Poodle then

[hipslikecinderella]

Mumsnet has successfully turned me off poodle crosses, and I am now very excited to get a miniature poodle.
It would be purely a pet, and my first dog I've ever lived with. I'm a sahm and love the outdoors so I think I've got the time for a puppy.
My question is how much should I be paying roughly for a pet girl - not looking to breed her ever? Should I only choose a breeder from the Kennel club assured breeder list on their website? Any tips appreciated please

I'm not in the UK so I can't answer your questions. But congratulations!! Our mini poodle is a delight and a perfect addition to our family.

I know more about standard poodles.
I did end up finding one on the KC website but I think there are breeders who breed pedigree dogs who don't advertise there.
They might advertise through a breed specific group or club.

The main thing is they have pedigree certificates and that parents and puppies have had all relevant health checks and treatment.

It doesn't really matter whether you will ever breed from your dog. It's more that the pedigree shows that there's no close inbreeding etc.

I paid £800 in about 2008 so I would expect it to be more now. Vet fees just seem to creep up more and more.

miniaturepoodleclub.weebly.com/
Some information here.

Grooming is a big commitment (as it would be for a poodle cross) especially their ears.

I don't know a whole lot about poodles but for any puppy a good place to have a look is ChampDogs online. At least one parent dog will have had some or all of the recommended health tests (I'm assuming that you've taken at look at that side of things - if not, the Kennel Club website is helpful). The pedigrees of both sure and dam will be posted, which lets you plug their names into the Kennel Club's Mate Select tool to find the co-efficient of inbreeding (COI) of the puppies. COI sounds techy but all you really need to know is that, on average, a low COI means that the dog should be healthier (it's not a guarantee, it just improves the odds). Ideally you want less than 5%. Sorry to bore on about this if you know about it anyway...

Good luck with your puppy-hunt.

Thank you. No I didn't really know any of that so it's very helpful.
They do seem quite an expensive breed still, but I guess one will save money by having fully tested for health parents in the case of problems down the line.

If it's any help I paid £1200 for my toy poodle. She is kc reg. and comes from parents checked free of hereditary nasties. She's an absolute angel and my best friend.

To add, I bought her in 2017.

Yay! Great dog choice!
My mini was the first dog we ever got.

I can't remember how much we paid though I'm sorry. I think it does seem to vary wildly though.

Poodles are seriously great.

Poodles are fab, you won't regret it.

My aunt had a toy poodle when I was young. Absolutely brilliant dog.

Start with contacting the breed club, all breeds have them. They will be able to give you advice about heath tests etc and will be able to point you in the direction of reputable breeders who are planning litters.
They will also be able to give you an idea of what you should expect to pay.

I agree with all that’s been said Look on the KC website for breeders with puppies now, try Champdogs site & the KC website has a list of all the breed clubs which, personally, I think is the best way to start. I don’t know how many poodle clubs there are, lots of breeds have more than one usually a national one & then various regional ones. Get the contact numbers of as many as there are of the club secretaries. Give them a ring. They usually know which members have a litter or one due. If you then ring one or two they will often pass you on to others that they know have litters due if none themselves. It puts you on the breed grapevine. If you want a young puppy you’re likely to need to go on the breeder’s waiting list
But if you want a pet & definitely know that you don’t want to show or breed, have you considered an older puppy from a breeder? Very often breeders keep promising puppies hoping to show them then when they get to about four/ six month old find that they haven’t turned out quite as expected. This won’t be anything serious, breeder/ exhibitors only keep what they think are the best, but some breeds ( I’m thinking poodles or like my Yorkies) have to be under a certain weight (or height) think poodles have a loop they have to be under in height?, not sure, & often the prospective show puppy might grow a little bit bigger, or the coat isn’t quite the right colour, minor things. Often the breeder will let the older puppy go to a good pet home for a slightly reduced price. I got my super little boy Yorkie from a breeder/ Crufts judge because he’d run him on to show but he grew a little too heavy for the 7lb maximum limit for a show Yorkie. Beautiful little dog, amazing temperament & stunning pedigree. Sire was an American champion the breeder had imported & dam a multi best of breed winner.

We have a standard poodle and he’s great, a big baby. Super smart but still dull and silly. So well behaved. Only issue is he thinks he’s the same size as our Tibetan Terrier 🙈

Excellent choice, I have a little boy apricot colour toy poodle and he is the most adorable, affectionate and playful little dog. He would do anything for a cuddle and is just a happy little soul. He is coming up two and I paid £1800 for him. He is very well bred but like yours will be he is purely a pet.

I found his breeder on the Kennel Club website. Originally I wanted a black female but his breeder was in the same town as me and had just had a litter of boys so I thought it was meant to be! I think the KC do have their faults (in terms of breed standards etc) but on the whole they do show which breeders are serious. There are some genetic health problems that poodles can get and they are pretty much eradicated but I think choosing a registered breeder ensures the checks will have been done.

Good luck!

@MissShapesMissStakes your poodle is so lovely! Is he/she an actual miniature or a toy?

@Darklane, I would consider an older puppy from a breeder, I guess I could ask some whether they have any available, but have never seen one advertised.

I have been speaking to a reputable breeder who also breeds cockapoos. She shows at Crufts, does all health checks etc on all the parents. I asked her about the difference between poodle and cockapoo, and she thinks the poodles are more neurotic. Both breeds are about £1500 through her.

She breeds red ones though, and DH thinks all red headed dogs are cray cray....

Hipslikecinderalla- he's a miniature apricot. He's quite tall for a miniature I think but they do vary a lot.

Maybe the breeder who thinks poodles are more neurotic is breeding from slightly neurotic poodles?

Mine certainly isn't. And from the Facebook group I'm on mostly peoples poodles on there are very much up for most things fun and/or messy.

I think often they can be picky eaters. But then mine eats anything. At all!

Just confirming his gorgeous-ness. He's waiting for me to throw his favourite ball here. He's around 18 months now and pretty sure he won't grow any more. I think from what I have heard toys can be a bit more delicate. But then they are pretty small, so can't really blame them. Standards are huge and goofy from what I've seen. Really lovely and very impressive looking. But massive!

Properly bred poodles are far from neurotic. I know a few.
Intelligent dogs who have a real zest for life!
Start with the breed club. And run a mile from anyone breeding poodles and poodle crosses. Just after the £££

@MissShapesMissStakes would you possible pm me where you got your little man please?

The lady breeding poodle crosses alongside poodles was recommended to me by a KC Assured Breeder. But she's not on the KC website herself. Think you might be right @Wolfiefan

Sorry Hipslikecinderella - she isn't doing it any more.

Good luck finding one though

KC are pretty rubbish but at least people generally register their pedigree pups. That means if they are breeding lots and lots of litters then you can see that.
Crosses aren’t registered at all. They can have as many litters as they like from each bitch. No one can tell.

Thanks.

I was basically going to use the KC as my main guide to a reputable breeder - ie their Assured Breeder scheme - which they say is a quality seal for the puppies. Although I see it costs the breeder £80 annually...

I wouldn’t. I would go through the breed club.
I spent a couple of years meeting breeders and went to some shows and asked questions.
I could register with KC. Doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing or that I have the knowledge to breed a happy and healthy litter. (I don’t so I won’t breed! Actually bought a pup at the end of last year!!)

More poodle pics required, they are gorgeous.