I want a toy poodle

[GeorgianMumto5]

...sooo badly!

My parents have an elderly, frail, probably going to be pts in next fortnight, staffie-jrt cross. I have 'shares' in her - trained her, took her to run round like a loony busting the collies agility classes, looked after her when parents went on holiday, etc.

During the time they've had her, I've developed a number of allergies, including to ddog. So, now ddog is on her last legs, I want a dog of my own, but it has to be low-allergen. I recently met a toy poodle in the park and - oh my gosh - it was love at first sight.

A 'toy' would be ideal for our small house and garden, plus they are cute and dd was smitten. I have two DC (9 and 6) who are gentle and know how to behave around dogs. I work part-time, locally, and I could really use the exercise of dog walking. What I really want is a rescue tp. I don't mind what age, I don't mind dog or bitch. Do I sound like I could provide a good home?

DM has latched onto the idea and agreed to be holiday home for a dog. Dsil is practically queuing up to look after my imaginary dog.

I reckon all I have to do is convince dh. He claims to not be interested, but dd and I are performing our best Jedi mind tricks on him and he adores ddog.

Do you think I'm barking up the right tree...or just barking?

Should add, I'd plan on taking dog-friendly holidays in the main, but we have family abroad, so occasionally that would not be possible, plus there's always going to be the odd wedding weekend away type thing, isn't there? Hence the need for occasional backup.

You sound like the perfect dog owner to me! I hope happygardening doesn't mind me copying her post to here, but this is what she said recently on another thread regarding recommendations for a smallish dog - and agreed with my post (in quotes) about how good poodles are!

"Go for a poodle, they are not all sissy-looking like the show ones you may have seen on Crufts recently. They are intelligent, like a good run and a good small/medium size (obs not standard ones!). They don't shed, just need clipping every 3 months or so (I think)."

Couldn't agree more but they need clipping every 6 weeks these are happy delightful funny and want to do the right thing so easy to train mine doesn't even pull and Im no great dog trainer they don't have a strong bite so don't seem to chew obsessively (unlike his best friends a cocker spaniel) they literally shed the occasional hair. Apparently one of the longest living bread of dogs and therefore relatively free of health problems.

But don't buy one from those on line dog selling websites there is Miniature Poodle Club of GB Jackie Kitchener is the secretary she will know of any litters. Do expect to be extensively grilled as poodle breeders are very concerned that people are only buying them to breed doodles or what ever they're called to then sell at an outrageous price.

Hi Mines a miniature they cant be more than 15" to the shoulder which i personally think is a perfect size a friend has toys for me they are a bit small but then we've always had big dogs before. I can easily pick mine and lift him over a style etc but he's big enough to not be too ratty! Toys are smaller 10" I think. I've heard toys can yap my friends yap but am happy to be proven wrong mine rarely barks. Just the best dog we've ever owned and we've had a wide variety of breeds. He loves everyone is terminally happy and just has the biggest sense of humour of any dog I've ever met he's cheeky without being naughty. They never run off and learn so quickly hence they were traditionally used in the circus they can walk on their back legs and when doing this the kitchen work tops are just the right height for them to remove anything near the edge. Definitely not sissy mines just returned from a two hour walk and is now covered in mud and very happy and you can clip them to look any way you want, mine has a big hat think top hat, fluffy ears and a big ball thing on his tail but otherwise short all over. but you can do what ever you like and if you dont like it have it different next time! I am completely sold on a non shedding dog having never had one before its absolutely bloody marvellous. I was told that the black ones are the quietest and I think the white ones the liveliest but Jackie literally lives eats sleeps miniature poodles so can answer all your questions.
Jackie is allergic to dogs herself so she's a good person to speak too.

I would spend some time with one first. Anti allergy poodles are a myth. You are less likely to react to a low shedding dog like a poodle or greyhound sorry but they have to be mentioned but it is not impossible.

A decent breeder or rescue would be happy for you to go and hang out with their dogs before committing, in fact they'd be more than happy, it would show them that you are serious about making it work and have considered everything fully.

Bare in mind that although small toy poodles are wickedly clever and need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation, agility would be great for a TP

Other than that, go for it and good luck.

This is from the miniature poodle club website just about sums it up: "Miniature Poodles will be anything you want them to be - the media perception of the breed is very misleading and not at all helpful. They are supremely intelligent, they love to play the clown yes, but they are nobody's fool.

They will happily walk miles up and down dale with you or snuggle up on the sofa when it?s raining and cold outside. Only if you are determined make them into a spoilt, overweight and pretentious lap dog will they ever become one!

They do not require a lot of exercise daily, but hugely enjoy getting out and about with their owners and having fun and adventures whenever possible. If you are not in a position to offer your Miniature Poodle much freedom he will make his own fun, running around the garden madly or even doing a few circuits of the lounge (including sofas and chairs) to let off steam when necessary.

If you want a quiet and uneventful life, think of another breed. Poodles want to ?LIVE? life with you . . . . and never forget they need grooming regularly. It?s a commitment - but well worth it!"
DOoin is right about the allergy thing which I why you should speak to Jackie she will be able to advise you.
Jackie s idea of shedding is not mine after frantically scratching away at her carpet for about 2-3 mins she was able to find one dog hair! I also have a shedding dog and great balls of hair blow around the kitchen/dinning room I effortlessly gather it up in armfuls in fact I'm amazed the dog isn't actually bald!

Thanks! I want one even more, now! I will contact Jackie, thank you. I would love to 'hang out' with some poodles - fabradoodle! (That's not a reference to me wanting a Cross - I don't! I need to guarantee the low shed!)

Poodle activity levels sound perfect for me. I want a dog to walk, but owing to health problems' there are going to be days when 1/2 mile is my limit (and days where it isn't). I want to take full responsibility for the dog, so I need it to be a tad flexible, on matters of distance.

I think I'd be allergic to any dog but, tbh, for me it's about tolerable levels. Ddog causes me to have a needle-like pain in my eyes and the feeling that I've swallowed a dog. Friend's westie has far less of an effect, but I get the hairball feeling in my throat. A bedlington I once, briefly, hung out with had no effect. The poodle I met had a barely discernible effect.

So, plan of action is to continue Jedi mind tricks on dh, contact this Jackie lady, socialise with some poodles and take it from there, yeah?

I know I just made it sound like bedlington would be better, but I kind of want a poodle more...I just do(odle)! Plus the DC refuse to entertain the idea of a bedlington. ("They look like sheep, Mummy!") Although I do know of one we could probably borrow...

Oh, and dh says the guinea pigs and hamster need to have croaked first, but he is just so wrong there!

Happygardening, I do least a quiet and uneventful life, but I'm hoping a dog would get me out more, literally.

One more question: would next doors labs eat my tiny poodle?? This could be a deal breaker!

Mine is a complete wimp this morning he was attacked out of the blue by a bloody JR but being a cheerful optimistic type and having discovered that his leg had not been eaten off its was quickly back to being a happy carefree dog.
The lab will only attack/eat your dog if it hasn't been well socialised or you don't bother to socialise your dog.
OP where do you live? PM me if you want if by any chance your close by your welcome to meet mine.
My poodle is not overly interested in chasing other animals he likes to kiss the cat much to its horror (cats are just fab at wincing) but nothing more sinister than that.

happy, I'm not sure I know how to. South-east, but neither so south nor as east as either Kent or Sussex...if that helps.

Showed dh some poodle pictures today. He ain't biting. I will have to up my Jedi game.

Labs are friendly, but more working than pet. That said, they are much adored. I wouldn't say their recall was all that.

You PM someone by clicking on "message poster" and then writing your message if I PMed you you would see an red symbol in inbox at the top of the page next to login.

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Dh just said, 'Ask the mumsnetters how much they cost to run, annually.'

Dear reader, am I asking him for a dog, or a used car?? Good question though. I will start a new thread on the topic.