Oct 14 2008

Poodle Behavior Demystified


by Lisa A Collins

The Poodle is a hot favorite for many mostly because it is very docile animal, easy to train and even easier to exercise. However, there are many Poodle problems that you might encounter if the training you impart is faulty or the dog was rescued and had been badly mistreated when it was younger.

Generally speaking, the Poodle is a dog that does not give much trouble while training. If there will be problems, you will find that the root cause of the problem will be more with the owner of the dog rather than the dog itself. Hence, if you find that the dog is not behaving properly, you should take a long look at what you are doing.

Pampering is the first and foremost reason for bad behavior in Poodles. Their sweet looks and friendly attitude often makes their owners to treat them more as their children than dogs ? which is good in a way. However, it is important that you lay down the rules very clearly and enforce them consistently or you will have a wild adult Poodle on your hands in no time.

Fear is one of the most important reasons why a Poodle might exhibit bad behavior. It is possible to eliminate these types of Poodle problems if you take the trouble to socialize the dog systematically both with people and other animals. A dog that is fearful can become skittish and even nip at extended hands.

Fear can also make the Poodles bark incessantly, urinate frequently all over the house and overall create a lot of nuisance. The dog might fear separation from you and also behave very odd like barking, yapping and even howling when you are not there. Out of frustration the dog might behave erratically ? like chewing furniture, tearing clothing around the house, digging excessively or urinating every time it sees you.

From among the many Poodle problems, fear should be handled with great care. With the right type of handling you will be able to train the dog to behave properly within no time

Poodles problems can occur if your dog left for too long without company. They are animals that love company and cannot spend long time in isolation. When this happens ? say you leave your Poodle alone every day for more than four hours consecutively ? it will become restless and consumed by boredom. To counter this it will start chewing on things in the house, urinating on shoes or even bed, and barking loudly and aggressively.

When you own a Poodle, you should be assured of one thing. The dog's first priority is to please you so, as long as you can show the dog through rewards and positive reinforcement of the good behavior what you really want from it, you will be able to motivate it into doing whatever you want.

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Oct 10 2008

Proper Poodle Training: What It Entails

by Lisa A Collins

Of all the different breeds of dog that one can choose from, the Poodle is definitely one of the best. They really offer everything that a person looks for in a dog. They are loyal, friendly and affectionate, let alone absolutely beautiful. There are a few things that need to be considered very seriously before one opts to get a Poodle for a pet however, and in particular this includes Poodle training.

Poodles also tend to be quite stubborn and dominant, especially if they are not shown who is in charge of the home, and so this can also cause a damper in their training. It often takes a lot more time and effort to train a Poodle than another breed of dog, and any potential Poodle owner definitely needs to be aware of this before they go through and decide to get one of these dogs as a pet. It is important to start training the dog as early on as possible in order to get the best and most permanent results.

One of the first and easiest commands that should be taught in Poodle training is the sit-stay command. To teach this lesson the owner needs to have the leash and collar on their dog and in their hand, and tell the dog to "Sit!" while pushing their rump down and holding their head up. Do this a couple of times and the dog will learn.

There are a few important commands in particular which should be included in the most basic Poodle training. Heel is one of the first and to teach this command the owner needs to have the leash and collar on the dog, and command them to "Heel!" while at the same time walking out with the foot closest to the dog. The typical side to have the dog heel on is the left but of course this is up to the owner.

The bottom line is that although a lot of time and effort has to be put into Poodle training, it is well worth it to stave off Poodle problem behaviors before they begin. Poodles are truly amazing dogs and make great pets, even in families with young children.

One of the most important tips an owner needs to remember when it comes to Poodle training is to be repetitive. Most dogs are forgetful but the Poodle is especially so, and so more than ever it is important that the owner be consistent with their training to stave off future Poodle problem behaviors. Even by missing just a day of training can leave the dog confused and they may even forget everything that they have already learned.

Any owner, who feels uncomfortable training their dog or simply does not have the time or knowledge that is necessary, should absolutely consider hiring a professional dog trainer to help out here. Of course there is going to be a cost for these services but it will be more than worth it to have a polite and well-mannered dog.

It is also very important to make sure that there are no distractions around while training the dog, such as toys and food, because then the dog will not be able to focus and this will make training them a great deal more difficult. Owners should also remember that there are many wonderful professional dog trainers out there who will be able to help out here and make sure that the dog is properly trained.

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Oct 04 2008

Poodle 101: The Miniature Poodle

by Lisa A Collins

If you think a Miniature Poodle is just a smaller version of the Standard Poodle - you'd be right! The Miniature Poodle and the Standard Poodle are almost identical in their physical characteristics, their temperament, their needs and their incredible intelligence. The only difference is in their size.

The Humane League of the United States estimates that twenty-five percent of all abandoned animals are purebreds. So, the odds of that shelter dog being a purebred Miniature Poodle are pretty high.

No Miniature Poodle will fulfill every requirement of the breed standard. If you are not sure what the Miniature Poodle breed standard is, even the one for Standard Poodles (the big guys) will suffice. They are identical except for size. A Miniature Poodle is between eleven and fifteen inches tall at the shoulder. They should ideally weigh from fifteen to seventeen pounds, but the shelter dog will most likely be less or more than that.

Any Poodle information for Standard Poodles tends to also apply to Miniature Poodles, only on a smaller scale. Their breed standards are identical (again, except for size). They should be lean, athletic dogs under remarkably puffy coats. Their expression should be happy and lively. Their trot should be lively and bouncy, with their heads and tails naturally held high. Many show Poodles have their tails half docked - a practice which is thankfully dying out.

Their long and strong bodies have a level spine (called a topline in the dog show world), although some pet-quality Miniature Poodles will have a topline that slopes down to their hindquarters. The tail and head are naturally held high. The feet are oval in shape, although pet-quality Miniature Poodles will have splayed feet. The overall look of the dog is that all of the body parts should be in proportion to each other.

All official Poodle information says that the Miniature Poodle is solid colored only, but pet quality animals may have two colors on the same body. Their trot is lively and they seem to always be looking around for admirers. This is a dog that loves the paparazzi (or should I say, pupperazzi?) Poodle types are considered the second most intelligent dog breed in the world, just after the Border Collie.

All coats of Poodle types are long and curly and are actually hair and not fur. Most Miniature Poodles fall short of their breed standard in many areas, but still can be purebred Miniature Poodles.

They don't seem to care whatever clip they are given. Miniature Poodles are long lived (some have reached twenty) and is one of the more healthy breeds of smaller dogs available.

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Sep 29 2008

A Guide To Poodle Training

by Lisa A Collins

Of all the different issues that are of importance when it comes to raising a Poodle, Poodle training is definitely one of the most important. It is essential that every Poodle owner begin training their dog while they are still young, when still a puppy. This way they will be taught how to behave and will grow up to be a well-mannered and properly behaved adult dog.

Training Poodle puppies can be very fun and rewarding however, as long as one is willing and able to put the time and effort in that is required here. Training a new puppy can be as basic as just teaching him to come when called and to housebreak them. When it comes to Poodle training however there are a few things in particular that it will be important to teach them and it is best to teach them as early on as possible so that they will grow up to be a polite and well behaved dog.

This includes housetraining, puppy chewing, whining puppy and training the dog to be well behaved around children. No one should get a Poodle for a pet until they are sure that they will be able to give them the care and attention that they crave.

Also keep in mind that any area that the puppy has access to in the home should be kept clear and clean. Otherwise, the dog will not be able to determine what he is allowed to play with and what he is not allowed to play with, and this can obviously result in being very confusing for them.

If the puppy is ever caught with something in their mouth that should not be there, such as a shoe or piece of clothing for instance, the best idea is to distract them away from it and then replace it with one of their toys so they can learn what is okay to play with and what is not.

When it comes to Poodle potty training, it is important to remember that Poodles respond better to positive reinforcement than to anger and yelling. It is important not to get frustrated when training the dog and instead remember that they will learn by trial and error, and not by getting punished.

Take the puppy outside on a regular basis and show it the proper place to go or, if paper training, keep the paper in the same place. Expect accidents and be consistent. Reward your puppy when the proper place is used and clean up any accidents quickly and completely to discourage use of the improper place again.

Although training a Poodle can definitely take some time and get to be quite trying, the good news is that Poodles are typically easier to train than most other breeds of dog. Apart from being one of the most intelligent breeds of dog out there, they are also very good-natured and mellow, and make perfect pets.

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