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Original poster

Am I over reacting? Seniors and standard poodle puppy?

85 replies

Stresseddogmum · 02/09/2020 20:21

Long time lurker but finally signed up to seek the support of the Doghouse!

To try and keep it short, DM and her partner have bought a standard poodle puppy. Both are in their mid to late 70s, neither are in particular good health (DM is frail with breathing issues and partner is overweight and not mobile) and neither has had a dog before.

They have been discussing getting a puppy for a while and despite all my poking my nose in and giving them advice (don’t do it, get a small dog, get an older rescue etc etc ) they have now bought a standard poodle puppy. The puppy has yet to come home and I am terrified of what will what happen.

FWIW we ourselves have had a small dog from puppyhood. She is beautifully trained when we are out and about but it took THREE YEARS to get her to that point and she can still be a nightmare when on her everyday walk as she has a strong prey instinct. I keep thinking of the poodle pulling DM over or she loses control and the poodle is off. Am I overreacting?! Will it all actually be ok?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Stresseddogmum · 03/09/2020 16:17

Unfortunately the appeal was the price. And they were adamant they wanted a puppy ( having had a puppy I have NO idea why!)

Thanks for your optimism, 🤞🏻 indeed 🙂

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Pelleas · 03/09/2020 16:29

If the pup's arrival really is a done deal, it might be worth encouraging your parents to sign up to 'Borrow my Doggy'. You can check before you pay that there are 'borrowers' in your location. They might find an energetic person who'll be able to walk the pup for them and tire him out a bit. Failing that, a professional dog walker might be your only option.

Gin4thewin · 03/09/2020 17:50

Another trait a PP poster has reminded me of is they mouth alot too, not bite, but its definitely a breed habit i forgot about. Grooming themselves is honestly ridiculous, that poor baby is going to be a matted mess. And i have awful visions of a fully grown SP trying to take a shit on a puppy pad🤦🏼‍♀️i do feel for you OP, they are honestly being so irresponsible and the only one going to suffer is that poor baby. They are such a wonderful breed, in the right hands aswell.

Original poster
Stresseddogmum · 03/09/2020 18:14

@Pelleas I think early puppyhood will break them before they get anywhere near having to take it out for decent walks ( likely around Christmas). But I am probably being overly pessimistic. Do people on Borrow My Doggy want to take out large breeds and not properly trained puppies? Although definitely something for them to consider.

@Gin4thewin your puppy pad comment made me laugh for the first time in this whole sorry situation. From memory I don’t think you groom until about 6 months in (our current dog needs to be groomed) so hopefully by that point they will have realised their limitations. Our 4 year old dog still fancies a mouth now and again, v quickly stops and rolls on her back when told off though. Can imagine a standard poodle is a whole different kettle of fish!

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Pelleas · 03/09/2020 18:23

People on Borrow My Doggy are basically dog lovers who for whatever reason can't commit to a full time dog. They are insured to take dogs out via the scheme (providing they don't accept payment etc.) so if they are up for it, boisterous dogs shouldn't be an issue.

Original poster
Stresseddogmum · 03/09/2020 18:26

Ah thanks, I will beat that in mind. You have reminded me I suggested they put themselves on Borrow My Doggy to test out having to walk a dog regularly but they didn’t want to commit (I swear I am not making this up )

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Original poster
Stresseddogmum · 03/09/2020 18:27

Bear not beat!

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BiteyShark · 03/09/2020 18:35

but they didn’t want to commit

Oh dear, the really haven't thought this through have they Sad

Pelleas · 03/09/2020 19:48

(I swear I am not making this up )

I think it comes under the heading 'you couldn't make it up' Sad.

I agree with the pp - I can see Mr Poodle landing on your doorstep before too long.

Contactscontact · 03/09/2020 19:50

My doorstep is clear for Mr Poodle OP!

MarleyTheDog · 03/09/2020 20:05

You are not over reacting. I’ll give it, at most, 6 months before the dog is put up for re-homing 😒

RandomMess · 03/09/2020 20:36

Yeah I've always wanted a poodle... however I don't want a puppy 😂

Original poster
Stresseddogmum · 03/09/2020 20:57

Well Dh says we just need to ready ourselves for the poodle and then if it happens we are all good to go. Ddog will finally have the back up she requires when scaring off deadly intruders —sparrows— from the garden at any rate.

It’s just such a big dog though .

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Poodlesarethebest · 04/09/2020 00:38

They are big but slender generally and some lines are much bigger than others. Our standard weighed 22kg and I could lift her (but I’m not 70!).
I’ve never seen an overweight standard- they would not countenance such a thing Smile

FancyMinion · 04/09/2020 01:03

Tbh, all the poodles I’ve met have been very boisterous indeed with a stubborn/independent streak.

This is so true. Lifetime mini poodle owner here.

My DPs are in their 70s and have a standard poodle. But they know the breed well and were deeply committed. I still tried to talk them out of it.

The puppy phase will break them in the first 6 months. Also the cost - they eat a lot and are hard to wash and expensive to groom - and exp vet bills......and they do huge poos.

My DPs coped as they employed a trainer to come to their home every day for months/years and they pay a dog walker to take him for off lead walks twice a day. They are also very committed to their dogs and are familiar with the breed. He is beautifully trained now and they love him dearly.

The puppy phase was very hard though. He still is mischievous sometimes Grin

We also have an understanding that when they are no longer able to look after him, he will live with the dog walker who is a neighbour (I’m in another country but I or DSis would have him if the neighbour ever changed his mind).

I have a close friend with two standard poodles. She is a ‘stay at home mother’ to them and they are a lot of work to manage well. Need a lot of attention and stimulation and grooming to live their best life. And their poos are hideous Grin

They are truly wonderful dogs - but only if you put the requisite work in .... which is why I won’t ever have a std poodle puppy.

FancyMinion · 04/09/2020 01:04

If they haven’t researched the breeder then they may get a dog with a lot of problems - it will be awful for them and the poor dog

FancyMinion · 04/09/2020 01:10

You’ll love it if it comes to you eventually. They tend to get on really well with other dogs. And big dogs but still slender and super fluffy and cuddly

Princessbanana · 04/09/2020 01:19

Congratulations on you future standard poodle OP 🐩🐩🐩

Original poster
Stresseddogmum · 04/09/2020 09:23

@FancyMinion and @Poodlesarethebest what sort of cost would we be looking at monthly for a high grade kibble, grooms and standard vet treatment (flea, worm, vaccinations). I reckon all of the above currently costs around £40 per month for ddog (a pure breed but all of 6kg!) Interestingly I said to DH last night that if we did get the poodle the thing to do would be to combine the very good training club we put ddog through and individual training. So looks like that is the way to go.

I mentioned the poo situation to DM but as you may have guessed this had not occurred to her. She was disgusted at the thought of needing the giant poo bags. Partner can't even properly bend down.

Dh is optimistically giving them til Feb.

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wetotter · 04/09/2020 09:35

Two words of caution about small dogs and elderly parents:

trip hazard

Poodlesarethebest · 04/09/2020 10:16

Stresseddogmum I estimate we generally spend:

Grooming (basic pet clip) £50 every 6-8 weeks
Routine Vet care (vaccinations, flea, worm, 6 monthly health checks) - we are in a 'club' at our local vets- £15 per month
Food c£35 per month but you can spend a lot more or a lot less- this site might be useful to compare different foods and their cost www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/

So I reckon approx £70-80 per month unless you take on the grooming yourself.

Hoppinggreen · 04/09/2020 11:21

We have a large breed and when he was a puppy we met an elderly couple walking the same breed puppy. They said they had always had this breed.
We met them a few times and as their puppy got older he became more and more of a handful until he pulled the lady over and broke her hip. The man had said a few times to me that they regretted getting him and couldn’t cope before that.
They had to rehome the dog

Original poster
Stresseddogmum · 04/09/2020 12:03

Thanks @Poodlesarethebest so actually not as bad as I thought, at least not 3 figures. I can guarantee the cost has not been taken into account.

@wetotter and @Hoppinggreen yep, yep and again yep. Hoping to get the pup before anything awful happens to Dm who has shockingly bad balance at the best of times.

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Pelleas · 04/09/2020 12:23

Hoping to get the pup before anything awful happens to Dm who has shockingly bad balance at the best of times.

Oh, dear Flowers. My parents are the same age as yours and my dad has a limp and balance issues following an accident a few years ago. Our little Cavalier (sadly no longer with us) worshipped my dad, so he would take his lead sometimes out walking, but it was a struggle for him even with a fairly small and not very boisterous dog. It's not so much the strength, it's the way they run around when they're excited.

Original poster
Stresseddogmum · 04/09/2020 13:13

thanks @Pelleas really none of it is good. She keeps telling me she is going to train the dog not to pull, as if that magically happens after one session.

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