Chopin

by Janice Keane
(Canada)

We began our relationship with Standard Poodles 33 years ago. I suffered from allergies and wanted a dog that wouldn't shed.

Midnight was a beautiful black Standard who won our hearts with his independent, inquisitive and loving nature.

Several years later Stardust, an apricot Standard, joined our family. She had a litter of 11 puppies. We never worked so hard in our lives. We ended up keeping two of them, Trooper and Sage.

Trooper was 11 years old when he died suddenly. An autopsy revealed that he had a tumour growing around his heart.

A local animal rescue had advertised in our community newspaper the previous week for a home for a black standard male poodle. I thought of him immediately. We called and discovered that he had already been rejected from two homes. We went to see him and found a big shaggy bear who had never been clipped. He wagged his tail and his whole body quivered in glad expectancy when we met him.

Chopin came home with us at the end of the week. We quickly discovered why the previous owner had said he was too much dog. This was an alpha dog, but he was one of the most personable characters we had experienced. He had separation anxiety, but Sage and Stardust helped him get over it. However, to this day, he will not stay outside alone, and he will not venture too far away from us. He dislikes most male dogs, but generally relates well to females. He brings his bone nightly to my husband and sits and chews while my husband holds it. He understands many phrases and probably has the receptive vocabulary of a two year old.

Chopin has been with us four years now. We had to introduce him to the clipper gradually. At first he would growl, but now he trusts us and generally cooperates. He is a dog that you can't back into a corner. We had to teach him slowly and kindly, but we have been more than rewarded by his affectionate, loyal devotion.

We often wonder who he is and where he came from. He is physically a beautiful specimen of the breed and has a regal air. We're fairly certain he didn't come from a good breeder because he still has dew claws. There is one thing we know for sure. Chopin has found his forever home!