I can't quite help there, but generally would say that minis do not have "calm" dispositions as one of their top listed attributes. They tend to be pretty busy I think. I also have known mins that weighed almost as much as Lily (around 35 pounds), but they were fed generous chunks of liverwurst as training rewards.
Reputable Miniature Poodle Breeders, Calm Oversize
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I could see how it could come across that way, but my tastes have been evolving pretty quickly as I've now begun looking at more reputable breeders with pictures of show poodles which I always shied away from. I'm coming from a background where I believed the hybrid vigor myth and my family mixed pup was picked up from a farm.
A photo of a BYB poodle standing beside a well-bred poodle posted somewhere in this forum was an eye-opener to the difference between them, and the beauty of the well-bred poodle.
My previous questions/posts had a lot to do with the face shape, as I've noticed variation in facial shape among well-bred poodles, with some having thinner faces with closer-set eyes, and some with a wider muzzle and wider-set eyes. It was the latter look I was searching for, but now I've realized it's more important to get a healthy dog from a reputable breeder than anything. My original desire before joining the forum was to find a "medium-sized red teddy bear dog." Not so anymore!
So I'm now removing the bookmarked pages of poodle and doodle breeders I was looking at originally (gasp!) and now looking for only the most recommended breeders whose passion are bettering the breed with full health testing, show titles, etc. A big leap for me, and still learning
That is music to my years, I’m glad you’re researching this so carefully !I could see how it could come across that way, but my tastes have been evolving pretty quickly as I've now begun looking at more reputable breeders with pictures of show poodles which I always shied away from. I'm coming from a background where I believed the hybrid vigor myth and my family mixed pup was picked up from a farm.
A photo of a BYB poodle standing beside a well-bred poodle posted somewhere in this forum was an eye-opener to the difference between them, and the beauty of the well-bred poodle.
My previous questions/posts had a lot to do with the face shape, as I've noticed variation in facial shape among well-bred poodles, with some having thinner faces with closer-set eyes, and some with a wider muzzle and wider-set eyes. It was the latter look I was searching for, but now I've realized it's more important to get a healthy dog from a reputable breeder than anything. My original desire before joining the forum was to find a "medium-sized red teddy bear dog." Not so anymore!
So I'm now removing the bookmarked pages of poodle and doodle breeders I was looking at originally (gasp!) and now looking for only the most recommended breeders whose passion are bettering the breed with full health testing, show titles, etc. A big leap for me, and still learning
Bucking the trend here . I'm on minis number six & seven. I'm always surprised and puzzled by the descriptions of minis being the most busy or energetic. It may be that I haven't seen any of mine that way since I've never had any poodles except minis, so I have nothing to compare.
When you say calmer disposition, what is your mental picture of that? Is it more physical activity, like no off switch, or yappy, fussy, demanding your mental energy to keep them calm?
Were mine busy and energetic as puppies? Yes, and then they napped then woke up and went right back to puppyish behaviors. I currently have two brothers just over two years old, so, also yes, they will instigate each other, and then they nap.
Do they bark at people and dogs walking on the sidewalk in front of the house? Yes, my fault for not being a good trainer, then they lay down and nap.
Do they race around the back yard chasing each other? Yes, and then they come in and nap.
I take them both for a walk daily, almost a mile. They come home energized and play for about half an hour, then they nap.
It may be that what I'm describing is not at all what you're thinking of when you say calm. It's also true that my last two sets of poodles were littermates we took together, or with the second and third, a puppy added when we already had an older dog. It's very true that they have expended much of their energy on each other, lol. I would describe them all as alert and interested, active but with an off switch.
Finding a mini that will approach the higher end of size is likely to be your hardest task. Mine have run the gamut from eleven inches to fourteen at the shoulder. Sass was my heaviest at a bit over twenty lbs, in the most treat filled portion of her life. She dropped to about seventeen when the treats diminished.
They've been solid, sturdy little dogs, not delicate to where you might be afraid of squashing them. One of our members has an oversize mini. I hope she can pop in to give you some input.
Good luck!
. I'm on minis number six & seven. I'm always surprised and puzzled by the descriptions of minis being the most busy or energetic. It may be that I haven't seen any of mine that way since I've never had any poodles except minis, so I have nothing to compare. When you say calmer disposition, what is your mental picture of that? Is it more physical activity, like no off switch, or yappy, fussy, demanding your mental energy to keep them calm?
Were mine busy and energetic as puppies? Yes, and then they napped then woke up and went right back to puppyish behaviors. I currently have two brothers just over two years old, so, also yes, they will instigate each other, and then they nap
. Do they bark at people and dogs walking on the sidewalk in front of the house? Yes, my fault for not being a good trainer, then they lay down and nap
.Do they race around the back yard chasing each other? Yes, and then they come in and nap
.I take them both for a walk daily, almost a mile. They come home energized and play for about half an hour, then they nap
.It may be that what I'm describing is not at all what you're thinking of when you say calm. It's also true that my last two sets of poodles were littermates we took together, or with the second and third, a puppy added when we already had an older dog. It's very true that they have expended much of their energy on each other, lol. I would describe them all as alert and interested, active but with an off switch.
Finding a mini that will approach the higher end of size is likely to be your hardest task. Mine have run the gamut from eleven inches to fourteen at the shoulder. Sass was my heaviest at a bit over twenty lbs, in the most treat filled portion of her life. She dropped to about seventeen when the treats diminished.
They've been solid, sturdy little dogs, not delicate to where you might be afraid of squashing them. One of our members has an oversize mini. I hope she can pop in to give you some input.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for your input everyone, much appreciated. I'm doing my homework because person/dog fit is so important, and doesn't happen as often as it should out there.
When I say "calm" my background is larger dogs, having had two labrador mixes in the past. One was a Lab/Husky mix, the other perhaps German Shepherd and Labrador. I found both of them perfect in terms of energy levels. The lab/husky mix would bounce through the fields like a deer, have fun and come along on hikes, etc (with of course daily walks). But if he didn't get that level of exercise that day he would be happy to chill with us, or on his own. I liked that he was both social and independent.
I have limited experience with smaller dogs but have found them sometimes to be a bit more *wired*, like they've had too much caffeine ;-) Someone on this forum used the "yappy and snappy" description, and I would want to avoid that at all costs. I think breeding and rearing has a much to do with this, as well, so I'd like to know more about mpoos.
My ideal dog would be intelligent, goofy, non-shedding (!), take 1 mile walks with me, do obedience training, and want to relax too without needing my attention every moment of the day, or otherwise bounce off the walls if he missed that perfect stimulation. Perhaps that is just a balanced dog?
When I say "calm" my background is larger dogs, having had two labrador mixes in the past. One was a Lab/Husky mix, the other perhaps German Shepherd and Labrador. I found both of them perfect in terms of energy levels. The lab/husky mix would bounce through the fields like a deer, have fun and come along on hikes, etc (with of course daily walks). But if he didn't get that level of exercise that day he would be happy to chill with us, or on his own. I liked that he was both social and independent.
I have limited experience with smaller dogs but have found them sometimes to be a bit more *wired*, like they've had too much caffeine ;-) Someone on this forum used the "yappy and snappy" description, and I would want to avoid that at all costs. I think breeding and rearing has a much to do with this, as well, so I'd like to know more about mpoos.
My ideal dog would be intelligent, goofy, non-shedding (!), take 1 mile walks with me, do obedience training, and want to relax too without needing my attention every moment of the day, or otherwise bounce off the walls if he missed that perfect stimulation. Perhaps that is just a balanced dog?
Same! Very cool naturalpoodle, I hope you are able to find the perfect match for you!That is music to my years, I’m glad you’re researching this so carefully !I could see how it could come across that way, but my tastes have been evolving pretty quickly as I've now begun looking at more reputable breeders with pictures of show poodles which I always shied away from. I'm coming from a background where I believed the hybrid vigor myth and my family mixed pup was picked up from a farm.
A photo of a BYB poodle standing beside a well-bred poodle posted somewhere in this forum was an eye-opener to the difference between them, and the beauty of the well-bred poodle.
My previous questions/posts had a lot to do with the face shape, as I've noticed variation in facial shape among well-bred poodles, with some having thinner faces with closer-set eyes, and some with a wider muzzle and wider-set eyes. It was the latter look I was searching for, but now I've realized it's more important to get a healthy dog from a reputable breeder than anything. My original desire before joining the forum was to find a "medium-sized red teddy bear dog." Not so anymore!
So I'm now removing the bookmarked pages of poodle and doodle breeders I was looking at originally (gasp!) and now looking for only the most recommended breeders whose passion are bettering the breed with full health testing, show titles, etc. A big leap for me, and still learning
So my dad was a German Sheperd breeder and I am quite familiar with their temperament. I come from Gun dogs - Pointer, Vizsla and while my Mini does not have the chillness any of those larger breeds have - he is very far from a yappy, little lap dog. He is very small for a mini - actually skinny is more apt, since he is 14 inches tall but weighs only 12 pounds. He is work driven - give him a job and he is very happy. He is not barky - but will alert to people on our property. But will calm when I tell him shush. He is friendly towards all but not cuddly with strangers (he will "put up" with it as part of his training - I train all my dogs to endure hugs if necessary). He is definitely at least as intelligent as any GSD, Gun Dog or Border Collie. He loves playing herding and tries (with his tiny body!) to control 3 soccer balls at once. He is very personable - he is able to get each person to do his bidding - in a different way. He is definitely comical and has a sense of humor (not all dogs do). He has an off switch due to lots of chill out training, but he is keenly aware of what everyone in the house is up to. He does not need constant attention but likes to be included. 1 mile walk would be a minimum - he is pretty happy with walk plus games in the yard and that's enough for him. He is not as inexhaustible as gun dogs are. If I have a busy day and he does not get his walks - I throw the ball for a few minutes and he is more than happy. If we had to move to the city it would not be a big problem. Other than non-shedding I find his best two attributes to be that he is generally chill with all other dogs - he avoids those that are confrontational and he will say a quick hallo to others but he does not get worked up. The other thing is that he learns new commands and tricks exceedingly fast (usually a couple of repeats is all it takes) so it is fun to play games with him. I originally wanted a larger dog (having had larger dogs always) but find his size incredibly convenient. He has and could travel by plane - right at my feet - and that opens up so many possibilities.Thank you so much for your input everyone, much appreciated. I'm doing my homework because person/dog fit is so important, and doesn't happen as often as it should out there.
When I say "calm" my background is larger dogs, having had two labrador mixes in the past. One was a Lab/Husky mix, the other perhaps German Shepherd and Labrador. I found both of them perfect in terms of energy levels. The lab/husky mix would bounce through the fields like a deer, have fun and come along on hikes, etc (with of course daily walks). But if he didn't get that level of exercise that day he would be happy to chill with us, or on his own. I liked that he was both social and independent.
I have limited experience with smaller dogs but have found them sometimes to be a bit more *wired*, like they've had too much caffeine ;-) Someone on this forum used the "yappy and snappy" description, and I would want to avoid that at all costs. I think breeding and rearing has a much to do with this, as well, so I'd like to know more about mpoos.
My ideal dog would be intelligent, goofy, non-shedding (!), take 1 mile walks with me, do obedience training, and want to relax too without needing my attention every moment of the day, or otherwise bounce off the walls if he missed that perfect stimulation. Perhaps that is just a balanced dog?
I love hearing the daily ins and outs - thank you!
So far I don't mind at all what I hear about what it is like to own a miniature. If anything I'm kinda loving them more
There is definitely a difference between hyper and yappy, and a dog that is energetic but balanced, as was pointed out earlier.I certainly wouldn't want a couch potato dog.
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