 |
Standard Poodles - Poodle Care
Poodle Care Taking care of a Standard Poodle or any dog for that matter, requires more than just feeding, bathing and walking your dog. Poodle care is a lifetime commitment and you should consider it carefully before bringing a Poodle into your home. The rewards you receive from owning a Standard Poodle are years of unconditional love, loyalty and friendship. Your Poodle doesn’t ask for much in return, but your dog’s quality of life depends on you. The relationship you have with your Poodle may be one of the most rewarding experiences you ever have. By following the basic Poodle care essentials below, you’ll soon be on your way to providing your Poodle with the best care possible. Dogs are social creatures and don’t really enjoy being left alone. This can cause them to get bored and develop a variety of behavior problems. Being left alone can also cause your Poodle to develop Separation Anxiety. Do you have the time to devote to your Poodle for playtime, walking, or other types of physical activity? Do you have time to take it to obedience training and veterinary appointments? Many dogs can live up to 18 years. Do you have the patience to take care of a dog this long? The annual cost of Poodle care runs around $800, not including spaying or neutering and initial equipment. If you have your Poodle professionally groomed, you can easily add another $600 to $1000 per year to the cost. Can you really afford a dog? I personally know several people who get dogs and then can’t afford to take them to the vet for even basic care! What will you do if he gets a major illness? Do you plan on getting pet insurance? What will you do with your Poodle when you’re away? Do you plan on having your Poodle travel with you? Will you have to board him or hire a sitter? What about grooming your Poodle? Do you plan on doing it yourself or taking your Poodle to a professional groomer? Know the laws in your community regarding pet ownership, such as licenses, immunizations, and leash use. Your vet or local humane society should be familiar with these laws. Also, if you live in a community with a homeowners association, you may want to check with them regarding pet rules. They may have rules regarding dog size, how many you can have and whether or not you can build a kennel on your property. If you’re renting, you’ll need to find out if your landlord accepts dogs and if they require a deposit. Poodles require quite a bit of space. Do you have a large yard or nearby dog park where you can let him run? Also make sure he has adequate protection from the heat and Never let your dog roam unattended. If he is off your property, he should be leashed. You never know what could happen to him out there all alone! Besides getting lost or stolen, if not properly vaccinated, may contract a disease or worms. Make sure he has a collar and tag with your name, address and phone number. Getting your dog microchipped is also an excellent idea in case he is ever lost or stolen. Unless you are planning on breeding your dog, have it spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering your dog has medical and behavioral advantages for your Poodle. It also helps to eliminate the thousands of unwanted or homeless dogs in the country. Be sure to feed your dog the best quality food that you can afford that is nutritionally balanced. Cheap dog food can cause skin problems, hair loss, food allergies and a variety of other issues. Make sure he has access to clean fresh water as well. Lastly, Poodle care is a family responsibility. Make sure you discuss getting a Poodle with each family member and share the Poodle care with the whole family!
Return to Home Page from Poodle Care Page
|
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Technorati
Y! MyWeb
