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[RC] [RC] Dogs & Horses - PattiI fell in love with Standard Poodles when I went to my cousins' cattle ranch in the mountains outside of Butte, Montana as a kid.
These were big stury dogs - they worked cattle, hunted elk and deer with them. They were shorn like sheep twice a year. One was injured while I was there and required stitches - he just lay there and held out his leg without restraint to get stiched up.
I finally have my own Poodle - Stetson is a goofus, a lab in a curly coat. He was a "pet quality" freebie from a show breeder, doesn't have the big working bone that I remember in my cousins' dogs. He is brave, loyal, friendly and the barn kitties have adopted him as their surrogate mama but has a huge deep bark that should warn off any sensible trespasser. Gets along with the horses but haven't had him out on a trail. He did have a seizure one time - but he had been running non-stop for a couple of hours in extreme heat and I think he became dehydrated (I was working in the shade and didn't realize how hot it actually was out, probably 105 or higher in the sun). My other dog had stayed in the shade under the misters. Stetson plays hard and sleeps hard (and sometimes wants to be a 70lb lap dog).
I would ask around places like a rod and gun club to find a working dog breeder if you're looking for a trail companion. I found this breeder http://www.anutta.com/standardpoodles/hunting.htm
who does a lot of agility and has done SAR with her Poodles (googled "standard poodle working").
Patti K
Vail AZ
From: "Susan" < scswag@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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