How to Keep Your Toy Poodles Groomed and Fluffy with a Classic Cut

One of the joys of having toy poodles is the fact they are so cute and seemingly luxurious; it makes toy poodle parents proud to stroll down the avenue with these gorgeous pets. To anyone who chooses to be the parent of a toy poodle with a classic cut, we advise you to expect to provide some special care and pampering.

Toy poodles are known for their beautiful hair, soft, fluffy and brilliant in color. Keeping that hair properly cleaned and groomed is highly important to the look and style of this particular breed of dog. Below, you’ll find some very specific tips and techniques from our friends at eHow.com on how to keep your toy poodle looking like the star of the runway with a classic cut.

●     If there are any kinks or knots in

your toy poodle’s hair, make sure to work them out with your fingers first, before washing. If you wet the hair first, it only becomes more tangled and more difficult to groom when it dries.

●     Toy poodles need bathing on a regular basis; they do not shed, so the hair just keeps growing. So when it becomes soiled in any way, it’s time for a bath right away.

●     Keeping a toy poodle’s hair cut and trimmed regularly is vital to good grooming. The hair is much less likely to become tangled if it is kept trimmed to its proper length.

●     Use only high-quality nourishing shampoos on your toy poodle; shampoos that are good for the hair and skin. Moisturizing shampoos are great to keep their skin from becoming dry and irritated.

●     Daily brushing is a vital part of keeping the hair fluffy; some prefer their poodles a bit shaggy and that too can look great, but for that light and fluffy look, brushing every day is required.

●     Scissors should be used to trim the mane and shape the hair around the ears for a professional looking trim.

Considering the amount of joy and beauty this precious breed of dogs brings into our lives, washing them and keeping them looking clean, fluffy and fabulous should feel like far more of a privilege than a chore! Stay tuned for our next post, as we’ll be talking about how to keep your toy poodles groomed with a teddy bear cut!

Picking the Best Name for your Toy Poodle

Just as a new parent will spend hours pouring over a baby name book for their child, a dog owner will take the naming of their new puppy just as seriously. Think about it; your pooch will most likely be by your side as often as possible and it won’t be long before you two become the very best of friends. It’s understandable that you’d want to give them a wonderful name to go by! But how do you choose?

First, it’s important to realize that there’s no pressure to decide right away. Don’t feel like you need to have a name ready and waiting to go as soon as you pick your new companion up for the first time. In fact, Shiba Shake, a terrific website dedicated to providing tips for caring and training dogs, would actually suggest that you hold off until you get to know him a little bit more. By doing this, you get a chance to see what kind of personality he has. The site also suggests observing your pup and seeing what he likes to do and where his energy levels lie. You may find that the name just comes to you!

Other ideas? Maybe you have a favorite character from a movie, TV show or book you’ve recently read. Some of the best and most popular dog names in recent years have come from owners who have used this method. In fact, the #1 most popular female dog name right now is Bella. Think that might have anything to do with the popularity of the Twilight Series?

Interested in learning which other names managed to top the list?

Most popular female dog names:                       Most popular male dog names:

1. Bella                                                                     1. Max

2. Daisy                                                                    2. Buddy

3. Molly                                                                    3. Jake

4. Lucy                                                                     4. Charlie

5. Maggie                                                                 5. Bailey

So now that you’ve got some ideas on where to start, we hope you’ll find the process to be a little bit easier! No matter which name you choose, be sure to give your pup the love and attention he deserves! And of course, let us know which name you’ve decided on once you get your beautiful toy poodle home; we’d love to hear from you!

What’s So Special About the Poodle Breed?

 When you’ve finally decided that you want to begin the search for a toy-sized companion, you’ll most likely realize fairly quickly that you have quite a few breed options to choose from. So what is it about the toy teddy bear poodles that will draw you in? Well for me, it’s pretty easy to think of a number of reasons right off the top of my head!

1.       To start with, poodles are extremely smart canines. In fact, the poodle is the second smartest breed, right behind the border collie. If you’re looking for a breed that is going to be fairly easy to train, a poodle would be the ideal choice for you.

 

2.       As you’ll find with all of our toy poodles, this breed is also extremely friendly and loyal. You will often find your pup lingering by your side, loving every second of human companionship – which is perfect, since I’m sure you’ll never want to let go of yours!

3.       We’ve mentioned this once before in our blog, but it’s worth noting just one more time; toy poodles are hypo-allergenic. If you manage to come across one that does shed, you’ll most likely find that it is very minimal. So if you tend to suffer from a dog allergy, it would be a great idea to look into your options with a poodle and save yourself the headaches and sneezing in the long run.

4.       The final reason that I believe that you need a toy teddy bear poodle? THEY’RE ADORABLE! With their small size, cute faces and fun haircuts, how can you possibly say no?

With all of these reasons and more, now is the perfect time to narrow down your search and get serious about bringing home a beautiful toy teddy bear poodle today! Give us a call for more information!

(Posted by:  Linda DeBlauw of Scarlet's Fancy Poodles)

Poodle Puppy Litters Arriving Soon

Due next week, Scarlet’s Fancy will be welcoming a new litter of red and apricot Toy and Miniature poodle puppies! If you have been thinking about a new addition to the family, a poodle puppy is a great option. Although they are often thought of as just a pretty face, poodles are smart, active and very obedient dogs.

The toy and miniature poodle puppies are that much cuter than a standard poodle, at least if you ask me. The red and apricot miniature poodles grow to be from 12 to 15 inches in height, whereas the toy poodles are generally around 10 inches tall. What makes them even cuter, is the teddy bear cut they get before coming home to you! (Check out our website to see some examples of the teddy bear poodle grooming style.)

Known for their energy, toy and miniature poodles are great for families with young children. A toy or miniature poodle puppy will not only add some life to your home, but it will get your children outside, playing and enjoying the outdoors, since poodles do need daily exercise. This, as we all know, is becoming more difficult with all the electronic toys on the market these days.

In addition to the litters due next week, we are also welcoming two new sires to our breeding stock. All four parents of our new sires are AKC Champions.

For more information about adding a red or apricot poodle puppy to the family, contact us today at 805-748-2095 or email me at scarletsfancypoodles@gmail.com.

Post by Linda DeBlauw of Scarlet's Fancy

Is That a Tiny Toy Poodle or a Teddy Bear?

So, you’re in the market for a dog. If that’s the case, you must not overlook the poodle family, especially the toy and miniature poodles. Personally, I have a soft spot for tiny toy poodles. With the teddy bear cut, they truly resemble a teddy bear.

Tiny toy poodles weigh up to 4 pounds at maturity. Although they look just like a teddy bear, the tiny toy poodles are ideal for adults, ironically because they are so small. This also makes them great companions to accompany you everywhere. Light enough to tote around, tiny toy poodles should never be put on a leash, nor should they jump off a couch or bed.

As we mentioned in our last post, the teddy bear poodle cut is a grooming style. In fact, the majority of the puppies sold at Scarlet’s Fancy leave us looking like little teddy bears. I just cannot get over how adorable they are! An up and coming style, I predict we will only see the teddy bear grooming style in just a short time. And boy, am I excited for that time!

Check out the video below to see one of our tiny toys in action.

Teddy Bear Poodle Haircuts: Hard to Resist

Most people say the idea of the teddy bear haircut is that it keeps the poodle looking like an adorable puppy with a short nose for their whole life. Traditionally, poodle haircuts consist of shaven feet and faces. On the other hand, the teddy bear cut leaves their hair longer and rounded.

Even people, who are normally not fond of poodles, are seeking teddy bear poodles because of their look and ability to stay cute forever. 

Browse through these photos below and let us know which your favorite teddy bear haircut is.

Photo Courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/28481088@N00/

Photos Courtesy of http://www.redandapricotpoodles.com/

Apricot Poodles As Therapy Dogs

Apricot poodles make great therapy dogs

Sometimes, a person needs that extra bit of doggy affection to get through the tough times.  If you know someone in hospice, a therapy dog would bring comfort.  Is your child having trouble learning?  A therapy dog would help.   Do you know someone affected by Superstorm Sandy or another storm?  A therapy dog would bring barks of affection.  Dog is man’s best friend.  A therapy dog is man’s super best friend.  You can never have too many therapy dogs! 

Therapy dogs, to put it simply, are dogs trained to provide love and comfort to people in times of need.   They’re an affectionate army of fur, hugs, and barks.  You send them to disaster areas, hospitals, nursing homes, among other places.  You can even send them to libraries to help children read.  That’s what Angel, a three-year-old apricot standard poodle, does at Forest Grove Library!  Go apricot poodles!

In the article “Forest Grove Library lets youngsters read with an Angel at their side” http://www.oregonlive.com/forest-grove/index.ssf/2012/11/forest_grove_library_lets_youn.html Kelly House reports on Angel, a therapy poodle that helps children become more comfortable with reading.  House writes, “He [Angel] visits weekly, on Monday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m., to read one-on-one with struggling readers who schedule special appointments.” Eight-year-old Matthew Waters is one such child.  Angel has patiently listened to him read the entire Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.  What an apricot poodle!

House continues, “Forest Grove’s is one of countless Read to the Dogs programs to crop up in libraries across the nation in recent years in response to increasing evidence that pets can positively impact early learners.” The programs have been a great success.  Not only do the children love the dogs, studies show that there is improvement.” A 2010 study from the University of California, Davis measured third-grade students’ reading fluency growth over the course of 10 weekly 15-minute sessions with a therapy dog.  On average, their fluency improved by 12 percent over the course of the sessions.” The improvements in reading is remarkable.  More libraries and schools across the country are beginning to take notice.  Perhaps my apricot poodles are therapy dogs in the making!