I was looking over the FAQ on my website the other day and realized I wrote that piece at least 15 years ago.   The entire work needs a major overhaul, not to mention a reality check for those shopping for a new pet.  When I started breeding dogs 20 years ago having a website was rare, and looking for your next pet online even more so.  The people who would seek me out were the experienced pet owner looking for something exceptional after years of dog ownership.  Now, first time pet owners look to the internet before anything else, and because I have been doing this so long my site often lands near the top of the search.  They see my website, lovely photos, wonderful stories, and training advice and are smitten by what they see.  This idealist world of magical poodle love, marked by a few training videos that make it look so easy.  I’ve decided to address these wonderful, yet often misguided, souls as the first bullet on my FAQ’s.

QUESTION: I have never owned a dog before.  Should I buy one of your pups?

ANSWER:  I’m going to go out on a limb here and say no.  Yes, you read that right.  Do not spend nearly 2K on a puppy from me.  First, if you have never owned a dog before or had one as a child growing up where you were part of the care giving / training team, then you have no idea the commitment and time it takes to raise a dog into a wonderful pet.  Go to a shelter/rescue group and adopt your first dog.  See what it is like to be responsible for a living being.  Learn how they all have issues we have to manage, how every dog needs training no matter the age.  I’ve had only 4 dogs returned to me in my 17 years breeding Standard Poodles.  One girl was 2 years old and her owner was getting a divorce and unable to care for the dog due to a living situation.  These things happen, it was not an issue and I was very pleased the dog was returned to me.  I found that girly a great home.  The other 3 dogs were owned by first time dog owners and returned to me between 4 and 6 months of age, still very much babies.  All of these homes were middle age or older adults.  These homes all ‘dreamed’ of owning the ‘perfect’ dog and a Standard Poodle fit that bill.  What they failed to realize is the time it takes to raise a dog into that ‘perfect’ pet.  I put perfect in quotes because there IS NO PERFECT.  Every single person on the earth has issues and the same holds true for dogs.  What these homes didn’t see were the hours and hours of training and classes it took to make our pets into good citizens that mesh well with our households.  They didn’t see the socialization and the problem solving that occurred to avoid common pitfalls that many first time dog owners land inside.  “He won’t stop barking!”, “He won’t leave my friend’s dog alone!”  “He is driving us crazy!”  All three of my returned pups were evaluated and found to be spoiled and bratty, but normal puppies.  The last one was taken in by a fellow breeder friend, because the previous owner’s trainer had explained the puppy was mentally flawed.  All were given a crash course in manners and taught to HUSH, then placed in savvy Standard Poodle homes.   All are perfectly normal happy Standard Poodles.  None were found to be anything but intelligent puppies who lacked training and / or socialization.

Please understand all pups are active and inquisitive, so if you add in the smart factor (rest assured a Standard Poodle is SMART) it can get messy really quick.  A Poodle will manipulate and train you to do what they want if given half a chance.  They can be stubborn and if you do not understand how to tell them no in a firm but fair manner, you will eventually send that ‘perfect’ dog away.  You cannot redirect your way out of every issue that arises, in spite of what many of today’s trainers might say.  This is a huge issue and it is taking over like wild fire.  Just like with raising kids, sometimes you simply have to say NO and back that up by correcting the issue.  If you don’t have the fortitude to do that, then maybe you don’t need a highly intelligent puppy.

In closing, if you are an adult and have never had a dog of your own, please… just go to a shelter or rescue and adopt a dog.  Try out dog ownership and save a life.  Adopt an older dog.  Test the waters with only a short few years commitment and give a dog a fabulous retirement.  If you find you love all the things that come along with owning a dog (walks, grooming, training, feeding, care, vet bills, the fact that you can’t simply pick up and go) seek me out for your second pet.  I’ll be happy to help.

 

To blunt?  Maybe… but with the guy next door checking the net for a dream dog, I think it needs to be said.  There is nothing like experience to let you know what owning an intelligent living creature is like.

~Becky