WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A TOY POODLE PUPPY

All puppies from any registered breeder (i.e. registered with Dogs NSW) must be registered. It is against the code of ethics for Dogs NSW for them to sell any puppy with no registration papers. All puppies must come micro chipped – it is an offence if puppies are sold prior to being micro chipped. They should also be vaccinated at 6 weeks of age. To protect them from any outside ‘bugs’ you should not be able to view and handle any puppies until after 7 weeks of age so they can build up immunity.

Check with your poodle breeder that at least one of the parents have been DNA tested for PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy – a disease which can lead to blindness). As long as one of the parents is a PRCD Type A your puppy is safe. Note: All Robelletoy Poodles are Type A only, so all our puppies are certified PRCD Clear by parentage.

Also make sure they check for Patella Luxation (the kneecaps can move in and out) this can be very painful and expensive to fix. But also remember Toy Poodles are generally a rough and tumble breed who will jump on the lounge and run around the house and up and down stairs. It is not advisable to encourage this, as this sort of behaviour can cause damage to
the ligaments that hold the patella in place, in this case it is environmental not hereditary.

Also keep their weight under control as an overweight dog can contribute to this problem. It is very important that the temperament of the puppy you are looking to buy suits you and your lifestyle. Just because they are all Toy Poodles doesn’t mean they are all suited for obedience, agility or an active lifestyle. Sometimes they are not and prefer to be house pets who spend a large amount of their time on your lounge or bed. Listen to your breeder and they will advise you of the different temperaments of litter mates.

It is important that our puppies have limited contact outside home until their immune system is stronger. So if you want to secure a puppy early, we will take a holding deposit, declare that puppy sold and send you photo updates until the time you can come and collect your new little treasure. This is at 8 weeks of age minimum and sometimes later, depending on the maturity of the individual pup.

We will not let our puppies leave until they are emotionally and physically mature enough to cope with the change. So we are unable to fix a collection date until the pups approach the 8 week mark. The balance of the purchase is paid in full at that time.

VET APPOINTMENTS

When you collect your new puppy from us, he/she will have already been wormed, fully checked by our Vet and be up to date on vaccinations. Your Vet will continue a vaccination schedule, which you must follow strictly. Puppies get a series of vaccinations just like children go through immunizations. All pups are wormed every two weeks while we have them. You will need to purchase an ‘all wormer’ product which includes hookworm and not the cheaper varieties which are available and only treat round worm, which is not enough. Follow the directions on the package. You should also discuss heart worm treatment with your Vet. Your puppy should also be treated for fleas once a month with a product such as REVOLUTION – which is also available from your Vet (or online).

HELPFUL HINTS AND TIPS

There are several options available when it comes to training your puppy. One option is crate training. Another option is to train the puppy to go potty on a training pad or on newspaper and others choose a litter box. Search the internet for lots of ideas and talk to other Toy Poodle owners.
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No matter what way you choose to train your poodle puppy, be sure to always praise the pup and give him/her a treat when the job is well done. Using a stern, lower voice is enough scolding to a small breed dog. Please do not harm your puppy in any way when getting frustrated in training. Remember, they are only going to learn if you are consistent in teaching them. So many people give up or do not try hard enough to properly train a dog. A poodle is one of the most intelligent breeds out there and they are not difficult to train if you are consistent.

Puppies sleep a lot so make sure you have an area designated just for puppy. A blanket, towel or doggy bed in the corner of a room will work just fine. If you are crate training your puppy, the crate is a safe place for the puppy to nap. Once the crate training is finished, you can always remove the door from the crate and that will remain the puppy’s safe spot to rest. Dogs like small, confined spaces like this. Make sure your crate is not too big (just enough room for them to lay down and turn around).

Children should be supervised at all times when playing with puppies. If a puppy is mistreated, it could change that puppy’s personality for the rest of his or her life! Make sure that the puppy is never left unattended with children you are unsure about. Some children are very respectful of animals and as we all know, some are never taught to be respectful. Toy poodles are tiny dogs and a misplaced foot from an excited child can break a puppy’s leg or worse. Make sure small children always sit down to play with the puppy and not run around near them.

Never leave a puppy unattended on furniture. Poodle puppies are often too brave for their own good and will jump from heights their legs should not endure. To avoid any broken bones or worse, be sure to make a house rule of never leaving your puppy on the lounge or bed. Stairs are something that a poodle can learn to go up and down, as they get older, but as with small children, they need to be kept away from stairs when tiny and then trained to walk up and down them slowly.

As most of us know, Toy Poodles are very popular dogs – so never leave your puppy unattended outdoors with unlocked gates. These puppies can be stolen so don’t take any chances. Keep a watchful eye on your poodle no matter what his/her age is. Also be careful of large birds. Eagles, Hawks and Owls are large enough to swoop down and grab a puppy. That is a horrible thought, but it has happened – depending on where you live.

Do not take your puppy anywhere in the public that an ill animal could have been until they are fully vaccinated. This usually means at least 16 weeks of age.

Once they have all of their vaccinations in them, they are usually immune to the diseases. Public parks, pet stores that allow you to bring your pets in and vet clinics are the main places to be careful of. Of course, you have to take your puppy to the vet clinic for vaccinations. However, do not put him/her down on the floor. Make sure the office is clean and the tables are cleaned with a disinfectant that kills viruses. You can never be too safe!

TRAINING YOUR TOY POODLE

The following information is taken from a highly recommended book: Natural Health for Dogs and Cats – By Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn

So how do you become the good leader your dog needs? Wolf packs succeed best when their  members are happy, healthy, and in relative harmony with each other. If they were  constantly squabbling over their rank, they’d be at a disadvantage for rounding up food. So,  to maintain social stability, wolves use ongoing nonviolent signals to remind each other of  their standing in the pack.

The need to train your dog provides a perfect context to mimic this repeated posturing and to  make your leadership clear to your dog again and again. The idea is to convey to your dog  that he gets what he wants in life when he listens to you first. You make this work by  applying it dozens of times daily, in little ways.

First, make it fun for your dog to watch you for signals. Whenever he sustains eye contact  with you, constantly reinforce him with treats, affection, and whatever he loves to do (playing  ball, going for a walk, and so on). Associate it with a command like, “Rover, watch!” Make it  fun, and soon the command itself will be enough to get your pet’s attention.

Once you can get his attention in this way, you’re ready to proceed to other lessons. Next, show the dog in lots of little ways that he must look to you first to get what he wants.  If your pet wants to go outdoors, you tell him to wait. You walk out first. Then he gets to go  out. If the dog wants to eat, first tell him to sit. When he sits, you feed him.

If your dog wants affection, first tell him to lie down and have him stay for 30 seconds. Then  you release him with a code word like “okay” and play together. Once the routine gets going,  and your pet knows a few simple commands and learns that getting it right earns him lots of  praise plus the thing he wants, he’ll love it.

Every time you tell your dog what to do and he listens, it gently reinforces the idea that  you’re in charge, so he doesn’t need to be concerned. It constantly signals to the dog that  you’re the leader, and it provides an ongoing supply of the attention he loves. Some dogs will  accept this at once, others will put up a struggle about who’s top dog. But consistent, daily,  enjoyable reminders of your roles will lead to a more relaxed and confident pet.

Make praise and reward the cornerstone of your relationship. Simply by applying the central  command to “Watch,” you will soon be past the struggling stage in teaching your dog the  basics. Learning itself will become an enjoyable game for him. Your pet will eagerly try to figure out what you want so he can do it!

DE-SEXING YOUR PUPPY

We suggest that you have your puppy spayed (females) or neutered (males) at a young age.  Generally, about six months of age is recommended for poodle puppies, but we suggest you  speak with your veterinarian. It can create serious health and behaviour issues later if you do  not de-sex your dog and if you want to help prevent your male poodle from developing the  habit of lifting his leg to leave a territorial ‘marking’ when he is older, then having him  neutered early is essential.

BREED INFORMATION: TOY POODLES

Put a Toy Poodle in your life for just a short time and you’ll soon wonder how you ever  managed without one in the first place. Elegant, extremely cute and with the darkest eyes  brimming with expression, this breed gives years of pleasure to those lucky enough to have  one as part of the family. Ask any Toy Poodle owner about this pooch and you’ll open a  floodgate of stories about extreme loyalty, super intelligence and absolute devotion. “Toys  are like little people,” says Sydney-based breeder Pam Brennan. “They are more in tune with  humans than any other breed I know. They are just beautiful!” 

The Toy Poodle is one of three poodle sizes, the others being the Standard and the Miniature.  The Toy and the Miniature were bred down from the Standard, but the three are considered  one breed and judged by the same breed standard. ‘Teacup’ is a trendy term used to  describe some toy poodles, but it is not a legitimate or separate breed. Toy is the smallest  poodle breed. 

While the Poodle is sometimes considered an almost snobby or arrogant dog, one which often  sports the strangest of haircuts and seems preoccupied with its appearance, the truth is that  this is a strong and agile dog which was used prolifically as a retriever of waterfowl, the dog’s  strange haircut a deliberate move to facilitate the breed’s retrieving abilities in thick brush  and water. The clip would lighten the Poodle’s coat in water, but patches of hair would be left  longer over joints and major organs to protect them from the cold. 

The Toy Poodle became renowned for its ability to sniff out truffles in European woods and  although today it is mostly a companion dog, its great intelligence and retrieving skills should  not be overlooked. According to Pam Brennan, the Toy may appear fragile but it’s far from  that. This is a hardy breed, she emphasises, with a solid body and strong legs. And as for its  reputed intelligence: “The Poodle is said to be the most intelligent of all dogs,” she says. “It is  definitely a highly clever animal and learns very quickly.” 

Experts strongly recommend early socialisation and training for Toys as their reputed  intelligence can lead to misbehaviour. While not all Toys are yappy, training can teach those  that are to control their bark. They can be reserved with strangers and need to get used to  being with other dogs. Because they are so clever, however, they learn quickly and often  excel in the sports arena. 

Toys are especially known for their extreme loyalty and will stick by their owner’s side  through thick and thin. In fact, experts emphasise that the Toy differs from other Poodles in  that it is very much a people dog and needs to be close to its owners and not abandoned  outside on its own. They see themselves as people, not dogs! Similarly, the Toy should be  watched around young children and certainly does better with the older, more responsible  child. Ideally, Toy Poodles are not the best breed to be around little children all the  time. They can be too easily injured and/or unintentionally mistreated. 

Prospective owners need to be aware that the Toy’s profuse, curly coat needs clipping every  six to eight weeks. Because the coat needs such regular care and the Toy’s hair — like  human hair – grows thickly and quickly, many Toy owners choose professional groomers for  regular clipping, having nails and ears checked at the same time. However, clipping can be  done by owners themselves once they have learned the correct procedure. We recommend  the following excellent book if you are planning to do your own grooming: Poodle Clipping  and Grooming, The International Reference: by Shirlee Karlstone. It can be purchased online  from several places. 

But this mass of curls does bring with it some precious advantages. People who suffer from  asthma and other allergies apparently remain unaffected by the breed’s coat, a godsend for  those animal lovers unable to own a pooch because they react to the coat of so many dogs.  

Similarly, the Poodle does not drop hair which means a cleaner house for Poodle owners – and has no smell, as the Poodle coat has no doggie odour. The Toy is a convenient size for  those looking for a smaller dog. They grow to about 25cm in height and weigh about three to  four kilos. Their beautiful curly coat comes in a variety of colours including white, brown,  apricot, cream, red, blue and black. 

INTERESTING BITS AND PIECES

THINGS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN …

Experts feel that dogs are happy when you pet them because it makes them remember when  their mothers licked them as puppies. 

A dog pricks up his ears to listen better. Dogs can hear high-pitched sounds humans cannot,  and a dog can hear and recognize the sound of the family car driving down the road on its  way home. Dogs can even recognize the sound of your footsteps. 

Dogs don’t sweat through their tongues. Dogs can only sweat through their noses and paw  pads. Dogs pant when they’re hot because the cooler air rushing in their mouths only makes  them feel cooler. 

A dog can run up to 19 miles per hour when running at full speed, but the members of the  greyhound family can run up to 42 miles per hour. 

A dog’s hearing is much greater than a human’s, especially for high-pitched sound. Dogs can  hear sounds that are ultrasonic. If a dog suddenly pricks up its ears and becomes alert for no  apparent reason, he might have detected bat or rodent sounds that are not heard by human  ears. 

Dogs have many strange habits. One is the tendency to lick their most private parts. Even  though this sounds perverse, it serves an important purpose. The dog’s genitourinary tract  will not function without the stimulation that comes from frequent licking. 

Small dogs live the longest. Toy breeds can live 16 years or more. Larger dogs average 7-12  years. Veterinary medicine has extended these estimates by about three years. However,  some breeds, such as Tibetan terriers, live as long as 20 years. 

Dogs that are left alone for long periods of time howl because they are lonely. The purpose of  the howl in the wild is to gather the pack so they can face impending danger together. The  group howl is also a type of bonding experience. 

Dogs often hesitate before going out in the rain. It’s not because they are afraid of getting wet, but because the rain amplifies sound and hurts their sensitive ears. 

Studies show that a lovingly handled dog is a healthier dog. The touch of the human hand  improves the functions of virtually all the sustaining systems: respiratory, circulatory,  digestive and so on. A frequently petted newborn puppy is not only healthier and happier; it  will also be a better-behaved dog. Dogs, like humans, find solace in touching another living  being, which is another reason why they get along so well together. 

The bark of a dog often acts as an alarm. Its purpose is to let people, as well as other dogs,  know that something, whether that be an approaching intruder or a stray, is trying to invade  a dog’s territory. In the wild, the bark of a dog tells the puppies to take cover and hide, and  also alerts the other dogs in the pack to assemble for action. An out and out attack by a dog,  however, is silent. 

Did you know that the average dog has 42 permanent teeth in its mouth? 

The relationship between man and his dog is a special one. It is no wonder, then, that more  and more healthcare practitioners are recommending that their patients adopt a dog to help  them through periods of illness. There are many instances on record that describe how the  companionship of a loyal, loving pet has helped ailing people get better. 

A frightened dog puts his tail between his legs because it cuts off the scent glands in its anal  region, which is a very vulnerable part of the anatomy. Since the anal glands carry personal  scents that identify the individual dogs, the tail between the legs action is the dog’s  equivalent of insecure humans hiding their faces. 

To train your dog to give you his paw, say, “Give me your paw” (or whatever phrase you  prefer). Then tap on his front leg or tickle it. When he picks up his paw, take it in your hand  and praise him. Do this repeatedly until your dog responds. 

Dogs love to chew bones. It strengthens and cleans their teeth. But never give your dog  poultry bones as they are soft and could be swallowed whole or splinter inside the dog’s  stomach.

QUOTES ABOUT DOGS