-When just starting out, “Potty Outside” every hour

-Hang out with pup for at least 5 minutes, saying “Potty Outside” then praise them lots when they go

-Stools will take longer to hang out with and usually are first thing in morning, then they eat and will go again usually within an hour, then later in the day will go again

-I use “Treat” whenever I’m seeing difficulty in obeying, the response is incredible

-Lamb keeps flatulence down to almost/nothing

-I stand over their backs, grab the back paws with both of my hands and wipe them on the carpet, then I take the front paws in both my hands and wipe them

-They seem to enjoy this in that it’s getting your face down on their level to be with them

Other things to know

-Keeps them out of trouble from chewing your good shoes, etc

-These larger poodles are extremely aggressive chewers, so do get them the bigger bones, they’ll be gone in no time

-Most butchers will give them to you free (maybe not these days :-(

-I stay away from the chew leathers for a number of reasons, ask my viewpoint if you’re interested

-No chicken or pork bones as they are brittle and cause intestinal problems

-Give me a call any time with your questions

-Red spots on your pets stomach are from laying in the grass and bugs biting them, spring is the worst

-Ask me about the liquid spray I found for pets as well

-A vacuum or broom sweeping by the pet WILL upset them (I take mine slowly by them and they want to attack and play with it)

-This is probably a throw back to when tigers attacked them quickly and ate them up :-)

C. Grooming: Standard Poodles need "Overall" grooming at least once a month. For "do it yourselfers" an excellent video on clipping coats can be found on eBay called Muddy Creek Grooming. It might not always be selling there so go to their website.

The pictures below are what I may use in grooming the poodles. I'm always here to teach those who are interested in learning how to do their own grooming.

From left to right: Oster clippers A-5, MiniMax Trimmer by Oster, Oster Finisher Trimmer (this trimmer I like the best).

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From left to right: Undercoat rake, Curved dematting rake (hard to find), Shedding comb, Slicker brush, Spring back scissors I get at the fabric store, Round tipped scissors for ear hair clipping, Guillotine clipper for nails, Nail Clipper with safety stop, Dog toothe brush, Dental pick for cleaning tartar off once a year (I get old used ones from dentist).

The Following are Weekly Basics

1. Ear Cleaning

This is in relation to long floppy eared dogs.

First off, any ear infections your pet might have need to be thoroughly handled by your favorite vet.

Then on a weekly basis, have a good light over your shoulder that you can look into the ear to see what you're doing.

a. If I get poodles in for grooming with super dirty ears I always handle with the purchased dog ear liquid that you can buy at Fleet Farm, vet, or dog catalogs. I squirt it in and rub their ears for quite awhile to break the gunk down. Then I take q-tips and clean out the best I can without it getting dry, otherwise it'll make the inside of their ears to raw. I would do this on the second day if I had them available, really keeping the q-tip wet with liquid and cleaning out more gunk. It's easy to overdue, so caution to not overwork the ear.

b. The next important thing on the first day is to clip and pull any hair in the ear away as much as possible. I use blunt ended short scissors, opening up the ear canal with my fingers, and having a second person help by holding (if it's a struggling dog), I clip it all down short as possible so I can see everything. You can buy a powder for the ears which allows one to grab ahold of hairs and pull out. I do this more on the outside rims and then get what the scissors can't as much as possible. You just grab onto the hair with 2 fingers tightly and pull it out. Don't do big amounts, small amounts only. This should get your pet pretty clean ear canals.

c. The groomer should make sure when he uses his clippers he takes off the hair under the long leather flap as well to assure air circulation occurs. I always maintain short hair under the ear flap.

d. Then, I tell my customers every week--every week you need to handle ears and nails. The next is weekly maintenance:

i. I fill a cap of alcohol now, I use alcohol now as it kills any bug mites/germs etc. that might want to make a home. Using q-tips dunked with alcohol I have the light behind me and open up the ear with my fingers and start to swab any gunk, changing q-tips frequently until they come out clean, should only have to use no more then 3 by now per ear, never over rub or let q-tip dry.

ii. Pull/clip any excess hair always after you've used the alcohol as it will take any sting away in using the powder.

Both my poodles had bad problems when I first got them. After the vet medicine handled the infection I started this weekly routine and have not had a problem since 2003. I start out right away now with the pups and do this weekly, say watching TV etc, is their weekly grooming time for ears and nails.

Of course they'll itch their ears like we do, but I don't worry anymore that there's an issue as when I clean their ears it's very little gunk that needs handling and looking inside the ear is healthy skin, not red and inflamed.

Kodi seems to have the cleanest ears of all and is extremely laid back when I clean him, Zain's are dirtier and she hates having her ears cleaned! They're all different that's for sure. That's my routine, and they're happy pets now :-)))

2. Nail Clipping

There are several types to choose from. The gilotine style and a scissors style of clippers. Assure they're sharp. Have a styptic liquid or powder ready just in case, I like the powder best.

Slowly take away a little bit of the nail at a time until you see the lighter colored quick of the nail.

This should be done on a weekly basis.

3. And Don't Forget to Brush Their Teeth Weekly

4. Bathing your Standard Poodle

A standard poodle should only be washed once a month if at all possible. If you live in drier cold winter temperatures the longer you can delay a wash the healthier for your poodle as their skin cannot tolerate the constant shampoo and drying.

Always assure all shampoo is thoroughly rinsed out and then conditioned. Then, washing conditioner out thoroughly as well.

During the summer months I use a natural flea and tick eucalyptus repellant shampoo to help keep the bugs away.

5. Other things to be aware of:

Does your puppy get the hiccups?

Well I understand there are dog chiropractors out there. Hiccups are known to be the result of being out of alignment in people, so of course dogs can get out of alignment as well!

I've seen pups have the hiccups while they are young.

When Kodi grew to his manhood, I noted a funny rythmic breathing he'd have. At first I was concerned but watched carefully. It was his hiccups :-) He was doing the rythmic hiccup as he had when he was a pup, yet now as an adult it had a whole different sound, yet rythmic as hiccups. I no longer worry, just wish I knew where to find a Minnesotan dog chiropractor.

If anyone knows, let me know please. 218-894-1434

D. Helpful Puppy Tips for Timid Puppies

What I've read along the book lines for helpful puppy tips:

1. Always stand sideways to your pet, not full front. They take this as dominance and will do what I call "piddly submission" to you. One never wants to be mean or punishing to them when piddly submitting as they are doing what they do in nature to more dominating dogs-piddling to show you're more powerful. Yelling will only continue the act. Of course urinating at bathroom time in the house definitely needs to be taken outside ASAP. But approach the pet from a sideways step in grasping them. Watch your voice tone as in #2.

2. How your voice sounds reflects a dogs language to them. If you’re upset and yelling, this sounds like their mother barking and disciplining them. If you are cheerful, it is like their puppy mates playing with them. And of course, an even tone encourages them as their parents might.

3. Get down on their eye level sideways and encourage them to come to you with their favorite treat. Have treats everywhere ready (small pieces of course)! Carry them at all times to give and encourage the timid pup. Again watch how you speak to them.

4. As a pup, did you notice them to have hiccups? It is great to find a dog chiropractor to give them an adjustment.

When they're older, it sounds different...I notice Kodi catching his breath and I realize he has the hiccups as it has the same rythm. So, before rushing off to the vet, evaluate if they just have the hiccups :-)

5. In a litter, sometimes there may be one puppy that gets picked on by all the others, including momma. My viewpoint, I believe this causes the strain on their personality to be such...making them more submissive then most. This type of personality wasn't "born" in them, but the others made them to submit and be fearful.

You see I can relate, as a female dam I have "was” timid until I learned these things. I was so disappointed at first and was so ready to let her go. But, then I read and worked the above steps. It worked! Once I understood "why" she was doing it, I quit being aggressive to handle her and she came around and now, of course, I would hate to lose her as she is soooooo affectionate. I absolutely love her, as she does us. I call her my hugger and lover. She loves to dance, always wants to snuggle and be close by my side which is so opposite of my others, and I guess I like her needing me. Her first litter of pups had wonderful personalities. The second, and hereafter, litters I'll be watching for any bullying and work to help stop it.

I really had to coach my husband on this and when he was laid off from work she really was able to get to know him. My estimate is it took a year for her to outgrow. She has become our "guard dog” now. My husband believes it's because of her past timidness that she's over compensating with barking at visitors as much as she does. We simply put her in a room for awhile and she knows then she's not the boss when we let her out with company.

There are all kinds of variables that can play into this and other people, I’m sure, may have their viewpoints…that’s fine. This is simply what I have found, hoping it can help you.

E. Standard Poodle Supplies Used

This is the halter/saddle I like to walk the poodles with so not to choke them. The best halter I have found is at a store called "Fleet Farm", the Mans' store :-)

If you've found these tips helpful and have other questions you've been unable to resolve on the internet, see if we can help by filling out the form below or give me a call.

218-894-1434

update 11/27/07

Puppy Tips can be found in many books out there