The litter out of CH Cabernet's Cut to the Chase and CH Dreamy Rose of Summit is representative of what we want our Standard Poodles to be. It has taken us about 13 years to get here, carefully looking at what we have and attempting to improve it when we decide to breed. Our mentor, Madeline Patterson, who has spent her adult life with poodles, has been our guide, giving invaluable help.
Seven healthy puppies, 4 males, 3 females, 4 whites, 2 blues, 1 black, were whelped in a ceremonious way on May 19, 2004. They were lovingly nurtured by their mom, India, and developed sweet, mischevious, trusting and secure personalities along the way. Contributing to their personality development was our use of attachment theory. John and I were practicing psychotherapists for many years and found that individuals who had positive early attachments turned into healthy adults. So our puppies were exposed to lots of sensory experiences, especially in the touch department. They were cuddled, rocked, sung to, laid on our chests so our breaths could synchronize. We infused the bonding process with love, positive energy flow and trust. It paid off. By the time the puppies were ready to leave the nest they were confident in their own skin, courageous explorers and affectionate beings.
From about the age of four weeks on they were taken out of our bedroom and put in the main living area. There they were exposed to the kinds of stimuli they would have to deal with in the 'real' world; phones, strangers, loud noises, sounds of cars, trucks, vacuum cleaners and more. We paid alot of attention to recovery time -- that is, how long did it take the puppy to move from tension or fear about a scary experience to a feeling of well-being. It was comforting to us to see how quickly the puppies recovered.
We employ a natural method of housebreaking by adding an outhouse type structure to the puppy area -- a place with pads which is attached to, but separated from,the main puppy area. The puppies, not liking to soil the area where they eat, immediately show a preference for using it and in no time at all are not dirtying the main living quarters. We begin this when the puppies are about 3 1/2 weeks old. Soon we transition to outdoors, if the weather is nice, where the puppies can eat and 'go,' so to speak. Praise is bountiful and soon they have the idea down pat.
Physical exercise is vital to puppies -- it helps coordination, develops muscle, creates strength and physical well-being--and our puppies get plenty of it. In our yard you can see all types of fun toys -- tunnels, boxes, balls, hills, water play. And simultaneously while figuring out how to use their bodies and minds, the puppies are diligently working at figuring out the pecking order. They engage in fierce battles, morning, noon and night, attempting to establish a coherent pecking order. Many a victor becomes a loser the next day!
At the age of 9 or 10 weeks, 6 of the puppies went to their new homes and rapidly made friends with their new families. Housebreaking, learning the rules of their new environment, social skills, all developed rapidly and to date, all are well adjusted citizens of their new communities.
Three of the girls went to family homes who were willing to show them and all are now champions. We were fortunate enough to keep one of the girls, Ivy Rose, who not only became a champion as a puppy, but surprised all of us by winning her class at the 'show of shows,' Poodle Club of America, which surprised us and is, we've been told, a pretty big deal.
And now, after a short stint in Northern California, under the impeccable care of Kim Russell, Ivy Rose is back with us, cut down, a 'wild woman,'who is having the time of her life romping with her family of poodles!!! What a happy ending to a beautiful song.
May 19, 2004 Chase x India Puppies
[Their arrival!]
June 20, 2004 Chase x India Pupppies
[4 1/2 weeks old]
July 24, 2004 Chase x India Puppies
[9 1/2 weeks old]
October 19, 2004 Madison dressed for rain!
[Madison's pictures courtesy of Peggy & Jack Berger]
