brown
• Cafe Au Lait
• Cream
• Gray
• Red
• Silver
• Silver Beige
• White

Many opinions surround similar colors and are debated among breeders, owners and Poodle fans when it comes to a particular Poodle color.

To truly discuss color let's first talk about "clearing" of coat color. This is a process by which a Poodle's coat color changes through his/her life until it stabilizes in color at about 3 years of age. In some cases even after age 3 the coat color can continue to "clear". For example Poodles that start off with what is thought to be a black coat can fade to blue or gray and even a platinum Silver when they are finished with coat clearing. 

A true Apricot starts off literally the color of an orange then clears in hue to, in some cases, a very light peach almost unrecognizable as the same color as the once brilliant orange of the puppy one brought home from the breeder at a young age. Puppies that start off dark brown can clear to what some would call a Cafe Au Lait (coffee with cream) or even a Silver Beige as they mature. Where as Red puppies can clear to what one would be inclined to perceive the coat as an apricot. A true cream starts off with a solid coat of dark peach, not peach tipped ears or splotches of peach on the coat but a dark buttery color. Creams clear to a  buttery color that is consistent throughout the coat. Where as whites start with ear tips and perhaps a patch down the center of the back that has a peachy looking color. Then there is the "Ice white" puppy that is snow white from birth.  White to white breedings that produce these ultra white Poodles can be risky as a pure white genetic line can be prone to health issues that are not worth the risk to get that ice white coat from birth. Especially when the puppies that are bred more diversely with a black Poodle here and there on the pedigree will have a better chance of having the gorgeous black skin pigment around the lips, nose and eyes we like to see and will eventually clear to white.

It must be mentioned that coat care has a lot to do with the color a Poodle may clear to and how fast. Take for example the Silver, Grey or Blue coats which go through sort of a brown stage as they clear. I have seen young blue Poodles that I would swear were brown throughout during their adolescent and young adult stages of life. Then I see later on and they have cleared to a gorgeous dark pewter coat as a 3 year old adult knowing that they started off black makes the transformation even more interesting. An adroit groomer will use specific products to bring out the best in a Poodle coat at the different stages of development and change.

To get the most out of coat color one must keep the Poodle out of the sun. In the case of white coat clearing from a creamy puppy coat, they must be out of the sun and water. Proper shampoos and conditioners must be applied. White, blue and silver coats need a good bluing products in order to bring out the white in the coat like many whitening shampoos, conditioners and coat dressings found at www.Poodlesupply.com. Coats of every color should be bathed a minimum of once a week to really bring out the preferred coat color.

A breeder will register a Poodle marking the color he/she anticipates the coat will clear to. so if a puppy looks to be prone to being a blue when older the breeder will mark that the puppy is blue on the registration papers even though the puppy appears to be black at the time of filling out the papers. Very seldom does a coat of a 5, 10 or 15 year old remain the same as when the dog was 2 months or even 2 years old. Again one must take into consideration the coat care the dog receives as mentioned above. 

Jett Doing Well

Hi Jacki,
I am the owner of one of your puppies from the litter Natalie had in the summer of 2001. I do not know if your recall the black puppy we named Jett. He is now nine years old and doing very well. People can't believe he is nine years old. He is still a happy playful poodle. He is such a great dog, and we love him very much. I was wondering if Natalie is still with you. I remember her being such a good mother to her puppies.
I hope you and all your poodles are doing well.
Nina 

Little Ella Goes to NASA

A note from Kathy, Little Ella the Standard Poodle Puppy in training at NASA :

Just wanted to let you know that tomorrow is Ella's first day at
"work".  I want to do this "just right", so I have been giving it a lot of
thought.  Wish us luck!!

NASA (where I work) is on Edwards Air Force Base, and I was aware that they
have a therapy dog there.  I called the guy who owns him and he brought the
dog over for me to meet on Friday.  We talked a long time and he said I can
bring Ella over any time to go around and get "socialized".  At least the
people over there that he knows are accustomed to the energy needed to be
around these dogs.  I will probably have to train the people at NASA more
than I will have to train Ella!!

The Standard Poodle - An Exceptional and Lovely Pet

Having a Standard Poodle as pet will surely bring extra happiness and
excitement into anyone’s life. This variety of Poodle is often
accredited for their gorgeous hair and overall appearance. But aside
from their physical attributes, Standards are also kind and loyal
pets. For this reason, one cannot go wrong choosing this furry
companion.

Carefree and happy, devoted to their families, they want to be close
to them most of time; hence it’s not a good idea ignoring them because
they may easily become depressed. Another character that makes the
Standard stand out is its ability to learn quickly.

Children will no doubt adore having them around since they are such
well-behaved pets Moreover, they are intelligent dogs that can adapt
well with training so you’ll be proud taking them to dog shows. We
love our Standard Poodles and so will you!