04/02/2026
As Spring is upon us I thought I'd share some tips for those thinking of adding a new family member! First, I have been a breeder and exhibitor of AKC dogs since 1977. I am now also an AKC Judge and spend copious amounts of time studying Canine anatomy and dog breed standards...for FUN! While I appreciate the "adopt" movement as it should always be about the dog, the simple fact is if people DID shop, there would be no dogs surrendered to a shelter! Reputable preservation breeders ALWAYS welcome back ANY dog they produce, at anytime in it's life, for any reason. They always do genetic and health testing on ALL breeding age animals. They care about stable temperaments and matching the perfect puppy with the right home. Here's another newsflash, the prices most breeders charge is LESS than the average "doodle" will cost. All their puppies are up to date on vaccines and guaranteed for health.
There is a purebred breed for every need. Any groomer can make a Poodle look like ANY doodle, and it will have better coat texture, the above mentioned health benefits and a personality that fits into your lifestyle. They will also be already used to regular grooming, crate trained and often housebroke.
It saddens your groomer to see structural deviations that will cause the dog pain or discomfort down the road, or worse needed surgery. So, to keep this short, I will start to give some "Things to look" tips every so often to help you in choosing your next pet. You will find your reputable breeder will gladly help you as well. Let's start with the coat. So many popular crosses now are poodle-something. Sadly, the dogs used to create these mixes are often not the best representatives themselves. Soft fluffy white coats with pink skin are some of the hardest to keep up. They seem to mat just looking at them! Add any amount of kink to the texture and it's a recipe for disaster. Your Groomer wants to give you the look you want, but they will NOT hurt your dog trying to do it. If you like the "fluffy" look, plan on DAILY combing...for the rest of the dogs life. There are no shortcuts. Once matted, it will need to be cut off. If you wash a matted dog: Think about tying a knot in a cotton rope. et that knot wet and pull tight. Think you can get that knot out? Always comb before a bath. A metal comb, to the skin. Your groomer will be happy to show you, and suggest brushes and sprays that can help.
Next time I'll talk about other coat care principals! Thanks for reading, and tell your dog HI!
