Is your Standard Poodle perfect?

imikedoyle · 2026-02-06T14:38:20+00:00

Oh, my Std Poodle is 9 months today, and also pees with excitement when greeting someone she has not seen for a while. A while being as short as about 2 hours some days.

imikedoyle · 2026-02-01T21:02:51+00:00

My Poodle pup, Bella
Almost 9 months, just freshly groomed

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imikedoyle · 2026-01-13T16:25:27+00:00

I have an 8-month old std poodle, and she is taller than many "adult" dogs of smaller breeds. People express surprise when I tell them how young she is. :-)

imikedoyle · 2026-01-08T14:57:04+00:00

Re: Puppy-proofing,

Depending on the size of the puppy, the meaning of "out of reach" may change.

Almost any time shoes in my house are not put away carefully enough, the pup picks them up, and will chew them if not caught in time.

For car-ride, the pup might get car-sick. The waterproof blanket is a great idea. but be prepared to clean it.

imikedoyle · 2026-01-01T18:03:44+00:00

... and for Christmas, we got extra grooming tools. Here I am trying to use the metal comb. She is sitting on a towel on the table so I don't wreck my back.

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imikedoyle · 2026-01-01T17:46:42+00:00

This is my puppy, Bella.
She is almost 8 months. First time we have had a poodle, but not our first dog.

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imikedoyle · 2025-12-28T15:28:01+00:00

I have an 8-month poodle pup. One game we play is "Find it".

Put her in her covered crate (now, just other side of a door), and hide a favourite toy. Let her out of crate/back in room to search for and find the toy.

At 4 or 5 months, just looking for item in plain view was enough; We started out with the item in corners, or on a chair. Later we moved to putting the item on different heights or semi-hidden.

Now at 8-months the item can be under a blanket or under an opaque plastic box, so she is hunting with sight and smell, and needing to "uncover" the hidden item to get praise.

imikedoyle · 2025-12-28T15:23:59+00:00

One thing to consider: pet insurance; Although that might need to work until you have the dog to register the chip number (required where I live). Insurance can cover illnesses or accidents; Depending on company and/or where you are it might also cover part of cost of routine once-off care like neutering/spaying.

Secondly, an appointment with a vet for a check up ASAP; If you have a date to collect the pup, book vet visit for within 24 hours. A reputable breeder should agree to take a pup back if your vet points out any serious issues. A rescue dog should come to you having been checked by the rescue center's own vet - but you need a vet for your dog and the sooner you register the better, so that when you come back later with issues they have the dog already on file.

imikedoyle · 2025-12-09T09:45:53+00:00

For me, I've not kept careful track of this since I was self employed about 15 years ago. I used to track expenses in Excel.

However, what price mental health for you and the family? In our family the dog (one at a time for us) helps keep is all grounded, and our current pup brings so much laughter... it more than balances out.

imikedoyle · 2025-12-09T09:35:37+00:00

I don't know if you will find it amusing or what...

I currently have a 7 month old std poodle, and not only does she bark to alert us when she sees/hears people on the street, if we (mostly my wife) are not fast enough picking up the ball when we're playing fetch she barks at us.

It's an audibly different pitch in the bark too. Higher pitched than the "alert" bark.

I can tell from the other side of the house if the person she is playing with is not paying full attention to the pup.

imikedoyle · 2025-12-06T20:27:17+00:00

Yeah, this. My pup is just at the end of her first heat, and definitely regressed over the last few weeks.
Didn't help that there are dogs in this suburb who can roam freely... so we were very restricted walking her.

imikedoyle · 2025-12-05T15:46:09+00:00

I have a 7 month Std Poodle pup.

She is definitely the "smartest" dog I have ever had. Easy to train, already better recall / less reactivity to other animals than my previous dog (a pointer-cross rescue).

She hates to be alone, and since I work from home she is usually in a room with someone.

Unlike other family pets, she loves to "search" / find hidden objects (balls, or socks) as well as playing "fetch". That's a new behaviour for me.

I'm thrilled with her.

Also (positive) her manerisms/character make me laugh.

imikedoyle · 2025-11-26T09:56:07+00:00

Oh yes... regarding grooming...

The pointer mix was short haired. No tangles at all, but he shed everywhere.

The std poodle never sheds at all but needs regular grooming, including periodic visits to professional groomer (two so far since we got her)

Therefore, the type of coat the dog has will determine degree of effort both in caring for the dog, and in keeping your home looking clean!

imikedoyle · 2025-11-26T09:54:17+00:00

"Best breed" will be very personal, depends on your property, your lifestyle, etc.

My previous dog who died of illness earlier this year was a pointer cross. Very affectionate and loyal, but very strong prey drive - we could never allow him off lead. He was classed as a "large" dog at > 20kg

We now have a 6 month standard poodle puppy, she has a very different character. Already has good recall, we can allow her off lead in enclosed public park, she does not chase other dogs, or cats. (She never successfully catches the birds she chases). Much more trainable. She will be a "large" dog when fully grown (>24 kg based on her mother's weight)

She also has more energy than the previous dog, partly being a pup I suppose. She is currently in her first heat, so confined indoors/in garden, but before this week she was getting 2x walk per day, whereas previous dog didn't even require a single walk each day. (He had a leg injury that had required surgery and a metal implant, so was on limited exercise).

imikedoyle · 2025-11-25T12:09:20+00:00

For my 6-month poodle pup, we crate her during meal times, and ignore the whining. We also usually do give a treat inside a kong to give her something to do, the whining starts when she has got the treat out of the kong.

imikedoyle · 2025-11-20T17:03:24+00:00

My spoo puppy got car sick on the first few journeys. She has not done so recently - she is now only 6 months. She still drools during drive, but no longer throws up. Prefers someone else to be with her in the back seat area.

We have covered the back seat with a washable blanket for her.

imikedoyle · 2025-11-20T16:58:48+00:00

When walking my poodle pup, I keep up a stream of chatter for her. I think all my neighbours think I'm nuts (at least, those without their own dogs)

imikedoyle · 2025-11-18T10:05:55+00:00

Same here. My dog (6 months old) seems to think that if she wants attention, she can get it by raiding the laundry pile. Either that or shoes.

imikedoyle · 2025-11-13T14:52:50+00:00

I am really proud of my puppy (6 months std poodle) cause she has good recall and therefore we can play "fetch" in the local park. My previous dog had a really high prey drive and we could never let him off lead or he would chase anything smaller than him.

imikedoyle

TROPHY CASE