Standard Poodle FAQ

20. What can you tell me about Addisons disease?

What kind of answer can I give you? So many considerations, research by many, and observing to come up with a logical answer. Thus, I will share a few things I have observed:

a) Watch this vet explain her knowledge/research first >  http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/01/24/how-to-avoid-addisons-disease.aspx

b) From my research in as simple explanation as possible to help understanding: As I have been breeding since 2004, none of the breeding spoos have ever had Addison's disease. Healthy lines have provided many with healthy pups. So, why did a customer in 2016 have a male offspring that was diagnosed with Addisons? From research and observation I can only determine that the mom Cleopatra was having health issues with having pups that her milk wasn't dropping...the second litter this occurred I decided to retire her. Several of her pups from these two litters have had health situations arise. Now, assure you've watched the above video by Dr. Becker: I can only determine from observation of what you watched; i. Cleopatra DID get into a girl fight while pregnant with the first milk drop issue, fight or flight hormones shot through her puppies; ii. Assuring you've listened/read "Pukka's Promise" by Ted Kerasote; if spaying/neutering too early the hormones are taken away that helps balance full development of a body, thus the necessary hormones are depleted AND over vaccination can play another HUGE roll in the body getting out of balance; iii. If the pet is in continual stress, only that pet and it's environment can tell you (of course they can't) thus one never knows the true amount of stress they can accept/tolerate before their body gives up and moves into Addisons; iiii. Nutrition depletion with bad dog food, thus my research on healthy dog food...So, there are MANY variables I have culminated to this point of observation.

The good breeders do their best to assure parents are tested to prevent health issues for customers. It's up to you the consumer to do your work with waiting to spay/neuter, provide a calm environment, provide healthy dog food, keep in check pet vaccinations with titre tests instead of just vaccinating when the vet says so, and many other considerations to not blame the breeder...Mother Nature ALWAYS has the last say when we've done our best with testing for the customer and future of the standard poodle ;o)

21. Do you cover the cost of umbilical hernias in your pups?

  • Answer - 5/7/17: TI/DG does any repair of umbilical hernias if they are detrimental to the growth within the first 8 wks with us. 
  • Puppies start out with their umbilical chord drying and falling off...now, if momma does too much tugging it could result in an umbilical hernia later, yet may slowly close in time. Puppies grow at such an accelerated rate, they may have begun to close, then due to the growth rate again, not finish closing and grow at the ratio the pup grows. Once a spoo gets to a certain slowing down of growth, they are known to finish closing, yet most vets push to spay/neuter at 6 months and thus close them at time of being fixed, and why not? There are many sites that discuss canine umbilical hernias, here's one for you > http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2090&aid=442
  • IF it is detrimental to the pups health - you bet this is done right away here by us that you would never have to pay for it. 
  • There are several types of umbilical hernias that breeders should never be breeding the parents. Our and/or other breeders to stop breeding the simple hernias occasioned by some puppies would eliminate the poodle breed by a huge amount. Thus we evaluate the type it is, and continue or not.
  • 5/7/17 TI/DG agrees to pay $100 toward any surgery to repair this hernia later in the spoos life upon being fixed, as we never know if it may heal on its own or a vet is trying to push for their own financial means...believe me in my years as a breeder I have had customers share of some very un-ethical vet situations! You must provide vet bill showing umbilical repair noted. 

22. My spoo is drooling excessively with the heat, what should I know?

  • Get them inside too cool down, relax them! Provide constant water, place ice cubes in it. Do you have electrolyte bottled water to give them and get this ordered Rehydrate provides electrolytes for that sports canine, replenishing them quickly. Great in hot climates. www.rehydratetabs.com 
  • have a kiddie pool, don't fill all the way, just 3 inches that they can lay down and cool off in
  • they only sweat via their pads and mouth with panting, thus assure their pads are clipped down to allow air flow and cooling, long hairy paws don't allow cooling, their long hair becomes a blanket not allowing air circulation thus keep their hair shorter in hot weather to help them stay cool.

23. 6/18/18 What can you tell me about Lymes/Tick Borne Diseases (TBD)?

  • Lymes & other Tick Borne Diseases (TBD): TBD is certainly not new news. Doing a google for “where is lymes/tick disease most common image” will bring up pictures for one to review. The situation is in this modern culture of travel with our pets, a tick can be transported across the US at any given time carried by people or pets. There may be key regions, yet it isn’t uncommon for them to land in a state with no known problems of TBD. In this day and age it is something to be aware of when out-of-state visitors come with or without pets, or us traveling to these states and carrying one back. My article is simply to alert awareness to TBD, what transpires with some breeder’s parents (giving mine as an example), and what I am doing within my program protocol. It is up to you to discern your protocol for your pet/s. 
  • 2004 I started my standard poodle breeding program south of Staples, MN. I began vaccinating annually for “Lymes” disease when I learned of the dangers to health and found them heavy in my region. It is the only known vaccination supposed to protect against the “Deer Tick” Lymes carrying parasite. I researched on the internet and listened to my vet stating it was the thing to do. Right or wrong, I did it, annually to my poodle parents…until my move to TX in 2016. 

My TBD back story: 

  • 1. I brought Bruno to TX in 2016. Throughout 2016 and 2017 I saw no ticks, nor was I having any issues with fleas, and I wasn’t even spraying him with cedar oil. I was amazed – NO parasites were preying on him! He was going on 9 yrs old, vaccinated annually for Lymes in MN. I would test them if I saw symptoms, which he showed lameness in Dec 2014 in MN at which his test results came back with anaplasmosis. This is a TBD with no vaccination available for it. I medicated with the prescribed antibiotic/medication provided for a month by the vet, then tested later that year showing a definite drop of anaplasmosis with the vet sharing no more medication needed. In TX I saw not to continue testing or vaccinating as no ticks were observed in my area where staying. 
  •  2. My dam Magic was brought to TX in Fall of 2017 with daughter Geo 9 wks old. Magic was vaccinated in Staples March 2017, her second vaccination, before her second litter here in TX. As Magic was pregnant with her second litter and lymes vaccination was annually due March 2018, I did not vaccinate her per vet not wanting this with pregnancy and I was having no tick issues. Thus once litter was weaned I did not plan to continue the vaccination protocol. In Fall of 2017 I found fleas and a tick in bringing her back from a no-take planned mating to a stud in TX. I thought nothing of one tick and cedar sprayed for the fleas, handling within the week. LOVE the cedar oil spray!!! 
  •  3. 2018 I noted Bruno, now 11 yrs old, started to slow down with joint aches and knew he was diagnosed with antaplasmosis and medicated to good results. I decided to test him in May 2018 to see if a possible TBD. A blood draw was positive to Lymes and started him on medicine where I then felt to definitely test the other spoos. In not researching then for updates of knowledge, always something else to do, I went right into testing the next poodle… 
  •  4. Geo (now 1.5 yrs old), Magic’s daughter. Geo was clear, negative to Lymes in May 2018. Thus I saw her not having it transmitted in the womb from Magic. She had never had a Lymes vaccination. 
  •  5. Magic had not brought it from MN, thus I felt to test Magic next…she was positive (remember vaccinated several times)…must have picked it up in TX somewhere…1 tick at breeders? Which was shared they had a heavy tick infestation in their area. I had Magic tested end of May 2018 after her litter had gone home to their new owners, where results returned 6/8/18 as positive to carrying Lymes. My concern was had it been transmitted in the womb to her pups, or come on afterward? I contacted each customer to inform them, asking them to take their pup in for testing to base-line if they had contracted TBD or not and start a new protocol I now see valuable, as much as an annual worm test for our pets. All have come back negative but one came back with Anaplasmosis already in CT where it is heavily infested with ticks (seen on attached map). Magic was given the same medicine as Bruno to resolve the high positive. Remember, she was vaccinated annually for lymes, yet still contracted it, or was it the buildup titer numbers? 
  • 6. Research questions: a) When did Bruno or Magic contract TBD? b) Is it the vaccinations showing up in the titer (vaccinations helping to build up their blood system with the disease to protect them in the long run) and they really don’t have the actual disease? This is an actual fact in research. Bruno is 11 and very well could be his aches and pains of age with a very high titer, where Nuvet joint supplements (Or Call 800-474-7044 use #89093 to order) are so very helpful right now for him in his age. Magic is showing no symptoms of any aches or pains, just the results show a high titer number…from annual vaccinations, high titer? c) Do breeders stop breeding their dams, or assure customers are fully aware a TBD could be transmitted to pups if dam affected? 
  • 7. In contacting Magic’s eight litter customers, one was very upset with me asking many questions that I have brought answers together in this article. Sometimes our ignorance of a subject causes unnecessary anxiety, that I dub “Drama.” It can be and IS the phenomena when one doesn't fully understand - I understand thus I will do my best to help one understand the best I can with the knowledge I have at the time! So, research for answers MUST take place to eliminate anxiety where the drama drops away. My scientist friend Sue D’Antonio went into much on-line research to help me find information as I dug into all my spoo records for hours looking at the vaccinations, testing and TBDs of my poodles – A BIG THANK YOU to those who have brought this article to my site for you the looker! It all comes together for a reason, right or wrong, good or bad. We do our best to learn from it and discern.   8. On-line research links to check out: 

EVEN IF NOT FOUND IN YOUR AREA > https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lyme-disease-in-dogs-10-things-you-need-to-know/ 

Tick Borne Disease knowledge > https://www.searchencrypt.com/search?eq=%2FQJisRiLlg%2Bd1L5inyrF%2BochdJHzCmSIJSKgbloWCT8%3D

Cedar Oil for natural protection > https://www.royalstandardpoodles.com/DrBensCedarOil.html

3 REASONS WHY NOT TO VACCINATE FOR LYMES >  https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/lyme-vaccine-dogs/?mpweb=1153-569-244255

  • 9. My Conclusions and New protocol in TX for TBD: a) As Lymes vaccinations are now known to build up a canine’s blood (titer to the disease, like rabies), I will NO LONGER be vaccinating for Lymes. One doesn’t know if it’s the actual disease, if testing for (unless symptomatic), or it’s the buildup of the vaccination in the body. b) I WILL be annually testing for the disease, observing for symptoms of lameness in my entire program.  Thus when I annually test, it won’t be the vaccination titer numbers; it will be an actual tick number in starting this protocol with my new younger breeders. c) In being ever vigilantly watchful of our pet’s health, to observe what might be physically slowing them down, we can care for them without over vaccinating or medicating for the wrong conclusion. Remember, very rare to see a tick here where I live, yet am spraying them weekly with cedar oil now. d) Antibiotics/medication brings about the handling of the TBD. I see there is no need to stop a breeding program as long as a breeder establishes an annual TBD testing program. It is so prevalent whether it comes from momma, or a customer’s region, or playing with another pet leaping a tick from another to their pet, or traveling/hiking and picking it up. e) Base-line your pup upon receipt from any breeder, as one would do with a stool sample for a de-worming protocol. EVEN if they come from a no-tick region! You are simply starting that base-line to KNOW! You can decide from there if you need to do an annual TBD test protocol. Be pro-active, a very important health plan for your new pup: 
  • BASELINE: 1. Take stool sample to baseline any worms/giardia; 2. Have a Lymes test done to baseline any possible TBD. 

 I hope you have found this article helpful, and Thank You to all who have contributed to it!

*

D. About Pricing, books, and Other

1. How much do your poodles cost?

  • Answer: https://www.royalstandardpoodles.com/standardpoodlepuppiesforsale.html As I develop my lines, spending thousands of dollars on tests ($10,000 in 2011), the right breeding poodle, and many other time consuming factors - it is true their cost will rise accordingly. This provides those who want a quality standard poodle in health, size and personality the fact they WILL get one :-)

2. Why the price?

  • Answer: a) Testing that needs to be done for assuring the customer I am trying to do my best to provide a good pet for them. b) Marketing pups on the internet (such as this website) and newspaper ads are very expensive. c) Grooming clippers and blades that constantly wear out. d) Maintaining parks for them to have lots of room to live, laugh, and be dogs bringing you happy puppies. e) Vet expenses are constant to be a good breeder and have healthy pups. f) Chiropractic expenses for the kids to stay healthy and a litter's first adjustment before they go to their new homes. g) Spraying the acres during the summer to keep mosquitoes away for healthy happy puppies. h) They do not eat cheap dog food. i) Home upkeep as puppies destroy chords and things I thought I had puppy proofed. j) Continued classes to learn on being a good breeder. k) Paper towels, paper towels, and more paper towels :-)

As you see the list could go on. It is my joy to provide you joy and the expenses do add up, as I want all customers to know owning a Royal or Standard Poodle pet is a high maintenance life, yet worth it beyond price in many of our viewpoints :-)

3. Do you give refunds?

  • Answer: ...under the following conditions...

a. At the birth of a litter, there is not the color or gender you desired.

b. Your down payment was my decision to breed my girls. Your non-refundable down payment will be here for your return in the future in purchasing your next pet from us if you so desire.

4. Do you know where I could get a rescue poodle?

5. What books can you recommend me reading on poodles?

* Royal Standard Poodle Questions

After the Fall colors pale, it's time to vacuum them up - why?  So the beautiful green grass will grow instead of dirt in the spring :-) Here is our leaf mower vacuum unloading leaves from the 4 acres...see the pile building?

Below, I have pushed the leaves up into a pile for burning.

6. Barking; do you have ideas on how to stop it?

Many Answers yet here is one from a customer: In Hadley's "baby book"... it shall be recorded that from approximately 8 months to almost her 1st b'day, she turned into a BAD BAD BABY!.
Now that we're thru the worst of the storm, I can tell you about it.

  • I may never know if due to her age, or us spoiling her or combo why it seemed almost overnight we "lost her".... ie, she totally began ignoring me, she began nuisance barking (incessant for extended periods until I'd physically carry, bribe, or clown to get her attention. This wd be indoors AND out. I adjusted all MY behaviors, tried harder to keep her busy & going places with me, but I literally cd not leave her be for more than 2-3 min & it'd start up.  (Dear Helmut finally started completely ignoring her, and hanging with me or H.  Then it got worse.

She decided her 3 acres were way to confining and proceeded to investigate AND succeed in finding ways to escape her "confinement"...(and her beloved family including her puppy!) (she squeezed herself thru a 6.5" space between slats on the gate. When we discovered that, she began digging under the wildlife wires we buried to protect my little hens.

I was preparing myself to call you to ask your help in finding her a "better family", when H. suggested a last resort.

We invested in a very expensive E. Collar

I felt like a complete failure, and it seemed OBSCENE to use a training tool on such an intelligent creature. (Try to imagine almost dry-heaving with guilt)

So I played like it was "her "Radio"!!! so Mommy can talk to you Hads"... She's so precious, she totally complied with me putting it on her every time...

We used it for  a few minutes ea day, at the peak about 20 minutes.  I signalled her only when she ignored my call 3 X's (to be certain she heard my voice in between her barking at ????)...

(Ps she didn't respond at all to the vibrations nor the pinch, until I turned it up one digit at a time, to beyond what was comfortable to my hand. )

I felt awful we weren't using a "professional trainer", I thought we were hurting her & she wouldn't understand...

It took one strong pinch, she turned to me, &  heard me...

I pinched her with it 2 more times while she was "zoning out", that was it.  She sat sweetly to have her "radio" strapped on for total of 5 days, even tho I never had to use it again.  After 5th day, I experimented; no Ecollar.  She's "come back to me".... She still barks, more than most, but she stops herself now, before I even tell her.  She "comes" again when I call, and there seem to be no more escape attempts...whether she "outgrew it, or the training collar got her refocused, we may never truly know, but I wanted to share this with you in case you have anyone call you at wits end... (I might not have had the guts to try that collar if you hadn't given me Pukka's Promise")...

* Royal Standard Poodle Questions

E. Decisions

1. I have 2 or more dogs already and would like to get one of your poodles. What should I be aware of?

  • Answer: Under Books & Links, I ask that people who currently have at least 2 pet dogs read the first chapter in  the book "Animals Make Us Human" by Temple Grandin. Absolutely the BEST book in understanding your dog pet, especially in a pack!!! A must read!!! https://www.royalstandardpoodles.com/royalstandardpoodlebooksandlinks.html 
  • Cesar Milan - WATCH his dvds to know how to be the pack leader, especially with more then one...

2. Do you have customers I can visit with on their purchase from you?

  • Answer: Upon your request, I will email several customers providing your contact information, at which you two will take it from there. 

3. I have a male/female already. Should I get a male/female?

  • Answer: That question must be personally analyzed with our conversations to understand the dynamics of the home. I personally like to see the spiritual aspect of a male and female together...as they would be in nature.

4. Can you refer me to a breeder?

  • Answer: I have several personal breeder friends I may recommend at the time. It is difficult to recommend other breeders as I never know what they might have for a program, doing in tests for their pets, or are doing with their line at the time. 

5. I want to be a breeder. Will you sell me a pup for breeding?

  • Answer: One must understand the responsibility in being a breeder, it is not something to be taken lightly in my viewpoint, by the U.S.A. government, or MN state laws. Questions to ask yourself: a. What are my state requirements in being a breeder of dogs? b. What tests need to be done?  c. Contract, what will I have in it? ... is the individual I buy my breeding pet from willing to mentor me?

ALL our breeding pups sell for $4,000, no exceptions. A special contract would be sent you. I DO NOT sell Bruno offspring for breeding rights per his breeder contract with me.

If you are/intend to be a large kennel - NO, I will not sell to you!

* Royal Standard Poodle Questions

Aahhh, here are the vacuumed up parks afterwards.

6. If I don't want a tail docked, will you not dock it?

  • Answer: If you were the first down payment customer, and my female poodle only had one pup, and you wanted that pup, I would not dock its tail. 95% of my customers want the tails docked and dew claws done. 

7. Should I use a bark collar or not?

  • Answer: Everyone has a viewpoint...I do, and here's a customer story for you :o)

Yup, she's still my doll-baby; I want to share a bit what we've been thru recently, in case it may help someone else!

In Hadley's "baby book"... it shall be recorded that from approximately 8 months to almost her 1st b'day, she turned into a BAD BAD BABY!
Now that we're thru the worst of the storm, I can tell you about it.
I may never know if due to her age, or us spoiling her or combo why it seemed almost overnight we "lost her".... ie, she totally began ignoring me, she began nuisance barking (incessant for extended periods until I'd physically carry, bribe, or clown to get her attention. This would be indoors AND out. I adjusted all MY behaviors, tried harder to keep her busy & going places with me, but I literally could not leave her be for more than 2-3 min & it'd start up.  (Dear Helmut finally started completely ignoring her, and hanging with me or H.  Then it got worse.
She decided her 3 acres were way to confining and proceeded to investigate AND succeed in finding ways to escape her "confinement"...(and her beloved family including her puppy!) (she squeezed herself thru a 6.5" space between slats on the gate. When we discovered that, she began digging under the wildlife wires we buried to protect my little hens.
I was preparing myself to call you to ask your help in finding her a "better family", when H. suggested a last resort.
We invested in a very expensive E. Collar
I felt like a complete failure, and it seemed OBSCENE to use a training tool on such an intelligent creature. (Try to imagine almost dry-heaving with guilt)
So I played like it was "her "Radio"!!! so Mommy can talk to you Hads"... She's so precious, she totally complied with me putting it on her every time... 
We used it for  a few minutes each day, at the peak about 20 minutes.  I signaled her only when she ignored my call 3 X's (to be certain she heard my voice in between her barking at ????)...
(Ps she didn't respond at all to the vibrations nor the pinch, until I turned it up one digit at a time, to beyond what was comfortable to my hand. )
I felt awful we weren't using a "professional trainer", I thought we were hurting her & she wouldn't understand...
It took one strong pinch, she turned to me, &  heard me...
I pinched her with it 2 more times while she was "zoning out", that was it.  She sat sweetly to have her "radio" strapped on for total of 5 days, even tho I never had to use it again.  After 5th day, I experimented; no Ecollar.  She's "come back to me".... She still barks, more than most, but she stops herself now, before I even tell her.  She "comes" again when I call, and there seem to be no more escape attempts...whether she "outgrew it, or the training collar got her refocused, we may never truly know, but I wanted to share this with you in case you have anyone call you at wits end... (I might not have had the guts to try that collar if you hadn't given me Pukka's Promise")... 
Helmut continues to be a gentle giant, more loving and attentive to me than any dog I've ever loved... And man is he smart, but that's another day!  Pictures after his next haircut!  

* Royal Standard Poodle Questions


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