The Everything Poodle Book: A complete guide to raising, training, and caring for your poodle Book

	Poodle Breed Specifications	v
	Introduction	xiii
Chapter 1	Meet the Poodle	1
	Poodle Popularity	1
	A Brief History of the Poodle	2
	The AKC Breed Standard	3
	The Work of the Poodle	8
	Special Needs of the Poodle	9
Chapter 2	Looking for a Poodle	13
	Is the Poodle Right for You?	13
	Poodles and Other Pets	15
	Poodles and Children	16
	Who Will Care for Your Poodle?	17
	Where to Look for Your Poodle	17
	Places to Avoid	21
Chapter 3	Choosing a Poodle	25
	Which Variety?	25
	Puppy or Adult?	27
	What Color?	29
	Male or Female?	32
	Poodle Mixes	32
	Picking a Poodle Puppy	33
	Choosing an Adult Poodle	36
Chapter 4	Reputable Breeders	37
	What Is a Reputable Breeder?	37
	Finding a Reputable Breeder	38
	Questions to Ask the Breeder	39
	Questions to Expect the Breeder to Ask You	40
	Health Certifications	41
	Your Poodle's Papers	43
Chapter 5	Preparing for Your New Poodle	49
	Puppy (and Dog) Proofing Your Home	49
	Choosing a "Safe Area"	54
	Where Will Your Poodle Sleep?	54
	Poodle Necessities	55
	Your Poodle's Crate	59
	Your Poodle's Exercise Pen	60
	Choosing a Veterinarian	61
Chapter 6	Bringing Your Poodle Home	63
	Planning Ahead	63
	Avoid Bad Timing	64
	Shipping Your Puppy Home	65
	Visiting the Veterinarian	66
	Arriving Home	68
	Naming Your Poodle	69
	Introductions Among Pets	70
	What to Do at Bedtime	73
Chapter 7	Housetraining	75
	Management Is Key	75
	Crate Training	77
	The Long-Term Confinement Area	80
	Establishing a Potty Spot	82
	Dealing with Accidents	84
	Housetraining an Adult Dog	86
	Relapses in Housetraining	87
Chapter 8	Basic Nutrition	89
	Essential Nutrients	89
	Commercial Foods	92
	Home-Prepared Diets	94
	Choosing a Food	96
	Understanding the Label	97
	How and When to Feed	99
	What about Supplements?	100
	Table Scraps	100
	Tempting Treats	101
	Maintaining the Right Weight	102
Chapter 9	Basic Health Care	105
	Spaying and Neutering	105
	Vaccinations	107
	Parasite Prevention	112
	The Home Health Check	116
	How to Give Your Poodle Medication	117
	Holistic Care	118
Chapter 10	Grooming Basics	121
	Poodle Clips	121
	Pros and Cons of Home Grooming	123
	Selecting a Professional Groomer	124
	Brushing and Combing	126
	Bathing and Drying	127
	Trimming Nails	128
	Anal Sacs	131
	Cleaning and Plucking Ears	132
	Dental Hygiene	132
Chapter 11	Common Illnesses and Injuries	135
	What's Normal?	135
	When Do You Need to Visit a Vet?	136
	Relieving Poodle Allergies	138
	Cuts and Scrapes	141
	Dealing with Foxtails	141
	Relief from Hot Spots	142
	Lumps and Bumps	143
	Gastrointestinal Problems	143
	Ear Infections	145
	Lameness or Limping	146
Chapter 12	Emergency Health Care	149
	Being Prepared for an Emergency	149
	How to Muzzle Your Poodle	151
	Restraining Your Injured Poodle	152
	How to Move an Injured Dog	153
	Performing CPR on Your Poodle	154
	The Heimlich Maneuver	156
	Dealing with Emergencies	157
Chapter 13	Congenital and Hereditary Diseases	163
	Bloat and Torison	163
	Blood Problems	165
	Endocrine Diseases	167
	Idiopathic Epilepsy	169
	Eye Problems	171
	Juvenile Renal Disease	172
	Orthopedic Problems	173
	Sebaceous Adenitis	175
Chapter 14	What Every Good Dog Should Know	177
	Why Every Poodle Needs Training	177
	Should You Enroll in Training Classes?	177
	Finding the Right Trainer	178
	Reward, Don't Punish	180
	Using a Clicker	181
	Training Your Poodle to Sit	183
	Teaching "Down"	184
	Teaching Your Poodle to Come	186
	Teaching "Stay"	189
	Teaching "Walk Nicely on Leash"	191
Chapter 15	Teaching Manners	193
	Taking Charge	193
	Setting Rules	195
	No Jumping on People	196
	Off the Furniture	198
	Go to Your Bed/Place	199
	Leave It/Drop It	200
Chapter 16	Socializing Your Poodle	203
	In Your Home	203
	Out in the World	204
	Preventing Separation Anxiety	205
	Socializing an Adult Poodle	206
	Helping the Shy Poodle	206
	Play Dates	207
	Dog Park Etiquette	208
	Riding in Cars	209
	Becoming Accustomed to New Situations	210
Chapter 17	Behavior Challenges	213
	Basic Tenets of Problem Solving	213
	Setting Your Poodle Up for Success	214
	Redirecting Improper Behavior	214
	Dealing with Specific Behavior Problems	215
	Working with a Behaviorist	223
Chapter 18	Competitive Obedience	225
	About Traditional Obedience Trials	225
	Novice Competition	227
	The Open Level of Competition	229
	Utility Competition	232
	Rally Obedience	233
	The Canine Good Citizen Test	235
Chapter 19	Other Sports for Poodles	237
	Conformation Shows	237
	Agility Events	241
	Field Work	243
	Freestyle Routines	244
	Other Activities	245
	Special Considerations for Canine Athletes	247
Chapter 20	Traveling with Your Poodle	249
	The Importance of Identification	249
	Staying in a Hotel	250
	Car Travel	251
	Leaving on a Jet Plane	255
	Traveling Abroad	257
	Leaving Your Poodle Behind	258
Chapter 21	The Senior Poodle	261
	What Is Old?	261
	The Senior Health Exam	262
	Nutrition for the Older Dog	263
	Problems of Aging	265
	Keeping Your Old Poodle Comfortable	271
	When to Say Goodbye	272
Appendix A	Organizations	274
Appendix B	Books, Magazines, and Web Sites	276
	Index	281