Getting A Standard Poodle?

Question

Ok so I am going to get a standard poodle but i have a few questions.

1. About how much exercise do they need a day?
2.About how much food do they eat? Like How many bags do you go through in a month?
3.About how much do you pay in vet bills for them? And i was thinking about getting dog insurance would that be a good choice or not?
4.I am going to clip it myself but I was wondering which is the best brand of clippers? I know I am going to have to pay about $200+ for a good pair but that's better that $60/month!
5.What type of dog food would you recommend?
and lastly i have a big yard but the thing is is that it's not fenced in and we live on a corner and the street is busy(it's not crazy but it's a good amount of cars passing through) so what would I do to keep the dog in the yard?

this is the outside of the house:
http://img407.imageshack.us/i/36914410918324643532904.jpg/
http://img94.imageshack.us/i/mmsypicture.jpg/
we have a barn but no livestock in it and also the in the first picture the grass is tall because that was taken when we just moved in. And the second one we own a good amount passed where the trees start but there is a big drop off right before it so we definitively have the yard for it it's just will it run away?

Answer 1

How exciting on getting a new dog! It looks like you have a great yard for one to run around in.

So for your last question first, I would recommend putting some time into training when you get your new dog to teach it recall. Standard Poodles are very intelligent and are generally easier to train, so you should first work on getting the dog to come back to you when you call it. Until you are comfortable letting it wander on its own, I would suggest only taking it outside on leash.



Because Standard Poodles are bigger dogs and pretty energetic, they need regular daily exercise, such as a good long jog.



The amount of food depends on the brand and the dog's age. If you are getting a puppy, then you should be getting puppy food and feed based on quantity recommendations on the bag or by your veterinarian.



Dog insurance is a great idea for the unexpected, should your dog get hurt or injured. But I would recommend budgeting for your regular expenses such as the annual exam, flea medications, vaccines, etc. because insurance plans that cover these usually cost you more than it would cost to self-budget.

Standard Poodles can be prone to various types of conditions such as patellar luxation and epilepsy, for example, so I would suggest pet insurance so that you can be financially prepared in case something were to occur.



As for nail clippers, I actually just use ones that I got from Target for my dog and they work great! After about a year, they broke, but I just bought another pair because they were only about $12. I had purchased 3 different clippers from pet stores and all of them had dull blades, so I returned them. Whichever clippers you buy, just be sure the blade is sharp so that it can do a clean cut.



Finally, everyone has different preferences for types of dog food so it really depends on what type of diet you would like to give your dog and how much money you are willing to spend. As a general rule, it's recommended to get a food that has some type of meat (chicken or lamb, usually) as the first ingredient listed on the package. Attached is a link to help you with deciding on dog food.



I hope all of this helps and good luck with your new dog!

Answer 2

Ok I have have 1 Standard and one mini, suggest you buy only from a reputable show breeder that health tests and guarantees the dog. I also suggest that you make sure you pick after the pups have been temperament tested at 7 weeks old by a person the pups don't know and in a new location to the pups.



How much exercise well that all depends on the pup but I would say bank on a least one hour a day. Some days my dogs don't get out and some days they do an entire day of getting out. I do Fly ball, Agility, Herding, Frisbee, Quading and biking and tricks and more so we always have something to do.



Well like I said I only buy from the best breeders I can find so maybe I am lucky but my dogs are rarely sick so just regular check ups and shots. And one had diarrhea so antibiotics fixed that and one had a kidney infection so again antibiotics. But nothing big or recurring. I believe that is because I keep them in shape and feed them high quality dog food. You asked I feed Innova and Taste of the Wild.



I also groom myself so I only buy pro equipment as it has lasted 25 years. I still have my Oyster single speed clippers I also have a portable Wahl rechargeable for on the road I really like it. You will also need a good long arm drier and a grooming table.



As for the not fenced yard I would tie the dog to a run or buy a chain link panel dog run mine is 30 x 20. I also do not leave my dogs outside hardly ever unsupervised, they really are a dog that doesn't want to be outside they want to be with you. So even if I had a fenced yard I would still bring him in.



Pet insurance hmm good question I don't have it so far the vet bills have all been low around $200 per time, I do have a visa with lots of room in an emergency. This will need to be your choice.



Good luck and one more thing get your pup out and socialized with as many people and dogs and things as possible from 8-16 weeks just make sure the dog always has a positive experience. I know some will say don't socialize till after the shots are done but that is the old protocol the new one is socialize 50-70% of all euthanized dogs are because of poor socialization.

Answer 3

I have a 10 month old. She can be stubborn, but she DOES catch on. She likes to try and be the alpha. I have only had ONE poop on the floor--I got her last June. She has had the run of the house since 11 weeks old. I kept her baby gated in the kitchen for about 6 weeks after I got her. Now, if she gets wet, or muddy from digging, she is told "basement!" She has a rug down there.



Food: I have been told not to give Poodles corn. Right now she is on Canidae--a four star food, but I think that may be a little low in protein. I was feeding her Native, and I think that was too high. Go to this site to analyze foods: Dogfoodadvisor.com. She eats about 20#s a month and has always been on continuous feed.



I clip her myself, about every 3-4 weeks. Her hair is now getting coarser and curlier, so instead of a cheap $11 Wahl clipper, I'm looking into something more powerful. Best to order an extra set of blades right from the manufacturer as it's hard to find someone who can sharpen the blades.



I don't use a grooming table--I just do it on the floor. She's leary of her long, gangly legs and would be scared on a high table.



I also live on a pretty busy street with no fenced in yard. I bought a yellow tie-out thing at Walmart for about $7. I dug a hole about 4" in the ground before I pounded it in. I buried the hole, and all that sticks out is about 7" of welded chain that I hook her cable to. The steak is about 18" long, and probably won't ever come out. For a rope, you can use either welded chain, heavy gage poly coated cable, or nylon rope. Pups will probably chew the nylon, some of the chain is too heavy, but it's the best, and the poly coated cable I used over the winter is all bent up with cracks in the poly. On the tie out, you can have the rope/cable as long as you want, just so it won't get wound around anything in any direction. Often, though, early on, a poodle knows how to "unwind" from around a tree or other obstacle.



They love attention, and need lots of exercise. I haven't been the best at the walks this Winter--I have a 3yr and also 8wk old grandson that I have to take care of a LOT. It was also bitter cold and very salty and slippery, so she was more or less confined to the back yard.

Answer 4

Maybe at a usual poodle rescue or at a refuge. all the ones puppies could like to have a loving house!!!! dont purchase at a puppy retailer (no longer that u would get one million for that rate besides!!)