New Standard Poodle Pup

[Janspack]

Hi all,

Just to let you know that I collected a 16 week old Standard Poodle puppy from his breeder yesterday!  I was expecting to have to save up for months before I could get one but his breeder gave me a 50% discount as I am going to train him as my Assistance Dog.

He's a black like YoYo and will give me something to help heal the wound left by YoYo's death.  He will never be replaced but my heart will expand to encompass another dog I know.

He's a little on the shy side and being that bit older, I know it will take a bit of time to work through that with him.  H already has a typical Poodle sense of humour.  He knows he can get away from me in my wheelchair already.  So got pockets full of titbits now!! 

His pet name is "Spirit" as  I'm hoping that a small part of YoYo's spirit is in him.   The photos I've got are not very good and are too big to attach here but I'll try and get some smaller ones done.  Otherwise he's on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/janspack/media_set?set=a.10202166430217499.1073741831.1091130138&type=1

[Jo CIMDA]

I'm so happy for you Jan.  Spirit will certainly lift your spirits and help heal the loss of YoYo.

Happy New Year then!

Jo

[Lovemedogs]

I am so happy for you Jan. It was lovely of Spirit's breeder to do that but I am sure she will know how much he will be loved and cared for by you.

No dog could ever take YoYo's place nut at least, having Spirit, will help you moving onwards and give you another purpose - I wish I lived closer to you as I would brung one of my standards to training with you both !!

big hugs

Pam

[Janspack]

I'm so happy for you Jan.  Spirit will certainly lift your spirits and help heal the loss of YoYo.

Happy New Year then!

Jo

Thanks Jo,

It was actually Pam (Lovemedogs) who found him for me and contacted his breeder on my behalf.  So grateful to her.  I contacted her thinking it would take months to find the right pup but literally within a few hours, I knew I was going to have him.  He is at the moment, very well behaved but I'm sure that will change a bit when he finds his feet.  You know what puppies are like.  I've never had one this age and must admit, it's nice because he is already house trained etc.  He's just a little confused about his change of name but being such an intelligent breed, I know that won't last.

[Jo CIMDA]

The thing I love about Standards is their sense of humour.  They really are an intelligent breed.

Good luck with him

Jo

[Janspack]

The thing I love about Standards is their sense of humour.  They really are an intelligent breed.

Good luck with him

Jo

Me too Jo,

Spirit's sense of humour is just beginning to surface now.  He's a little shy and has taken a few days to come out of himself but that is not surprising when he is a little bit older than I would normally get a puppy. He loves being out in my garden and he has already worked out that I can't go as fast as him in my wheelchair and he circles round me flat out keeping just out of my reach  .   

That reminds me of my first Standard, Leda, who competed quite successfully in Obedience.  Just every now and then, she would be doing heelwork and would take off around the ring flat out, then after a couple of circuits, would rejoin me to continue to do perfect heelwork!  I used to have to suppress my laughter and ask the judge and steward to do the same thing - although that was always really difficult to do. Despite this she worked her way right through the open classes and competed at Crufts in the Regional Team competition. 

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

Aww Jan, he sounds very clever already.  I wish you lots of luck training him - will you get help from any of the assistance dogs organisations or are you able to train him on your own?

[Janspack]

Aww Jan, he sounds very clever already.  I wish you lots of luck training him - will you get help from any of the assistance dogs organisations or are you able to train him on your own?

Hi Penel,  Thanks -  yes he is very bright but not quite so "nutty" as some of the Standards I've had - probably not a bad thing for an Asst Dog.    I belong to a Yahoo Group called K9CarersUK which is for Owner Trained Asst Dogs.  They will help when I hit any snags.  Some things like light switches etc I've never taught before so will need some help with those.  They will also register him as an official Asst Dog as long as he gets at least the Silver KCGS test.  Legally, if you are disabled and need a dog to help you, then it is deemed discrimination if people don't allow them access where needed - even if they are Owner Trained.  There are quite a lot of these dogs out there.

I didn't realise that it was legal to train your own until I got Braidey my 5 yr old.  The main reason I didn't go to one of the training organisations for a dog is that they require that you rehome the dog when it retires from active work - whatever their age.  That just isn't acceptable to me.  A dog is for life ....... whatever reason you have them for.

Hope your dogs are all OK - and you too of course.