aaro. Don't turn your nose up at the Poodle until you have tried one.
Several years ago I had have both of my dogs put down the same day, one was almost sixteen years old, the other one was thirteen. The old dogs health was a result of old age, the younger dog had cancer in the mouth, on it's ears, and on it's rectum.
I made the appointment with my vet, took the dogs in, and after an examination was advised that I was making the right decision. I sat in a chair next to the table as the vet administered the drugs, I stroked their heads and stayed with them until they were gone. I was crushed, but stayed while the vet tech loaded a box with the dog's bodies in my truck, I drove home and dug the grave where they rest today. It wasn't a pleasant time for me or the family, we swore there would never be another dog.
About four mounts after burying these friends I had a phone call from my vet, she said she needed to talk to me, and asked if I would stop by her office. When I arrived she sent me back to one of the examining rooms, when I opened the door a bundle of energy in a buff colored miniature poodle, about four months old, bounced all over me. I walked out, closed the door and met the vet in the hallway, my first words, "No way, you couldn't whip my butt and make me take a poodle!" She jockeyed me back into the room, and after about twenty minutes I took the dog and left. I can't say what finally attracted me to the dog, he was abandoned in the middle of a busy intersection about five pm the day before. The kid who picked the dog up and took him to my vet said, "a lady in a new Lexus stopped her car, opened the door, threw the dog out, and drove off.
As I said, previously, you couldn't whip my butt and make me take a Poodle, but he has won my respect. Over the years I have raised and trained several different breeds of dogs, mostly hunting breeds, with a few German Shepperd's thrown in. This little poodle is perhaps the smartest dog I have ever owned, he is very loyal, and has the heart of a Rottweiler, and he will point a bird (when he feels like it).
AS I said, don't turn your nose up at a Poodle until you have seriously looked at one. For what your stated needs are, he will make an excellent pet. If I could find the lady (?) that threw him out I would have a hell of a decision to make, Do I punch her in the nose for throwing a little dog out, or do I give her a hug for sending the best dog I ever owned to me.
