POODLES LEAD MANY DIFFERENT LIVES

by Cathy McGinnis

This distinction is beautifully represented by the female pictured at right, Ch. Ridgewood's Starlight Express (sire: Ch. Rojean's Love Affair - dam: Ch. Ridgewood's Wish Upon A Star) as she stands proudly in the big ring at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.  Her Handler is Richard F. Sedlack.  Fondly known as Electra to her friends and fans, she is a multiple group winner and multiple Specialty Best-In-Show winner that finished 2004 ranked as #6 Standard Poodle in the U.S.  Her owner says she is indeed active and intelligent.  Electra is a "show dog" but she is a lot more than just a beauty queen.  She's a daily companion, entertainer, official hostess, and keeps a busy social calendar.

As with any highly intelligent being, the brain should be exercised as much as the body.  If you do not provide enough mental stimulation for your Poodle, please do not be surprised or upset when they choose to entertain themselves.  Some may argue, but those who are owned by poodles will agree -- this is a breed with a personality all its own, and YES, they DO have a sense of humor and enjoy just about any game you can imagine (except perhaps chess or poker).

Physical requirements for poodles will, of course, vary based upon the individual dog, their size and age.  However, in general, this is a dog that does require moderate exercise on a regular basis.  You can live comfortably in a small apartment or loft, as long as there is ample opportunity for your poodle to exercise and burn off excess energy.  Poodles love to run, jump, swim and fetch.  Especially the "swim" part.  If you are close to a dog-friendly beach or lake, give your dog a special treat, but use good judgment regarding whether to allow him to swim or play off leash if other dogs are present.

Because of their intelligence, Poodles are quick to learn and eager to please.  They EXCEL in any performance event they are given the opportunity to participate in.  However, Poodle intelligence can cause them to become bored with constant repetition of the same exercise, so it is necessary to be creative and imaginative while training.

We have selected some outstanding dogs, doing what poodles do so well.  But wait, let's play the game.  We'll ask the question and, we'll answer it too!  DO POODLES...? But we would love to hear from you about your poodle because we'll bet – your Poodles Does!

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