I gave a home to a lovely 6 month old standard poodle earlier this year. Owner had 3 children under 5 (1 disabled) and realised she couldn't cope. He hadn't been walked on a lead or socialised and was extremely nervous when we went to see him. He took to our whippet immediately and never looked back after he came to us. He is fantastic with children, very confident now and seems to me, perfectly normal, in his behaviour. I have started obedience training and plan to start agility this spring. I do not wish to breed, but also don't intend to have him neutered either. We have just hit the adolescence, in that he sees other dogs as great fun and just wants to play. He will not come back if he is having fun either. Do I keep him on the lead and only let him off when there are no dogs about, or continue to let him play? I want to be the one he has more fun with, he is very toy orientated, but when other dogs are about, he prefers them. I don't think neutering will make a bit of difference, as he is only playing, he has not started humping, at all. I do take really tasty treats out and have started using a whistle. I only started 2 days ago and in the house, he comes immediately, he has also returned to me on his walk this morning, but again there were no distractions. I think he will probably be around 2 years when he is fully grown. Can anyone tell me what else I should be doing to get through this phase?

I have a young dog approaching two years who sounds very like your poodle. She too loves to play with other dogs and despite having an excellent recall, once a dog to play with comes into view, she's off.
Where I live is a quiet area and we don't often see other dogs so she can be off the lead most of the time. I usually keep an eye ahead and call her in to be put on the lead if I see another dog approaching. If we are somewhere else and there are a lot of dogs about then she stays on the lead.
Will your poodle come away from another dog if you walk on or do you have to try and catch him and put him on a lead. I find that my dog will come with me especially if she has been allowed to play for a bit. For the first time last week I was able to recall her from going to see a dog and I think this is a lot to do with her age and that she is begining to get through adolescence and become an adult.
Have you tried him on a long line so that you have the ultimate control. He will have the freedom to run about, but you will be able to reel him in if he heads towards another dog.