I didn't grow up with dogs. My husband did. He and the kids want one. I do not want anything big or hairy. What is your opinion on a toy poodle? Boy or girl? Please let me know what you think.
Thank you.

We always had girl dogs. Male dogs spray if they are not neutered. We dontt have one now, but me and the kids want one, hubby says hes packing his bags if a dog comes...see ya honey! JK

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Jill
jatalamo@aol.com
Mom to Joey (8) and Gianna (6)

We have always gotten mutts and they are wonderful.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

We have a toy poodle!! He is now 15 years old. We got him for our boys when they were in third grade. (They're now 23!) Poodles are very good with children (this one sure has been!) He's been pulled, tugged and carried around now since he was born!). One good thing, too, about poodles is that they don't shed. Their hair is like human hair. So you'll have no dog hair on anything! Plus if anyone has allergies, they shouldn't be allergic to a poodle. My son and husband aren't and they both have horrible allergies. Poodles are very smart too. If you crate train him/her, it will be much easier for you, too. He/She will be 'going' outside in no time.

Good luck on whatever decision you make. If I got another pet, it would definitely be a poodle again!

I'm a senior with my 7 yo granddaughter living with me. We have a dog and I wouldn't be without one.
Not only are they great companions but they will let you know if there is someone around.

I have had both male and female dogs through out the years and I don't really have a preference to one or the other more than it costs less to have a male neutered than it does for a female. And I definitely want any pet I have to be neutered. That way the males don't spray to mark their treritory and females won't come in heat.

Poodles are usually a loving lap dog. THey don't shed hair like many breeds do BUT they are a high maintainence dog. They NEED to be groomed every several weeks, other wise their coat will get extremely matted.

My last dog was a male cock-a-poo who was neutered when I got him. He was 1/2 cocker spaniel and 1/2 poodle, but he had the poodle coat. When I first got him, I could groom him myself, but as I got older and didn't get around as well, I could no longer do it. THen I had to take him to the groomer about every 3 months (and that really wasn't enough) Each trip was $25 to $30
But he was a very loving dog and VERY loyal to me. I lost him to cancer a little over 2 years ago.
I now have a beagle mix that was a rescue dog.

There are other breeds that don't shed, but again, you're getting into grooming.

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Barb


My GOD Bless our Country and our Troops, and rid the World of terroists.

We had a poodle when I was little--he lived to age 15-16--something like that. They are great with kids. No shedding (unlike my golden who is right now shedding enough hair to make a whole nother dog!). He was a great pet for our family. Small enough to take with us in the car.

I do agree that poodles can be wonderful companions and have known several people who have had them. However, I feel the need to add that toy breeds of many dogs can be rather fragile and prone to various health issues. I don't know how old your children are so I can't say if that would be the right choice for you, but please take the dog's size into consideration if your children play rough or are too young to understand how to be gentle with a little dog. I understand you not wanting a big dog, but there are plenty of great small and medium size dogs that may be a little sturdier or suitable for children.

If you haven't already, you may want to research a few dog breed websites to find out about the personality traits also to make sure they mesh with your family's lifestyle.

I also agree with the comment someone else made about mutts. The dog we have now is a mix breed and aside from the shedding, she is just wonderful.

Depending on the age of your children; I just lost my yorkie that was 14 1/2. She was 4 1/2 - 5 lbs. non shedding, and practically nothing to clean up in the yard after. We loved her and she was crazy about us. We got her when my children were 12, 10, and 7. My husband was her favorite, then my oldest son, myself, my youngest son, and daughter tied. The only warning is they can weigh a pound or less when you get them and it may be too much for that small of a puppy at a cost of $500 - $1000 to fend for itself with rough and tumble children. My children were well warned that this was not a wrestling pup; she was a baby to be gently coddled. This they did up to the day she died. We miss her terribly!! Good Luck on you decision!

My aunt had poodles hers would snap at us if we tried to pet them. I would recommend if you buy a poodle to get a puppy. With kids always being around the puppy the dog should easily accept other children. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/toypoodle.htm

We had a pekingese ( which are not suppose to be good with kids.) We bought her when she was 5 weeks old when the kids were still toddlers. She did great with the kids, always following them around making sure they were staying out of trouble.

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Angels may not come when you call them, but they'll always be there when you need them.

While I have never had a toy poodle...I really wanted a lap dog but with three very high energy boys I knew it would not be safe for a tiny dog. So I have a Rott mix that we inherited when he was a mere 3wks old (His mom was sick and couldn't feed him so I helped my friend out by "only feeding it until it could be weaned" yeah right!

What I can say is that he is a most amazing dog. I believe that because he was never really with his siblings we truly got to train him right from the get go. Even though he is a big dog my kids can do anything to him including taking food directly out of his mouth.

I love having a dog, it makes our family complete.

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#3 Gone To Race In A Better Place...

I personally can't imagine paying $500 or $1000 for a dog when you can go and rescue one from a certain DEATH for around $50.. paying that much money for a dog is totally inconceivable in my mind...wowsie... not when there are so many being put to sleep in shelters.. but then again some people treat their animals better than their kids so I guess $500-$1000 is nothing for them...

I would go with a mutt at a local shelter... you are saving a life and I bet you would find a small one there too.. remember not everyone can be a 'breed' in life.. some of us are 'mutts'...

ps.. I am talking from experience here, I grew up with poodles and chiawawas (sp?) and have 7 rescued cats in our house.. (went from dogs to cats.. hhehehe) so my 'heart' is in rescues... BUT remember to have all pets spayed or neutered.. around here the CHAT office does male cats $35 and female cats $50...

Please check out your local pound or humane society. There are several family pet oriented animals there longing for a home. They have purebreds too. Save a life and don't support back yard breeding!

We were given a toy poodle last August by a girl that had gotten him and didn't want him anymore. We wanted a little dog, prayed for a dog every night, and when we got the call that she wanted to give him to us, we jumped on it. I have never regretted that decision. Luke is the best small dog in the world, he loves my 13 yr the best but my twins are highly attached to him and my 4 yr old adores him. When we got him he was scared to death of my son, but that was b/c he was abused by the girls stepfather and even to this day, he won't come in the kitchen to eat his food if anyone is in there for fear that he will be kicked or shouted at (I don't know what kind of abuse he underwent and I don't want to know, its too heartbreaking). I've known the people all my life so I was comfortable with taking my baby but make sure if there is any history you try to find out beforehand. This will be hard with animal control or SPCA. I went twice a week to Animal Control for over 3 months and never could get a small dog, they are snapped up fast. But I wouldn't trade my baby in for nothing now He's made this family complete.

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Proud Single Mother to 18 year old Twins Ashley/Davey, 14 year old Shawna, 5 year old Emma, and my Boo Bear, "Angel Hope" (1996-1997) RIP Boo.

A dog is the best thing in the world for kids. Helps them learn responsibility how to deal with loss and grief how someone counts on you no matter what. A dog is also their first real relationship besides their parents.

Boy or girl doesn't matter. You'll get either fixed I suppose. I suggest getting a dog from a shelter. There are thousands that get killed each year simply because nobody wants them.

Buying a dog from a breeder just encourages them to keep breeding dogs when perfectly wonderful animals die a horrid death every day.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

The kids wanted a dog so I let my ex and their stepmom get them one last Christmas....I'm doing 99% of the dog stuff...and the weekends they go to their dad's she gets soooooooooooo lonely....Follows me everywhere in the house.... I love her but hate her the same time...LOL its hard to explain I'd miss her if she wasn't here...I always come home greeting her with "Hello MISS LEAH!!!"

We did get a pug and she is SUPER great with the kids...My youngest was 4 when we got her and a little rough, she is very non aggressive and just loves people in general...The only 2 things that is horrible about this dog is the shedding and the snoring!! She snores so loud you can hear her across the house!! I can't complain.....she's a failry good doggy

We have a miniature schnauzer/poodle mix female and she is so smart and cute!! I do 99% of the work, but i don't mind - she has become my sweet baby...

She is great with my elementary aged kids and they love to dress her up and take her for wagon rides. I think she likes it.

I like the schnoodle because they do not shed or have the medical issues the pure bred dogs are prone to. My vet said he would never advise anyone who simply wanted a family pet to go pure bred because they mix them to get the best of both breeds. Those puggles are awful cute too!

We have a Yorkie...I love her so much, sorry to hear about your loss. Yorkies are great, and I agree they may be a disapointment to kids who want a "rough and tumble" type dog. My Yorkie is nothing short of a baby and she is 4 years old. All she wants is my lap! SO, having said that, we got what my kids call a REAL dog, from the pound. she is a yellow lab mix and she is sturdy and fun but sheds SO much it is crazy. So now I have my low key lap baby and the kids have their real dog. I also know that huskies shed a bunch and the shedding is a problem because the dog hair ends up EVERYWHERE. Call and ask a vet for breeds that don't shed. good luck, you'll like having a dog around. oh, we prefer females, nicer dospositions IMO.

And with all the talk of having dogs....I'm now in a delemia. I already have a 2 1/2 yo male beagle mix, a 6 yo male cat (both neutered) and a 1 1/2 yo cockatiel.

Someone on the yahoo boards have a 3 month old black lab pup that they just paid $400 for 3 weeks ago, only to learn both she and the dd are both highly allergic to the dog.
They're now looking for a new forever home for her for a very nominal fee. I am fighting logic in the worst way. I am SOOOO tempted to go get her.

My dd and sil had a black lab until the end of last year when they HAD to have him put to sleep for his health reasons. That was SOOOO an emotional thing to have to do. I think I was as attached to him as they were. They also have 2 teacup yorkies.
I am trying to talk them into taking this lab pup. I even offered to pay the fee for her. But I think it's too soon after them loosing Zack.

Anyway, I want this pup. BUT I really don't have room for her. I have no room for a kennel and my kitchen floor isn't big enough to spread papers (she's paper trained).
PLEASE hope for me to make the right choice.

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Barb


My GOD Bless our Country and our Troops, and rid the World of terroists.

My "firstborn" was a poodle/dachshund/maltese mix and died 2 months before she turned 18. She didn't shed (poodle) smelled like a bar of soap and had the heart of a lion (dachshund). I would never want to be without dogs (have 2 now) and if I could find a mix like Gypsy was, I would take her in a second. She helped to raise our kids and I think she's part at "fault" that DD is going into zoology.

Of course they want one they wont be the ones taking care of it LOL!! I have 2 dh brought home the first & its now my doggy & the kids begged for the second it was an inheritted dog from my grandma it was either us or the pound my 12 yr old 9 at the time swore she would take care of it ya right that lasted a whole 2 days LOL!!

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mom of 3 greats girls

I'd not get a dog with the intention of the kids taking care of it. It won't happen!

One reason that we felt that a dog would be helpful in our home is that we have a 9 1/2 year old son with Asberger's Syndrome. He has a hard time adjusting to new situations and non-routine. A pet always presents new situations and is unpredictable. We are hoping that this little pup will teach our son something about 'tolerance' and 'patience'. Those are two character traits that he could use some assistance in developing.

We currently have a St. Bernard mix that is the world's best watch dog and great with our fam. Also have a Sibe that the vet thinks has Malamute in him and maybe even may be a wolf hybrid - greatest, most loving, ab fab fam dog ever. However, all the northern breeds are major (the understatement of the century) shedders. And they also tend to be diggers (especially huskies). Our backyard is swiss cheesed with husky holes.
I like the large and giant breed dogs myself, my dream dog is an Irish Wolfhound or Scottish Deerhound. Or even a standard poodle, cuz after decades of shedding dogs I'd love one that didn't shed. I also love Mastiffs, we had one years ago.He was a great dog - minimal shedding, great security pet, very loving. But I would never have another one cuz the jowls and accompanying drooling were unbelievable.
I prefer dogs over bitches. We've had 3 bitches in 30 + years, and only one of them was a *to die for* doggie in my book. But that's a personal preference from our experience, I've known many great bitches owned by other folks and also some nasty dogs.
We also have and Asperger's kid who got us to get our two currentr dogs and they've been cheaper and more effective than socialization sessions for him. He'd walk them, folks would stop him to comment on his beautiful dogs, ask questions, and he made friends this way. It was amazing how much more socially competent he became when he had these 2 dogs as his entourage ;-)
Dogs can be great for kids, but never, ever forget - as the mom person, you *will* be the the mom to the dog also , no matter what your kids promise along the lines of caring for the pup. They may love a dog to pieces, it maybe a best friend, but you can pretty much count on the major responsibilities falling on you. Our kids feed and walk and brush the dogs ( but don't brush them regularly enough). They don't clean their ears ro treat their boo-boos or work on keeping them well behaved. Some kids *do*, a lot of em don't.
I was never much of a dog person till we had our first kid and the dog we got *cuz it's good for kids* was so fabulous she sold me on dogs from that time on.
(But I'll still be a cat lady in my dotage and still can't sleep w/out one on my pillow or under the covers w/moi ;-)
MZ

We are looking for a dog, too. I am very interested in the 'doodles' they are various breeds mixed with poodles to reduce shedding. We have an appt. to look at a goldendoodle on Sat. These dogs are running $1000 - $2000 each!! So expensive for a mutt but I really want a dog that has the temperment of a golden with little shedding.

Anyone own a Cockapoo? Or a 'doodle' mix?

I saw a *goldendoodle* for the first time this past fall when I went to visit one of my kids at college. The dog was waiting outside a cafe for it's master, and it was one of the most physically pretty dogs I'd ever seen as well as being of such a temperment that I almost immediately fell in love with it. I'd never heard of such an intentional mix till that day, but it seemed like an excellent idea to moi-self, a person who loves both Goldens' temepement/personality (but hates the shedding) and Standard Poodles.
I know there are many critics of *designer* dog breeds that are mixes, but that mix is one I woulda happily taken home in a NY minute.
MZ

The decision for our family to get dogs was. Is someone going to be at home with them? Someone available to train them? Are you going to keep them in crates/doggy den they recommend not longer than 8 hours a day to be in the crate, can someone accomodate this? Is everyone willing to take care of them, when they are puppies they have to be taken out about every 30 minutes? If you are going to be the main caretaker, are you willing? Can you afford to get shots, liscenses, neutering/spaying done, heartworm medication, flea tick drops for the neck every month (for us each dog cost about $25 a month just for the flea and Heartworm meds)? Can you afford food? What if your pet is allergic to regular food and has to be put on a special diet, can you afford it? Will you have to pay for grooming?

For us, I had to be the one to say yes, DH and DD wanted a dog, but they would not be the ones to take care of them the most. We adopted two full breed Black Labs, they were both puppies from the pound, we intended to only get one dog, but there were 2 left out of 7 and I couldn't stand to leave the baby girl there, DH wanted the boy (she has become my baby, LOL, she just adores me). Adoption fees were $160, spaying and neutering were about $130 for both, flea/tick and heartworm meds are about $50 a month, food is another $60 a month. They get 3 sets of shots initially and I can't remember how much they were, but they were over $100 each time, then once a year. Both got sick and were in the vet for a couple of days, total over $600, had some type of dog virus. I work part time so I am the one available to take care of them most of the time.

All very good points.
Pets, even the healthiest ones, *are* expensive if you are going to be a responsible owner.
So many breeds of dogs have inherent possibilities of future medical probs, there is never a sure thing when it comes to the future health of a pet. Some breeds are less likely to develop XYZ probs than others, but as it is when you have kids, it's pretty much a crap shoot, you will never know what the future may hold. Can you handle that?
We have currently ended up with 2 dogs who require special diets and care due to allergies (one dog's food, he can only eat salmon, is about $45 for a 20# bag... something I never woulda agreed to had I known this is how it would be ahead of time, but here we are w/a beloved pet, so we do what we must), and a cat w/feline AIDS that has needed lots of extra costs in care to keep him healthy.
Pets are a bit like kids - you must truly be committed to their best interests and consider the costs of keeping them for a lifetime before you jump into it.
That said, we have have had more dogs and cats than I count over the decades that didn't drain our financial resources.
Then again, we had the 3rd cat in U.S. history to be documented w/heartworm many years ago. ( and he was stray we were trying to find a home for! Cost us well over 1G to get him healthy before we found him the right home ;-)
We used to collect many pets till we switched to kids. 6 kids later we are less able/willing to dole out for pet upkeep/etc. than for the kids.
I don't mean to discourage you from getting a dog, just want you to see the realities of responsible pet ownership. Way too many animals end up in pounds/shelters when folks who got them realize they are too much to handle both financially and behaviorally.
I, after too many years than I am willing to admit to, have found that despite the possible negatives of pet ownership, the postives have far outweighed them and will coninue to adopt shelter animals. Our animals have enriched our family's life more than I could express in words. Pets are remarkable friends, therapists, security alarms, and sources of more laughs than Comedy Central.
MZ ----> a sucker and fool for the least likely adoptable pets and kids ;-)

We have 2 Beagles. I love them! Sturdy dogs, loving family dogs. DH and I have decided that we are definitely a Beagle familly.

We have 2 rescue rat terriers and I fostered a black lab puppy for several months for a lab rescue org. He was adopted last month.

We got our ratties at around 10m.
They are sweet dogs and good w/people. At least the girl dog. The male was most likely a puppy mill dog and has some quirks.
They both adore the kids and the female LOVES all kids. Other dogs? Not so much other than her dog friends. The male gets along fine w/other dogs and prefers women to men. Other than dh, he adores dh but I am the boss LOL
That is too be expected though, we are a house of girls!

The female rattie is about 16lbs and the boy is about 19lbs.
They have those skinny greyhound looking legs but are suprisingly sturdy. They need to be w/ my youngest dd!

lab puppies are a handful! They are usually hyper and chew A LOT! They need a lot of exercise and care! And they grow LARGE (he was about 65lbs at 6m and taller than my 9 yr old on hind legs) and are clumsy! He suffered from "Happy Tail" meaning he could clear the coffee table with his tail wagging LOL

If I had to do it over again I still would have fostered my lab boy though. He is a very sweet dog and the kids enjoyed him being here.

Rat Terrier Boy
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m.../sleepyboy.jpg
Rat Terrier Girl
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...llaprofile.jpg
Black Lab Boy, about 7-8m at new home
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Harryhome.jpg

I had a female toy poodle when I was a child. She did shed. Even years after she was gone we would still find some fur from her. Don't be fooled that a short hair dog wouldn't shred. We had a pug and they shred awful but great dogs. I now have a shih tzu and she doesn't shed.

Wow, I'm really surprised that your poodle shed. All the info. I've been reading touts poodles as being 'non-shedders'. I'm definitely going to have to look into this some more. Honestly, that is the only reason I would pay so much money for a dog, otherwise, we'd probably just go to the local shelter and find a nice mixed breed pup. Thanks for the insight.

Our poodle that shed was a black female. Not sure if there is a difference in poodles. Our pug that shedded awful was a fawn female. We had a male black pug and he didn't shed.

I soooo agree, I got a purebred Lhasa opso at a local shelter and she is my angel....Also adopted a sheltie mix at another shelter and he is a wonderful loving dog!!! Sherri

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"It isn't that liberals are ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan