Anutta Blog

Life With Poodles

Dylan – Jazz and River puppy boy

by | Mar 26, 2014 | Uncategorized | 2 comments

Sometimes even the best laid plans do not work out.  Dylan was adopted by a lovely family in Austin, but sadly he has proved to be a poor match for their home.  I took Dylan back last week.   He was barking for attention or when he was upset.  I’ve all but eliminated this problem with the use of a bark collar, which I will review and discuss in a later blog, as time allows.  He wore the collar 24 hours a day for about 4 days.  The last few days he has not needed the collar until this morning when I was training Lina and Dylan was watching.  Oh that was NOT FAIR!!  The collar went back on and he was able to stay in the computer area and watch quietly while Lina and I worked in the living room.  The magic of modern technology is amazing and makes my job so much easier.   His temperament is pretty solid for a 4 month old poodle boy.   I’ve walked him by trash trucks, other dogs, people, busy streets, none of that bothers him.

TRAINING: He has not had an accident in the house.  His previous home had a doggy door and he knows how to use it.  Here I have just made sure to take him out after a nap and he is good about emptying his bladder on command.   He knows basic obedience commands, though his stay’s are lacking.  I’m working on that now.   He automatically sits while heeling and his heeling is really pretty.  He was a touch laggy, but he is grasping that I want his head by my knee and to sit close and right by my leg, not slightly behind.  I’ve also had him doing a sit on ‘come’ in front of me, so he is well on his way with competition obedience behaviors.   He has been having a blast digging in the sand box outside and I found a few other spots he was digging.  I’m going to work on that next and nip that issue in the bud.

TEMPERAMENT: Dylan is laid back and super easy going.  He is not going to be a high drive dog.  He would make an amazing therapy dog, you should see him with my kids.  Very level headed.  Most pre-teen pups are all over them, bouncing and trying to knock them over.  Not Dylan.  He is a little mouthy, but nothing like the average Standard Poodle pup.

STRUCTURE: Dylan is beautiful, one of the nicest pups I have bred as far as conformation.  There isn’t a huge glaring flaw on him and I could easily grow out his coat and finish him in AKC if I had the desire.  He floats when he moves and stands square.  Tail set is perfect, almost zero curl to his tail.  He was my pick boy and with his return I am sorely tempted to foster him here in Texas to use with Mica in a few years.  He is a blue and combined with her we would get a little of Blues and Silvers with really nice structure and temperaments.

So, what does this mean?  I’m going to keep him and train him for a couple more weeks before I firm up what I would like to do with Dylan.  Right now I am leaning towards Fostering him to use with Mica, it really depends on what Ziva has as far as boys and colors.  I need a blue boy in  my breeding program so bad it hurts.

~Becky