Poo-Poo or Harley Davidson?
What’s in a name you may ask? Well a lot, especially if you
are an aristocrat like the Poodle is. Born with a golden bone
in its mouth, the Poodle, breed enthusiasts say, has a
delightful ego and considers itself to be at a higher level than
its lesser canine peers. Therefore, the name you choose for
your dog should befit its status, or you
sculpted fur, with the less decorative
Is the Poodle for you?
could end up embarrassing your per-
Continental Trim revealing slightly more
snickety pooch. So calling your Poodle:
This fancy dog may be easy to live with
shaved area, mainly on the hindquarters.
Mutly, Fido, Dumbo, Spock or Gabby is
and a joy to train, but it does not make the
Poodle puppies less than a year old can be
a big no!
ideal pet for every household. Poodles
shown in the Puppy Trim, which features
And keep in mind that the dog calls
enjoy the company of humans – even
an evenly shaped coat without any orna-
France its home, and like most French,
more than the company of other dogs
mental trappings, except for a pompon at
the breed prefers to have a fancy, chic
–they want to be with you at all times and
the tip of the tail.
name – some popular choices are
please you constantly. This clever, ener-
These elaborate designs may represent the
Jacques, Beau, Belle and Jean. And make
getic dog is not for the laid back owner
stereotype, but for the pet Poodle, the
sure you know how to pronounce the
who has little time to train, play with or
more functional Sporting Trim (in which
name with the correct French accent.
groom the dog. Deprived of human atten-
the face, feet, throat and base of tail are
Naming your dog after a dessert or a
tion and adequate playtime, the dog can
shaved but the majority of the dog is left in
bottle of brandy will get you brownie
get destructive around the house.
full coat) or puppy trim prevail.
points – try Sherry, Cognac, and
As cute as toy and miniature Poodles may
The thick Poodle coat may be hypoaller-
Brandy; as will naming the dog after
be, they can be noisy barkers and are
genic and odour free, but it needs plenty
French royalty – think Napoleon or
often known to have an excitable tem-
of combing and detangling to keep it from
Josephine. You can even opt for a
perament, so homes that have kids or eld-
matting. A Poodle owner needs to groom
French perfume or designer – Chanel,
erly people may not be the ideal choice for
the dog regularly and trim it frequently,
Valentino, Estée and Yves are good
these pooches. The Poodle coat is harsh
with special care being taken of the long,
choices. As a general rule, try
and can get tangled quickly, the dog needs
thickly feathered ears. The complexity of
and keep the name short and chic
weekly grooming and trimming to keep
the task results in most Poodle owners
and notice how it makes your
the coat in healthy condition. An owner,
sending the dog to the grooming salon at
Poodle complete.
who does not have the time and patience
regular intervals.
to groom the dog himself, should consider
the costs involved in sending the dog for
Purchasing a Poodle professional grooming on a regular basis.
Although most poodles are very healthy But for the person who wants an intelli-
dogs, indiscriminate breeding practices gent, beautiful and devoted dog that will
have created a wide range of problems in become a part of the family, the Poodle is
the breed. Thyroid problems, eye disease, the breed to opt for.
hip dysplasia, bloat, epilepsy, Addison’s dis-
ease (a disorder of the adrenal glands)
haunt the Standard Poodle. Toys and
miniatures are subject to eye, ear, skin and
joint problems. So make sure you pur-
chase your Poodle pup from a reputable
breeder and stay away from the puppies
sold in pet shops, over the internet or
through newspaper advertisements; and
beware of dealers or middle men who are
only out to make money and care nothing
about the dog’s welfare. Do ensure that
you get to meet at least the mother of the
puppy and that her temperament is genial.
A potential Poodle owner also has to be
careful before purchasing a ‘poo’ puppy.
These cross-breed dogs may not have all
the good traits of the Poodle. Healthy
Standard Poodles have a lifespan of ten to
thirteen years; miniatures and toys may
live to the age of sixteen.
67
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84