|
This is our dog, Shadow. He is a purebred poodle, who is 6-1/2 years old. He
is what is know as a small toy poodle. He makes a very good house pet, although
he
has been very temperamental lately. Probably due to his limited exposure to
other people, kids, or animals. We don't know why but he doesn't seem to like strange men or children very much, but behaves well around other women. Men - it's the protective instinct I think, but children - we think something may have happened at one time where some kids where teasing him, because he was fine as a puppy. |
| He is racing towards Dave when we took him out to the
golf course for a walk. It was a beautiful winter day. (Winter 1998) |
Traveling with our dog
We tried to fly with our pet, and were very nervous and concerned about it. Normally we drove everywhere, but traveling in winter conditions are not fun, and to see our family we decided flying would be easier. So we went on the net and looked up what to do when flying with your dog. Some of the information we found made us even more nervous about going up in the sky, especially with Shadow out of sight.
Our first experience on the plane: It was December, -30oC on the ground and they were having trouble with the baggage compartment in the plane. We used some pills from the vet to calm him down, put a sweater on him, some hand warmers under the blankets in his kennel, and prayed that he would be okay. We flew from High Level to Rainbow Lake (a 20 minute flight) and in Rainbow Lake they added a larger kennel (very big dog) to the compartment and noticed that the loaders had put frozen food on top of our dog's kennel and had cracked the top, luckily they found it before it went through the kennel and crushed our dog. He made it okay, but Dianne was a nervous wreck. At least in Calgary they replaced his kennel and we have a sturdier one, but we always make the flight attendant check to make sure he's safely on board though.
The second time on the plane: Dianne flew with him, she was a lot calmer, it was also in March, and although it was still cold, Shadow was bundled up and doped up again. I don't think we would want to fly with him in the summer though, it is harder to cool him down, then to keep him warm when you aren't close at hand.
Now we drive most of the time when he's with us. The majority of the trip he is okay, but when we stop or start anywhere, he gets all excited, jumping around. Because of long trips I fed him and gave him water during the trip, now he wants it before he will settle down.
Grooming tips
We don't cut his hair ourselves, but rather leave it to the professionals. In the spring and fall he gets a lambs cut, which gives him clean feet and a clean face, but leaves enough fur to keep him warm in the cool days. But in the summer we get him close to shaved --7inch cut-- because he gets so warm, especially with his colouring.
If you follow dog shows, they will talk about why poodles have the strange cuts, it is because they were water dogs and it was meant to keep them warm in the water and to make it easier for them to dry off.
What poodles are known for
Disease (Ailments)
Sometimes found in small dogs there is a problem with the ball joint in their hip. Shadow was diagnosed with this rare disease before he was one. The vet operated and removed the ball in his back left hip, he was also neutered so that this did not spread to other generations. he moves around really well today, but he still favours the left side and will run on three legs.
Operations
The poor thing has been through so much, he had to have an operation to have stones removed from his bladder. This was causing him to pee blood in his urine, and he went all the time. Four visits and all the vet would recommend was pills, and finally the last time we said enough, our carpets are ruined and some furniture, find out what is wrong once and for all and that's when they decided to take an x-ray and then operate. It was about time.
He is okay now, but it has been difficult.
