Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman with a Poodle by Connie Vines

THEY LAUGHED when John Suter set out with his 11 standard-size poodles on the grueling Iditarod sled-dog race across the Alaskan wilderness; there were probably even a few cries of "Mush, Foo-foo, mush!" But 18 days and 1,158 miles later, he and his dog team crossed the finish line at Nome with three of the poodles still pulling. For John Suter it was a modest triumph -- he finished 38th, a week behind the winner -- but for poodles everywhere it was one giant step up from fluffy-hood.

Admittedly eight of the poodles did drop out (tired dogs are left off at way stations during the race to be flown home later), and the three that made it all the way were teamed with six huskies. Nonetheless, it is no small accomplishment for either man or beast to complete the Iditarod, and Mr. Suter was glad to see his poodles do their part to combat what he called "the Fifi image," which attaches to all their breed regardless of size.

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Poodle owners always thought that, given the opportunity, poodles would prove that below that pompadour beats the heart of a Doberman After all, poodles are as brave and friendly as any dog.   The Poodle is even listed on the top-ten-watch-dog-breeds by Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisper).

It is said owners of toy and miniature poodles are sincere, fun loving, and loyal. They to love traveling since the small dogs make excellent travel partners and can be easily put into a carrier. Owners of these dogs take pride in their appearance, are very neat and keep very orderly homes. They are very versatile and can enjoy evenings in with a bottle of wine or a night out partying on the town.

Dogs also tend to adopt the same personality traits as their owners. Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that dogs often take on the same personality traits as their owner. The study revealed that dogs are like humans in that they have personalities that are shaped over time. (Feb 26, 2019).

I pondered this for a little while.  Chanel is happy, likes a tidy environment (she will ‘show-me’ when something is on the floor- leaf, dust-bunny, etc.), she gets excited when a package is delivered to our door-step and rushes to help me open it (usually poking her head int the box to see the contents first).

 She is vocal and likes to carrying on a conversation with me about her toys.  And, most importantly, she likes to sit beside me on the Lazy-Boy sofa, munching unsalted, unbuttered Skinny Girl popcorn while watching dog shows (she doesn’t even care if it a rerun).

Does owning a poodle make me a better person/woman or a better writer?

Of course, it does!

1. Love is a commitment
Poodles can typically live until they are about 13 years old and a fair majority of them make it a few years longer. Having a relationship with your dog for more than a decade a is a strong bond of unconditional love.

2. They love to be with you
Like so many other dog breeds, poodles don’t really like to be left alone. But there are times your dog needs solitary time (he/she still loves you).

3. They love special treats
This one may not be specific to only poodles, as virtually every dog loves treats. Poodles do seem to have a tendency to be a little more discerning when it comes to their taste buds than a lot of other breeds. Because of that fact, they often love those special treats that you pick up at the pet store or specialty shop that focuses on baked goods for dogs. They may not respond as well to your run-of-the-mill treats that come out of a bag you bought off of a grocery store shelf. If you are having problems while training your dog, it is important to keep this in mind. If you switch to a treat, they like better, you’re likely to see results that are far superior.

4. One of their favorite things is playing outside
Who doesn’t like a good romp outside? This might mean going outside for a game of fetch, allowing them to catch a Frisbee or simply playing a game of tug rope with them outdoors. Some poodles love to play hide and seek and others will be delighted if you allow them to chase you around. All of it is good exercise and it gives you both a chance to get outside and burn off some stress for the day.

5. They are affectionate
Generally speaking, poodles have a tendency to be extremely affectionate animals. Most of them like to cuddle and give kisses and in most cases, they don’t usually mind being hugged. If you are looking for a dog that you can bring into the family that will allow everyone to hug on it and pet it, a poodle is always a good option.

6. They respond to your voice
Some of the smartest dogs understand enough words that they have a vocabulary similar to a toddler. As a result, they can understand a lot of phrases like good girl, stop, leave it, and come, among others. Even when your dog doesn’t understand what you are saying, she knows your voice and will respond to that sound repeatedly. Your poodle also knows how you are feeling based on the inflection in your voice. As a result, she can tell when you are happy, sad, or angry, as well as when you are excited about something. That is why he/ she will often come up to you automatically and attempt to cuddle when you are angry or feeling blue.

7. They’re comical
Anybody that owns a poodle will tell you that they’re funny. These dogs just seem to have a penchant for knowing how to make you laugh and they do it on a routine basis. You might argue that they are merely showing off their natural personalities. Some people that have poodles will undoubtedly argue that they are trying to make you laugh on purpose. Either way, they are a lot of fun to be around and they can take an otherwise mediocre day and have you rolling in the floor in no time.
     
 8. They thrive on mutual trust

  9. They learn quickly, but consistency and patience are key
Their level of intelligence is extremely high, as has already been discussed. Because they are able to learn quickly, they might become bored with training sessions that don’t move along quickly enough to suit them. In some cases, this can actually make them lose interest in the trick all together while in other cases, it causes them to misbehave in other ways. Make training time fun for both you and your poodle as opposed to making it feel like a chore. You can bet that if you feel like it is a chore and you end up dreading your training sessions, your poodle feels exactly the same way.

 10.    These are the fundamentals of a lasting, give-and-take healthy relationship.
Love is universal.  The keys to forming a lasting-relationship are listed above.  Following those steps have made me a better person. Those steps have also made me a better romance writer.  After all, what hero doesn’t love sports, or a home-cooked meal?   What heroine doesn’t appreciate a man with a sense of humor, or a man who understands the meaning of mutual trust and commitment?

Never underestimate the power of a woman with a poodle--a happily-ever-after is her stock-and-trade!

Happy Reading!

Connie 

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