SO YOU WANT TO BE A POODLE PERSON?
A family decided the Poodle was for them and they were for a Poodle. They purchased a book, gathered information and were on their way to find the ideal companion. But I advised before buying their puppy that by nature a Poodle desires to be clean and well groomed. This is an important responsibility of Poodle ownership and absolutely must be observed. If you can’t do the work yourself, you may find the expense of professional grooming does not fit your budget. Then perhaps you should consider some other breed.
Of utmost importance, please buy your puppy from a reliable breeder, one who is more concerned with its genetic makeup, rather than its sale price. Stay away, as far as possible, from the backyard breeder or puppy mill operator, whose experience in breeding is limited to, “I have a male, you have a female…let’s have puppies. Let’s see how much we can sell them for!”
Attend a local dog show, buy a catalog to find local Poodle breeders, or inquire in the grooming area. This would be your logical way of finding a breeder of quality. Of course, reputable breeders also deal with “nature” and with her many combinations of genes and chromosomes. But a good reliable breeder will carefully choose and then breed a healthy well-conformed dam to an outstanding sire, both who are, in their knowledgeable judgment without any discernable defects. Their puppies will be clean, well cared for, groomed, sweet smelling, healthy, bright eyed, in good weight and alert. Also all puppies should have a health certificate which shows that they have been dewormed and inoculated regularly.
Choose a Poodle when you want an exceptionally good house dog and are anxious to add a four-legged member to your family. Poodles are not yard dogs, or outside dogs. They need personal contact with their owners who they will give their hearts to. They will guard your house, watch over your property and protect your children. They will become your child’s best friend and yours, too. They will go shopping with you, will go to your children’s ball games, like my daughter’s experience, to become the team’s mascot, to the lakes swimming and to the beach retrieving. Most display their natural instincts and outdo many retriever breeds in the surf. After all, they originated as water retrievers called “PUDEL” in Germany, to be later known as Poodle in English. Watch even the youngest pup splash around in the water bowl, (puddlin’) and the aquatic tie is obvious.
It is said the show trims of today are the result of cold northern waters. The dogs were clipped all over in the warming spring, but come the fall hunting season were prepared for cold water retrieving. The mane was left grown out to protect the chest from ice, etc., and keep the heart and lungs warm. Bracelets protected the joints, while rosettes conserved body heat in the kidney areas. Shaved hind quarters were for freedom of movement while swimming…feet and face were shaved to eliminate icing when dripping wet in freezing weather. Looking so much alike different colored ribbons were attached in the top knots for identification at a distance. That’s the background for your “Puddle” dog! Of course, if yours is not to be a show dog, just put it in a streamlined “pet” trim and enjoy the fact that the Poodle is non-allergenic to anyone in the family and does not shed hair all over the house and furniture. A Poodle, when properly groomed has no body odor whatsoever.
Poodles love to ride and travel well on vacations. Totally people-oriented, they would rather be with you than with their own kind. Acceptance? Motel clerks welcome them, observing, “Oh, a Poodle...of course, you can take it to your room.” Especially when it is squeaky clean, sweet smelling, well behaved and groomed to a “T.”
Producing healthy puppies should be number one in every breeder’s program, followed closely by outstanding good temperament. The dam and sire should compliment each other in genetic strengths and the offspring should conform, as close as possible, to the breed standards set by the American Kennel Club. Such selective breeding produces fine show dogs as well as quality pets. Nothing is 100 percent, but a lot of thought, studying of pedigrees and knowledge of the breed goes into each and every selection. A rather small, caring breeder, one who shows his own line, is best in my eyes. I don’t think the potential of a Poodle is reached when raised in a large kennel. From birth, mine are socialized, becoming part of our family. Yes, show dogs and pets alike.
Grooming prices vary according to size. Seek out a clean grooming shop, one with kind, gentle help who seem dedicated to their profession and care about your puppy as well as your wishes. A well-groomed puppy should present a “picture” when finished…a showcase…and if properly cared for, should be in good spirits when retrieved from the shop. Notice how your dog’s esteem soars when you praise him and tell him how pretty or handsome he looks.
I start clipping my puppies with a #40 blade at three weeks of age, then bathe, brush and blow them dry. Thereafter, it’s a bath every week, with flea control products applied monthly or as recommended by your veterinarian. Grooming becomes a part of the lives of these little guys before they go to their new homes at ten weeks of age for pet puppies, a little longer for show puppies.
You will find puppies raised like this are very clean from the youngest age on, rarely soiling their immediate sleeping or playing areas, much less the living room carpet. The only problem I ever had was trying to keep my young daughter from sleeping with them in the puppy box!
If you feel the monthly expense of having your puppy professionally groomed is a little too much, you can do as I did in the beginning. I read every book I could get my hands on about Poodles and grooming. There are some very good books out on step by step grooming, choice of equipment, etc.
Or, as an alternative, maybe you can find a breeder who is willing to guide you along and be your mentor. Or perhaps, you can volunteer as a part time help in a kennel or grooming shop in your area. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. No one expects your Poodle to look like a “Best Of Breed” show dog the very first time you groom it. Or even the second, or third, or… you get the idea.
Your number one effort should be that you don’t injure or hurt your puppy. Don’t get discouraged about the haircut. Keep in mind that the hair will grow back. Mistakes will only be visible for a while anyway and each time you groom, your puppy will look better and better. Clippers will fit your hand better, the angle of the blade will be right and it will almost float over the clipped areas. It will become second nature to you. This goes for scissors too. A good pair of scissors makes all the difference between a well-groomed Poodle and a disaster. Scissors are to be used only on Poodle hair. No cutting paper, ribbons, rubber bands or anything else whatsoever. Have a Poodle groomer show you how the scissors should cut and how they should feel in your hand…and how to guard them against any and all friendly borrowers…a mistake which, with time, will prove to be a devastating as dropping them on concrete floor!
Dog shows are in good source of learning, especially in the grooming tent areas. Observe how they clip and scissor Poodles, sculpting the hair, wielding their scissors as any other artist does a brush. What is amazing, with devotion and persistence, you too can learn this. Ask questions. Most show professionals are willing to help newcomers, but, remember, frequently these people are very busy and somewhat nervous getting ready for the ring. You could ask what time would be a good time to talk to them. If not, just watch without being intrusive. This may not be the approach you want to take with your pet puppy, but you’ll have to admit, dog shows are fun and very helpful all the way around.
I always found it very important to start early with pups. Take them out, let them see the world and become part of it. Teach them good manners. Like children, a well mannered dog is welcomed most anywhere. At six months of age it would be wise to put your pet pup though a basic obedience course, it creates a tight bond between Poodle and owner. Check in your area for a dog club. They usually put on obedience classes for eight week, one night per week. Actually, they train you how to train your dog, while understanding the process. Get ready to cope with the smart Poodle brain…don’t train too long…this guy learns fast and can get bored with the overkill of repetition, 5-10 minutes is ample. Make it fun, with lots of praise and smiles.
I have tested my older Poodles who had only the basic eight weeks course at six months of age. As late as 7 ½ years later they never forget anything and were always willing to please…a little slower, perhaps, somewhat like their owner, but right on cue, nonetheless. Plus, I learned to use certain words and phrases all through their lifetimes, such as; sit, stay, heel, come, go, down, no, want to go, with an occasional, love you, thrown in for good measure. It became part of their vocabulary, and it is wonderful how much they understand. Poodles always amaze me!
To give you a little insight, I grew up with a brown Standard Poodle. A well-trained aristocrat, he wasn’t suppose to be a pet for us kids. But that was how he ended up. When no one was watching, we would sneak him into our rooms and cuddle him all night. We combed and brushed him on Sundays when we were occasionally allowed to walk him. When I started my own life, my dream was to own a Poodle just like him.
One day it came true! I finally got my very own Poodle, a silver Miniature. I would rather have had a Standard but they were almost impossible to find in south Florida in the nineteen fifties and out of my financial reach. Along with my precious acquisition I scraped up enough for a pair of scissors and electric clippers. After many trips to the library and much burning of the midnight oil, I started to groom my own little fellow.
Let’s face it…he didn’t look too hot at first…but many healthy things got done. Such as ears cleaned, anus glands expressed, toenails cut and kept at a comfortable length. He was also kept free of internal and external parasites, had regular baths and care. Along with the combing and brushing the hair was maintained at a manageable length with an all out attempt at some sort of beginner’s style of grooming.
I volunteered at a grooming shop to learn more of scissoring and clipping, however, I found myself spending most of my time bathing and brushing. Seemed like they couldn’t take a chance on me clipping and scissoring on their clients’ Poodles! After a while, I gave up my nonpaying job, having learned what not to do, went home to learn alone and gradually did.
I couldn’t wait for the hair to grow back so I could groom him again and again, but he did begin to look better each time. While walking him one day a neighbor asked me to do her Poodle and pretty soon another neighbor down the street asked me to do her Poodle, too. Then her friend asked me to do hers. Soon I realized it was time to open a shop. I named it Care-a-lot…because I did. It proved to be a success and did extremely well for the next twenty-five years.
Right from the beginning, I subscribed too Poodle magazines, learned all the cuts and styles and drooled over the gorgeous white Standard Poodles. I studied and memorized pedigrees. If only I could have a fine one like that. Then…once again a dream came true…lo and behold, the day came when I bought my first white Standard, “Tassel” from a breeder I am still friends with… now thirty years later. Little did I realize it was the beginning of my Poodle affair.
I meticulously grew a coat on my gorgeous white bitch. I learned show coat grooming by trial, tribulation, frustration and many a tear. Since I was tied down at the shop I had a handler take her to the first show where unbelievably, she and the grooming were good enough to win a major. Soon I had my first champion…Ch. Care-a-lot’s One in a Million…and I was launched on a quest to eventually breed a truly outstanding Standard Poodle.
Since 1975 when I established the Lake Cove line, I have occasionally raised a litter of puppies. I have painstakingly limited these breedings to only those who in my judgment were the best or most suitable for improvement of the breed. The study of countless pedigrees, personal observation for conformation, temperament and showmanship at innumerable dog shows had been the norm and I have always been aware that Mother Nature with her infinite genetic variations, was in the background. I also hoped and prayed she was smiling on me.
My Poodles are raised with love, attention and proper care. I just as carefully select their new homes and owners. After all, a Standard Poodle is not everyone’s cup of tea and getting the best is akin to going for the gold. It takes devotion both to the animal as well as the breed and if a potential owner is not willing to make this investment, then I advise they get something else, like a cat, or a bird, or a different breed, perhaps an outside dog.
To date I have finished thirty six Champions and from my last breeding am going to special Ch. Lake Cove That’s My Boy! Whose call name is Treson ( from TRElarken Son.)
Pedigree: Sire Ch. Trelarken Turn Back Time (Best in Show BIS) 1996, Poodle Club of America. Dam Ch. Lake Cove Just For The Joy Of It. Producer of nine champions out of her only 2 litters.
Treson, a white Standard, at only eleven months went BIS at a Poodle Specialty and again BIS at an all-breed show, going over 2,522 entries, including #1 and #2 dogs in the country.
The answer to the aspiring Poodle person who wishes to preface their friend’s name with a CH? There are no shortcuts…you must put in loads of your time…and tons and tons of devotion.
Show dog or pet, I cannot imagine a life without my best friends, the Poodles! Wonder if you will feel this way, too, in the years to come.
Doris Lilienthal
Lake Cove Farms
