Well!

Come what may, I've made my decision. Brought the poodle home. Seperation anxiety is a problem, but one I feel capable of dealing with. She's really just not used to being alone; the people even brought her to work with them, so it's just a new and not at all pleasant experience. That can be changed, huh?!

I'd like to get some e-mail buddies who own or have owned toy poodles. You can only get so much information from books and it's always good to talk to a real, flesh and blood person, even if it is only over the internet! My e-mail address is ChakinShibori@aol.com I can't even join the poodle club of America because I'm not old enough. They require that you be 21; I'm 19. This is the first dog I will have independantly owned, and I need their support more now than I will in 2 years! Argh!

She's very well mannered, and quite mellow. Half my brain tells me "Don't complain! You've got it made! Good manners, well behaved, and low key, high energy when -and only when!- *you* want it; half the world's dream pup, and you're complaining!" but my other half says "Jeese! what a boring life she's been leading! Time to spice things up! Let's teach her how to chew on shoes!" I understand that she probably has very few of the old hunting/water poodle habits in her anymore (true?) and the toys have been bred as companion handwarmers, not sporting dogs, but I'm having a really, really, really hard time believing a dog is content with a couple of walks, a chew toy, and a lap. I'd like to know how other people's toy poodles are, and what they like to do. Habits to watch for? Games to play? (I shouldn't complain about it, but she seems TOO good! Is that bad? I've seen her several times in the past two weeks. Taken walks, to the park... She doesn't bark, doesn't jump, heels beautifully, is a little shy but gets over it within minutes, a little nervous around other dogs but gets over it within hours... Doesn't chew anything but her toys, is pretty much potty trained, has a strong stomach, soft coat, high tolerance for handling... I'm waiting to find out she has rage syndrome or something.....)

Oh, I just absolutely adore her. If she's happy being a cat, more power to her! I'm a huge feline fan as well as dog devotee, and a 2-in-1 combo sounds great! But I want to make sure she's lounging because she's happy to lounge, not because she has nothing better to do.

lol, yes, I'm teasing about her size (not even 7lbs!) but it's all good natured. I'm just absolutely in love. It's just that for the last 4 years (almost) I've been raising my two huge black labs (oooh how I miss them! They won't talk on the phone when I call my mom..... *grin*)! I'm still coming to terms with her diminuative stature even though it's what I've been looking for and expecting for the last five months of searching (is this a normal transition phase? *grin*). Also, I'm used to ruling the roost but I can't imagine using the same method I used on them on her, and it's just the average reward based formula with your run of the mill scoldings! My heart argues "let her jump! She couldn't hurt anyone!" while my mind says "a dog is a dog is a dog! She must know her place!" but my heart says "yeah, yeah, but can't her place be curled up on the bed with me? Look at her.. she's so cute and liiittle!" then my mind says "Noo! Resist the tempta- oh, what pretty brown eyes she has!"

lol Help me please! What exceptions can you make with little dogs before that start climbing the social ladder? On the furniture as long as she doesn't rule it? Jumping, as long as she waits for an invite? Sleeping on the bed, as long as she'll stay in her kennel if I ask her to? I'm just using those as examples; I know those depend more on what your personal house rules are. But coming from an affluent retirement community in Florida, I've seen so many spoiled little devildogs riding around in a rich lady's purse, barking and yipping and nipping and growling and glaring, and completely ignoring their owner's "nownow, preciousssss, aaaw, don't bark at that mean old dirty man, did he scare you sweet heeaaart? Shhh" Granted, that's just bad training and maybe a little bit of inbreeding, but really, that's the general impression most people who haven't owned toy poodles have of toy poodles (in the US, anyway. How 'bout over there?). The only two owners I've found around here say that impression is not far from the truth. Buuut my booksmart head tells me it's because they let them get away with bad behaviour, and that the combination of wonderfully high intelligence and such esteemed affection should make an absolutely spectacular dog with proper and careful training - smarts can mean trouble, too, huh?

...Hmm... Perhaps I ought to learn this skill for *short* posts that some of you have... ;)

Thanks a bunch, and looking forward to your replies!
Dani