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Poodle Information
The Ethical Breeder
What Is A Pedigree?
POODLE GROOMING STYLES
CLICK HERE to see various poodle trims
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BUYING
A POODLE
The Poodle is one of the most popular breeds of dogs. Poodles
are highly intelligent, adaptable and have a remarkable sense of
humour. They come in three sizes, many colours, don't shed and are
tolerated by many allergy sufferers. With so many wonderful
qualities, it is easy to understand why the Poodle has so many
admirers.
According to breed scholars, the Poodle's origins most likely took
place in Germany where it was known as PUDELIN (meaning "to splash")
because of its love of water. It was the French, however, who
honored the dog -at home, in court circles and on the battlefield
thus earning the dog the popular, but incorrect title, "French
Poodle".
THE TOY POODLE
Of the three varieties, the Toy is the smallest. It is popular
with apartment owners, retired people who enjoy traveling with their
pet and those who prefer a very small dog. By definition, the Toy
Poodle should not be taller than 11" at the shoulder. There is also
no such thing as a registered Teacup Toy Poodle. This
term is used as a marketing gimmick to imply that your puppy will be
extra small. Any Poodle which is 11 inches or under at the shoulders
is called a Toy Poodle. The very tiny dogs often have serious health
problems, which is the reason they are so small.
THE MINIATURE POODLE
The Miniature Poodle is the medium size variety. Ideally not
taller than 15" at the shoulder, this sturdy size is small enough to
suit apartment living and large enough to be a rough and tumble
child's companion.
THE STANDARD POODLE
The Standard Poodle has no upper height restriction although
the majority are usually between 23" and 27" at the shoulder, with
females leaning towards the lower end of the range. The Standard,
originally a water retriever, is now enjoying a myriad of roles;
hospital therapy dog, hunting dog and loyal companion. He is ideal
for those individuals who prefer a larger dog. There is no such
thing as a registered Royal Standard Poodle.
The term is used as a marketing gimmick to imply that your puppy
will grow extra large.
DON'T BUY ON IMPULSE
Buying a dog SHOULD NOT be done on impulse. Learn as much as
you can about the breed in which you are interested. Every breed has
advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Owning a Poodle
*Three sizes from which to choose
*Highly intelligent and adaptable
*Delightful, clever temperament
*People oriented
*Non-shedding
*Breed of choice for many allergy sufferers
*Many colours from which to choose
Disadvantages of Owning a Poodle
*Demands grooming on a regular basis
*The Toy variety can be fragile and may not be suitable in homes
with very young children.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
There are hereditary health problems in ALL breeds of dogs.
Below are some of the more common hereditary health problems in each
variety of Poodle.
The following genetic disorders have been diagnosed in all three
Poodle varieties: hip dysplasia, PRA and cataracts (leading to
blindness), epilepsy (seizures), and inflammatory bowel disease.
The Toy Poodle may also have loose stifles (knee caps) [known as
luxating patella] and Legg-Perthe's Disease (disease of the hip
joint).
The Miniature Poodle may have knee, hip, eye and thyroid problems.
The Standard Poodle may be subject to gastric torsion/bloat, von
Willebrand's Disease, sebaceous adenitis (skin disorder) and
autoimmune problems such as Addison's Disease and autoimmune
hemolytic anemia.
Through research DNA tests are being developed
to help in identification of the genes which produce some of these
diseases. There are currently tests for von Willebrand's disease and
progressive retinal atrophy. Tests are near to identify the gene for
Addison's disease, epilepsy, hip displasia and others.
A written report should be furnished by the breeder upon
request with the results of x-rays, blood tests, eye examinations
and punch skin biopsies for the sire and the dam of the puppy.
Responsible, conscientious breeders screen all breeding stock for
hereditary health problems for which we have testing available prior
to utilizing ANY dog in a breeding program and are delighted to
answer any questions about the health of the puppy's sire and dam.
However, even when the sire and dam have been tested and found free
of specific hereditary health problems, there is no iron-clad
assurance that the puppy will not develop one of these problems.
(This is the nature of biology). Buying a puppy from a breeder who
tests breeding stock considerably increases your chances of getting
a healthy puppy.
SHOW QUALITY VERSUS PET QUALITY
A show quality puppy is one which, in the breeder's opinion, should
be able to become a champion. A pet quality puppy is less likely, in
the breeder's estimation, to become a champion. However, when buying
a puppy (8 weeks to 16 weeks), trying to guess what that puppy will
look like when it is an adult is just that...a guess.
A pet quality puppy is one that has a minor fault which would
disqualify it from being shown; i.e., a white spot on the chest (or
elsewhere), only one descended testicle, oversize or undersize Toys
or Miniatures, or an improper bite.
However, the feature(s) which disqualify these puppies from the show
ring will, in no way, affect their ability to be a wonderful
companion.
Most pet quality puppies are sold with the ANKC's limited
registration form and spay/neuter contracts. The limited
registration form is a simple way of saying that although your pet
is an ANKC registered pure-bred dog, it cannot be bred. And if it is
bred, the offspring cannot be registered with the Australian
National Kennel
Club. Using this form is the breeder's way of ensuring that the
puppy will not be bred and pass along the disqualifying feature to
future generations. Neutering your dog also increases its chances of
leading a longer, healthier and happier life.
GUARANTEES/CONTRACTS
What should you expect in writing from the breeder?
The ANKC registration papers (At least a three generation pedigree)
Copies of the test results of genetic screening for health problems
of the sire and dam
Copies of applicable testing done on the puppy
A printed contract including:
-Health guarantee
-A timeframe (2 days to a week) to determine if the puppy will fit
the buyer's household
-A time period for the buyer to secure a veterinary check (24 48
hours)
-A statement of the breeder's refund/return policy
-Feeding instructions
-Vaccination and worming schedule - when given and when due - and
what products were used
Many breeders provide pictures of the sire and dam, photos of the
entire litter, and puppy manuals which give housebreaking hints,
training advice and information on health. These are an added bonus
but not absolutely necessary. A small quantity of puppy's
food-enough to last for several day-is helpful.
SHIPPING THE PUPPY
Many puppies are shipped safely by air or ground
transportation to their new homes. The puppy buyer is responsible
for the cost of the shipping and shipping crate. Many breeders may
ship the puppy in a "loaner crate" which the buyer must
send back to
the breeder ASAP. If the buyer chooses to return the puppy for any
reason, the cost of the return shipping is the responsibility of the
buyer.
Recommended Reading
The New Complete Poodle by Mackey J. Irick, Jr.
The Book of the Poodle by Anna Katharine Nicholas
How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend by the Monks of the New Skete
Poodle Clipping and Grooming by Shirley Kalstone
Training You To Train Your Dog by Blanche Saunders
Mother Knows Best by Carol Lea Benjamln
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How To Evaluate A Breeder
The reputable breeder feels responsibility toward
the breed itself, toward the dogs he breeds and to the people who
have dogs of his breeding. He spends astounding amounts of his time
and money on matters he thinks are for the best interests of his
breed.
It is this awareness of responsibility that marks
the difference between the true breeder and mere "puppy-raiser". The
breeder is an artist, motivated by a drive to create perfection; the
puppy raisers and the dog dealers are motivated by the desire to
make money.
Fortunate is the novice-buyer who purchases his
first dog from a reputable breeder! Whereas a puppy-raiser may sell
whole litters to dog dealers, the breeder insists on direct contact
with those who buy his dogs, and sells only after the most careful
screening of a would be purchaser in order to ascertain the mutual
suitability of dog and buyer.
While often not fully appreciated until AFTER the
dog is bought, this screening by the breeder is the greatest
protection a dog purchaser can have.
Though the cost of properly caring for his dogs
may cause him sleepless nights and untold worries, the reputable
breeder will never let a single puppy or older dog leave for a home
that is not as good or better than the one he is providing. Even
when the dog is sold, the breeder's help and advice do not end but
continue throughout the dog's life, a responsibility cheerfully
accepted by him without expectation of compensation.
When selecting a puppy, the reputable breeder
will show you a copy of the pedigree and explain why they selected
the bloodlines they used. He will allow you to see the puppies and
the mother and assist you in selecting the proper puppy to meet your
needs.
(Author-Unknown)
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1. Carefully interviews prospective buyers and
has specific requirements that prospective owners must meet, such as
spaying and neutering pets, housing the dog in an enclosed yard,
agreeing to never let the dog off lead in an unenclosed area
2. Sells by contract
3. Sells puppies with a health guarantee
4. Insists upon getting the dog back if the buyer
is no longer able to keep the dog
5. Does not have more litters than he can keep
well groomed and well socialized
6. Does not have more litters than he can keep
housed long-term if he is unable to sell the puppies
7. Spends individual time with each dog under his
care every day
8. Tests his breeding stock for known hereditary
diseases and then breeds with the aim of decreasing the incidence of
hereditary diseases
9. Is very concerned with producing puppies with
excellent temperaments as well as health
10. Can identify each puppy and chart it's growth
and development from birth onward
11. Is willing to help educate the novice buyer
and happily answers any and all questions about his breed and his
individual dogs
12. Is willing and able to show the prospective
buyer the health certificates and test results on the sire and dam
of the puppies
13. Wants to be informed of any health or
temperament problems that his puppies develop through out the
lifetime of each puppy
14. Is available for help, advice, and education
to the buyer through out the life time of the puppy
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"He has a pedigree a mile
long!" exclaimed the owner of the dog wagging his tail next to me.
Most people are justifiably proud of that large, mysterious piece
of paper with a list of strange sounding names, some of them
outlined in red ink. What exactly is this paper that seems so
impressive? What does it really mean?
Very simply, a pedigree is a record of your dog's ancestors - sire
(father), dam (mother), grandsire, granddam, great-grandsire and
so forth. Every creature - animal, plant or human - has a
pedigree. Unless someone takes the trouble to write it down and
keep track of it, the information is lost in the mists of memory
and time.
The Australian National Kennel Club and other animal registries are designed
to keep track of pedigrees. For a small "registration" fee, the ANKC will record your dog's name and pedigree information. The ANKC
registration certificate you received for your dog means that its
information is kept on file in the ANKC's records. For another fee,
the ANKC will provide you with a pedigree - a listing of the
information they've kept on your dog's registered ancestors.
The ANKC records your dog's name, color, sex, parentage, date of
birth, breeder and owner and any titles the dog has won in ANKC
sanctioned shows, obedience or performance trials. When applying
for registration, the ANKC relies on breeders and owners to be
honest. If the breeder of your dog has given the ANKC false
information, your dog's pedigree may not be correct.
Unfortunately, it is hard to verify all of this information
individually. Unless you personally know and trust your dog's
breeder, you really have no way of knowing if your dog is really
the one recorded on his papers!
What a pedigree doesn't tell you is very important!
Any purebred dog who meets the ANKC's requirements for registration
may be registered and receive "papers". The papers can't tell you
if the dog is of good quality or if it even looks like the breed
it is supposed to be. All it can tell you is that the dog is
registered and his records are kept on file. Most people
misunderstand this important point! Many, many poor quality dogs
are ANKC registered. You can't judge a dog's quality from looking
at only his registration papers or pedigree.
With this in mind, you now know that a pedigree can only tell you
who your dog's ancestors were - it can't tell you if they were of
good quality, what they looked like or whether they may have had
inherited health or temperament problems that they passed on to
their descendants.
If your dog serves you well as a pet and companion, you may not
care about finding out more about his family. If you intend to
breed or show your dog, however, getting accurate informaton about
his background is crucial! You'll need to do much, much more than
just memorize the names on his pedigree.
To find out more about the dogs in the pedigree, you
should visit your dog's breeder to see his sire and dam firsthand.
The breeder should be able to tell you where to find your dog's
grandparents as well. For information on dogs further back in the
pedigree, you may have to resort to books and magazines about your
breed. Contact the national breed club to find veteran breeders
who can give you the history on dogs now deceased. Pictures can
only give you part of the story. You need to talk to people who
have first hand knowledge of what the dogs were really like.
What does CH. mean? CH. is the abbreviation for
Champion, a
title that makes everyone's heart beat a little faster! A pedigree
filled with champions, their names written in red ink, is an
impressive sight indeed.
A champion is a dog who has defeated enough other dogs at
sanctioned shows to win the required number of points to achieve
the title. The required number of dogs to be defeated varies for
each breed and different sections of the country. It can be easier
to achieve the title in some breeds than others.
Is a champion a dog of exceptional quality?
Sometimes - and sometimes not. A champion is only as good as the
competition he beats. In areas where the competition is poor, a
champion may be just slightly above average for his breed. He may
not be able to achieve his title in places where the competition
is tougher. Having the title doesn't tell you whether he actually
deserved it.
A championship title also can't tell you if the dog was good
breeding stock or if he/she had inherited defects that were passed
on to its puppies. Only first hand knowledge from people that
actually knew the dog can tell you that.
In short, a pedigree is a tool to help
breeders produce better dogs. It is a starting point for research.
A pedigree by itself doesn't mean much. Without knowing what the
dogs in the pedigree were really like, a pedigree is just an
impressive list of names!
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