Talk poodle to me...

[40somethingJBJ]

I currently have an elderly border collie x poodle, and have always had collies before her. Thinking ahead about what dog I’ll go for next, and, as much as I adore collies, I’ve really liked the non-shedding aspect of my current girl. I’m disabled and it’s just one less thing to keep on top of!

I don’t really know much about pure poodles if I’m honest. I’d want a dog that’s easy to train and eager to please. I use a mobility scooter for long walks, so need a dog I can easily train to trot alongside, but also that doesn’t have a huge prey drive (this is the one thing my old girl has in spades and has been challenging over the years!). I work from home and live fairly rural so plenty of opportunity for off lead walks, so a tendency to good recall is preferred. I would also like to train a future dog to “help” me a bit - picking up dropped items etc.

I know poodles are very intelligent dogs (a collie/poodle cross is NOT a great combination for anyone considering this cross! Too smart for her own bloody good!), but I’ve never actually spent much time with one. Is there much difference in temperament in the different sizes? Would prefer something larger I think. Would a poodle fit my brief?

I’m not looking instantly, but my old girl isn’t going to be here forever, and I’m aware that good breeders tend to have long waiting lists, so doing my research now.

When I see the word poodles, I immediately think of the Gilmore Girls, when Lorelei says, “Oy with the poodles already!” I’ll get my coat

I’ve had German Shepherds all my life, and love all sorts of dogs, big and small....
The only dog ever to bite me was an apricot poodle called Bruno🥲
And he was smelly!

@CockneyCutie

I’ve had German Shepherds all my life, and love all sorts of dogs, big and small.... The only dog ever to bite me was an apricot poodle called Bruno🥲 And he was smelly!

The only dogs I’ve ever been bitten by are Jack Russels and Labradors! 4 times by labs!

I have a miniature poodle who is similar size to a cocker spaniel. 2 friends of mine with physical disabilities who use mobility scooters each have a toy poodle as a companion and assistance dog. They're wonderful as both. Mine is wonderful in all respects - happy and playful out and about, snoozy and cuddly at home. Very loyal and loving. Non shedding aspect amazing but offset by £40 to the groomer every 6 weeks. Very good dogs, hope you get one!

@MrsEricBana

I have a miniature poodle who is similar size to a cocker spaniel. 2 friends of mine with physical disabilities who use mobility scooters each have a toy poodle as a companion and assistance dog. They're wonderful as both. Mine is wonderful in all respects - happy and playful out and about, snoozy and cuddly at home. Very loyal and loving. Non shedding aspect amazing but offset by £40 to the groomer every 6 weeks. Very good dogs, hope you get one!

Yes I think the miniature size appeals to me. Definitely not a toy and a standard is actually pretty big. My old girl has to be groomed regularly, so I have a fab groomer already that I’ve used for years.

Yes they're a good size as decently big but still easy to manage for baths, in and out of car, scooping up if there's a hazard, cuddling on knee etc. I think my friends have toys as they are small enough to hop up on the foot plate of the scooter or ride on their knees. Toys are quite fragile v minis.

We have a poodle cross. The bad side of the poodle seems to be the sensitive stomach/ fussy eater thing.

As someone who currently has a small poodle, I’d say bigger is better!
It seems like all poodles have the same energy and brains but when you have to fit it all into a tiny body it sends them a bit mad ... it all seems to diffuse out into a calmer dog the bigger they are.

I'll talk poodle to you.
YapyapyapyapYAPYAPYAPyapayapyapyipyipyip!
I hope you like the sound of high-pitched determined barking and have a soft spot for neediness.

I had a large standard poodle with a non yapping bark which I think I only heard a few times in his life.
He trotted nicely alongside people on wheels for various reasons.
He did have a bit of a prey drive if things were close enough which was honestly handy as we lived rurally and he ate mice which used to bring in their own grain as we never left food out.

He was just such a lovely dog.

I think behaviourally standards are 'pure poodles' whereas smaller types have a bit of smaller dog introduced waaay back so that explains the difference in temperament you sometimes find.

Could have made that up though.

But a non shedding small chill dog might be a bichon frise?
Again, please check that with other sources.

My poodle was quite spectacularly mouthy though as a teenager.
Lots of training needed there.

My trainer has poodles - she competed in obedience at crufts with one last year and does heelwork to music with all of them. Great dogs, she has standards and a mini. I'm very impressed with them.

I have a Bedlington cross poodle. Fantastic dog. Bedlingtons are very laid back dogs, don't shed (don't be put off by the silly clips they're really lovely with a normal clip). Definitely a breed to consider. Although I love poodles. We had a miniature when I was young, my friend had a succession of the big standard poodles and they were all lovely dogs.

My pooch doesn't yap, she rarely barks but does a howly thing when she's happy, it's quite adorable. Never heard her growl.

Any dog can be an asshole though whatever breed, I've known some very snappy nippy collie's.

I have a mini poodle. He's a great dog. Very calm and loving. He loves his people more than any other thing and so his recall is great.

Obviously it's mostly about breeding and training.

The good thing about poodles is they are pretty easy to train. They are clever and eager to please.

miniature poodle owner here, best decision I ever made!

He is super intelligent, eager to please and super loving. He is naturally a bit cautious when out and about, not sure if that is a breed thing or because he wasn't able to have his jabs for months so couldn't go on walks for longer than normal (illness reasons), however that caution has worked in our favour.
He can be a little barky if unsure, but generally easily reassured. He loves to be near me, basically sleeps next to me whilst I work but can also walk for miles as soon as the opportunity arises

Fabulous little pooch (and I just clipper him all over)

I had a miniature poodle who was amazing. Very easy to train. Then had a Aussie shepherd cross standard poodle lovely dog but not too bright. She’d learn something then forget the next day. She wasn’t being difficult as she loved to please. I’d get another miniature if I wanted another dog.

Standard poodle owner waited 30 years for the right time as they are big dogs.
Zero prey drive even at 5 months a deer literally bumped into him on Saturday I called him and he came straight back.
Quick to train, loose lead walking good at 5 months.
But don't forget they are water dogs mine and his entire litter like to splash in any water including the water bowl. We have a special dog paddling pool for him to splash about in.

Thanks all, I think a poodle is sounding like a good match for the me. I’m undecided between a miniature or a standard, although I think a standard might be a bit bigger than I’m wanting, as I’m not too steady on my feet and wary of anything that could be too strong on my non- walking stick arm. Definitely don’t want anything smaller than a miniature though.

Standards look amazing but also massive to me! We see one on our walks and he's so poised but enormous!

My mini is a tall mini. He's too tall for showing (not that I would anyway). But I love his size. He's bigger than I expected but really neat. He comes up to my knee and I'm 5'7. My in laws have a small ish lab and my mini is as tall as the lab but nowhere near as wide or long if that makes any sense.

He often curls up in a ball to sleep like a little cat.

Pic just because he's a cutie

@MissShapesMissStakes

Standards look amazing but also massive to me! We see one on our walks and he's so poised but enormous!

My mini is a tall mini. He's too tall for showing (not that I would anyway). But I love his size. He's bigger than I expected but really neat. He comes up to my knee and I'm 5'7. My in laws have a small ish lab and my mini is as tall as the lab but nowhere near as wide or long if that makes any sense.

He often curls up in a ball to sleep like a little cat.

Pic just because he's a cutie

Oh he’s just beautiful 🤩 My current dog is about 12kg and quite dainty and that’s a size I really like. As much as I love big dogs (I’ve always loved Bernese Mountain Dogs!), I need something that I can handle and something that will easily fit in my tiny little touring caravan!

He's 10kg so not far off your current dog. I agree it's a good size. I can carry him if needed and he's compact. The no shedding is a game changer too I think.

Didn't realise I'd attached the photo! That's him spreading out. Rare and odd-looking!

He’s lovely. Love your sofa too!

Haha. Thanks. Not the most practical idea when I have two kids and a dog.

The handling my 12kg 11 year old cockerpoo is more of a twat on the lead than my 17kg 5 month old standard. Handalability is not about size, but temperament and breed characteristics. Poodles are very, very for their people cockers are more independent and more interested in doing their own thing.