Getting a toy poodle?? Help/advice

[fikel]

I am thinking of getting a 6 month old toy poodle for my 11 year old. I have never had a dog before, do the pros outweigh the cons?
I am rather house proud and don't like dog odour hence the choice of a toy poodle as doesn't shed
Any advice from dog owners and even better toy poodle owners most welcome

"The only poodle owners I have come across pick their little darlings up whenever another dog appears."

You're blaming the wrong end of the lead for the problem.

They're a working breed, they're used as assistance dogs...none of that would be possible if they weren't trainable or intelligent.

Nearly every lab I meet is overweight and has never been trained to greet other dogs appropriately - I'm not so ignorant that I think that's how they're supposed to come...

A poodle wouldn't be my first choice of breed, but then neither would a lab...that doesn't make them not proper dogs

Eric loves dogs he has a load of doggy friends and a harem of bitches who he is more than happy to chase and be chased by. He knows their names as well as his own so if I say lets go and see Senorita he will go one way but if I say lets go and see Dolly or Paris he goes different way. He's not at all like the dog you describe he's brave and hardy and energetic and loves nothing more than to be wet and filthy. You should see him climb the twelve foot stiles out in the Peaks whilst looking scornfully at the dogs waiting for their owners fo open the gate. Pretty impressive for a dog who stands 9 inches high don't you think?

Fluffy, perhaps it's because many people don't realise they are so intelligent that they don't put the time in to train which leads to behavioural issues? Although in Aus where I live now it is widely known they're very smart and I don't come across grumpy poodles more than other breeds.

Don't get a yappy one for Christ's sake. If you do, then your neighbours will want to kill you never forgive you.

Insan Eric sounds great! His harem of bitches

Chipin he is great, a real personality and he is definitely a ladies man their owners complain they behave like whores when he is about dh blames it on him being the Benedict Cumbernatch of the dog world.

Tabula. Neither of my labs are overweight and do not run up to other dogs. I appreciate not everyone loves a Labrador. Poodles are not my number 1 choice of breed. (In fact my last). We all have our preferences........

It's all down to the training, I had no choice but to teach Eric stuff because if he's bored he's a bloody nuisance who makes his own entertainment which usually means mess or hassle for me. He barks if someone comes to the door but that's because he's protective of us, he stops when I tell him before I open the door and he barks once to get us to follow him (doing a Lassie) and he usually only does that to either fetch the person I've told him to get (saves me shouting them) or to take us to the back door to let him out. He doesn't bark out of the house though at all.

Fluffy perhaps the problem is with the owners of the poodles you know?
We have a poodle X westie and she is a dream, but it's taken a lot of work to get her that way!!

"Neither of my labs are overweight and do not run up to other dogs"

I said nothing about your dogs, in fact I even pointed out that I know the ones I meet like that aren't like that just because they're labs...and still you felt the need to point out that yours aren't like that.

But you're ok with insulting other people's breed of choice based on things that are to do with the owners of the ones you've met?

Not a proper dog is a horrible thing to say, especially when it's pretty likely that some people on this thread have one, those not proper dogs are someone's pet.

Personally I don't mind labs, I don't mind poodles...but they'd not be my first choice for various reasons - that doesn't make it OK to come on a thread about them and just randomly insult them.

I have a miniature poodle- we bought her mainly as I am allergic to other dogs. She isn't great around other dogs that she doesn't know (but mostly that is just avoiding being sniffed and not being keen on playing with MUCH larger dogs, since she's just 5kg!). But with dogs she does know, she plays all day.

She adores people she knows, is very trainable so has a number of tricks, adores retrieving, very agile, will walk for miles up hills but a 30 min jaunt most days is plenty. She's not quite at fetching of slippers (and probably won't ever be) but is generally quite obedient. Yes, she's a complete cuddle monster but since she's the size of the cat, that's not too bad (and she's only allowed to jump up if asked)

Oh and she's not allowed upstairs. No gate required just NO once or twice. Same when she saw a sheep on a walk. We both yelled NO the second she thought about it and she stopped and didn't try again.

arbrighton I'd swap the slipper fetching to lose the stairgate tbh, Eric's a performer but he's not the most obedient if I'm honest and the temptation of the beds and dd's teddies are just too much for him What's worse is we have an extra tall one because he clears the regular size ones from standing which always gives visitors a laugh

I wouldn't swap Ripple for the world insan1ty but I'm glad someone thinks I've done a good job!

Miss Ripple does pick and choose when to be on good behaviour!

For example she knows that she isn't allowed on the sofa. So in the day, she won't get up. Yet, most mornings, there is a little warm patch but because she can hear us on the creaky stairs, she gets a warning to be at the door to say hello!

I don't get this proper dog thing.

I've had this from complete strangers making remarks about my dog - weighs 5 kilo. She's well trained, doesn't bark except when the door bell goes and stops when told, she doesn't run at other dogs and annoy them, as a lot of other dogs do to her. She runs after her ball in the park and is full of energy and love to play, she's also beautifully behaved and friendly with people and know all her commands.

If people pick up their small dogs when other dogs are around, perhaps it's more a case of their not being proper owners, rather than not proper dogs.

I've seen some awful examples of dog behaviour on the street and in the park in both large and small dogs and I can pretty much guarantee that it's going to be down to the useless bloody owners rather than because of the breed of the dog.

Not sure why needing to be clipped regularly makes a poodle not a real dog. I know someone with a beautiful keeshond that needs almost daily grooming and regular clipping. Don't think anyone would look at one of those and think it's not a real dog.

Yes Eric definitely chooses whether to be good or not I think that must be a poodle trait. He's also as good as gold if there isn't an audience so i can go out leave him, leave all manner of temptations in reach and he won't touch them. I walk in, say hello, sit down and then he starts systematically collecting everything he knows he shouldn't have and could have had free rein over for the three hours he has been left. What's that all about?

"It's not a real dog"

"It's not a proper dog"

Are the reason "poo" crosses are so bloody popular.

Can't possibly get a poodle, it's not a real dog. I know, i'll get a maltipoo/labradoodle/yorkipoo/schnoodle. It'll be just like a poodle with the non shedding/intelligent traits we want, but it'll be a proper dog.

Genius.

I have 'proper' dogs. A German Shepherd and a golden retriever.

I would love a standard poodle. They are on the top ten list of breeds I would like to have. Labradors are not on that list.

reallyanotherone Funny- I describe R as a proper poo when people ask what she is/ is she a cockerpoo- she's not clipped out that often or poodley when she is so people who don't know better assume she's a fashionable cross breed

I have a leonberger and a miniature poodle cross. They are both real dogs. But the poodle got all the brains. Super intelligent and a star at agility. But it is noticeable that when I'm out with them both people gush over the leo and tend to ignore the poodle. I don't care and nor does she.

reallyanotherone Funny- I describe R as a proper poo when people ask what she is/ is she a cockerpoo- she's not clipped out that often or poodley when she is so people who don't know better assume she's a fashionable cross breed

same. Friends had a giant poodle and everyone assumed it was a labradoodle. They were gobsmacked when told no, pure poodle.

I really think people expect poodles to wander round in those ridiculous show powderpuff hair cuts. So anything not like that but obviously a poodle must be cross

Ive mostly had big dogs all my life, GSDs and currently two labs. I was never a poodle fan. Then I went on a French language course where we lived with local families. The family I stayed with had a toy poodle. She was the friendliest, cleverest, most delightful little dog and totally changed my preconceptions. I'd definitely have a poodle to mix in with my "proper dogs". Personally I don't have a preference over dogs, apart from the fact that I'd never buy any dog while there are rescue dogs and I can't stomach the fact that dogs are bred and bought because their breeds make a stupid name.

"Poodles are not known for their tolerance of other dogs"
Utter rubbish mine loves all dogs he lives with other dogs and loves all he meets when out I've never heard him growl at another dog, being well socialised with other dogs is the owners responsibility.
"I've never met a friendly poodle"
Again utter rubbish mine is very friendly, see comments about proper socialisation above.
Thirdly mine never barks he's not allowed to as I can't stand barking dogs.
I've owned dogs all my life (50+ years) previously gun dogs and he is the most trainable intelligent non neurotic dog I've ever owned.
Fluffy poodles are not a common breed I rarely see one perhaps your confusing badly behaved yappy poorly socialised unintelligent poodles crossed with God knows what with pure poodles. Mine is frequently mistaken for one

Another vote for the sociability of poodles - I've a standard and he adores people and other dogs. We often meet a local dog walker on our walks and my boy slots in happily and plays with the ones being walked (with the dog walker's prior agreement).
And - not intelligent ? - this is the dog which taught himself to open doors (though I admit he doesn't close them or wipe his own feet........)

Thank you for all your advice. The poodle we were meant to get, owner was selling due to ill health, sold him before we could get there. We went ahead instead and got a puppy, a black toy poodle. We have had him 4 weeks today. Definitely a learning curve but am much happier it turned out this way. I know the responsibility will fall on me, I work pt and my husband works in the evenings so he won't ever be left for long. He has always slept right through in his crate without a bark or a whimper. House training has been excellent and already sits on command. He is a v intelligent, mischievous puppy and we hope to give him a wonderful, happy home.