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How are the Family and Puppy matched?

Can the buyer just pick any puppy? Or will the breeder interview the buyer to
make the best match?

How do you know which individual puppy is right for you?

The Pups' personalities are as different as can be. Along with assessing our dogs
for working ability, obedience or companions, we do "puppy aptitude testing" at 7
weeks, to be sure each pup's personality is compatible with its prospective
owners.

Responsible breeders require you give a lot information about your family and ask
you to trust your breeder to choose a puppy that fits with your lifestyle and
personality. We do give you the option to specify a preference for gender, color,
physical size and temperament characteristics you love or dislike. Then we watch
all the puppies to see who best matches your preferences AND life style.

Responsible breeders always select the puppy for each family. We do this
because we feel it imperative each puppy goes to the right home. This is
important for the family adopting the puppy but most importantly… it is important
for the puppy.

We understand that many families would like to “select our own puppy” from the
litter. Unfortunately this method of matching a puppy to a family most often
results in a poor match.

Can we come visit and play with the puppies?

We have always enjoyed visitors and the opportunity to show off our family dogs.

In the past we had taken precautions to reduce the risk to the pups but in spite of these safety
measures we recently had a scare which as forced us to change our visitation policy.

We had a wonderful, healthy litter of beautiful red pups. We were delighted with them and took
every opportunity to show them off. We had several families (who were on our wait-list) come and
play with the puppies.

The first pup (Sara) went home on a Wednesday and the remainder of the litter was to go home the
following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Four days after Sara went home I received a phone call from Sara’s family telling me she was
gravely ill. She was not eating. She had diarrhea and appeared warm. A visit to the vet revealed
nothing conclusive. She did have a fever which indicated an infection of some kind. She was put on
Anti-biotics and medicine for her loose stools.

Although the rest of the litter appeared very healthy I contacted the families and told them I could
not ship their pups to them for a week to ensure the rest of the litter was healthy. Although she
was the only one showing symptoms she could have caught a virus prior to the rest of the litter.
Flights were cancelled the whole litter was off to my vet for a check up and a follow up appointment
a week later.

Four families with children, who were waiting for their pups, were now left uneasy and concerned.
Would their pup get sick? Would he die? If he recovered would he be as good as new or would
there be long term effects?

Three of the four families had also booked vacation time for when the pup was to come home. This
was to ease the transition for the pup. Now they were home on vacation with no pup. The children
were distressed. They had been receiving photos of their pup and the rest of the litter for the last
8 weeks… which is a long time to form an attachment for an adult not to mention a child.

All this because I wanted to show off my dogs and allow them to play with other families’ pups.

For the first time I felt selfish. My desire to show off my dogs was causing distress to the
families who were to adopt these wonderful pups. I wanted people to know I housed my dogs well.
I wanted people to see that my dogs were well socialized and good examples of the breed.

As it turned out, little Sara was okay and did NOT have a communicable disease. Sara’s family had,
with all good intentions, switched her food without the precautions you would for switching foods.
She had gotten diarrhea so bad she got dehydrated and therefore a bladder infection. All this was
cleared up in good time and we were relieved that it was not anything serious but it sure gave us a
scare.

During this scare we spoke with many fellow breeders and many Veterinarians. Upon the advice of
EVERY Veterinarian we spoke with we have decided to no longer allow visitors to our puppies or our
pregnant females.

Must we Spay or Neuter our puppy? Even if we promise not to
breed him/her.

Yes, all of our dogs are spayed and neutered.

What you need to keep in mind is that dogs were never intended to be intact and NOT bred. Never
breeding a dog who is intact is NOT healthy for them (at least in the case of females). Uterine
infections and cancers are common in females who are never bred. From a purely biological standpoint
a dog could have puppies EACH heat cycle from the time she is 1 until she is 10 years old. (Most dogs
who have puppies so late in life DIE delivering their last litter!) Even if she does not die birthing....
odds are that dog would have a shorter life because producing that volume of puppies takes a toll on
a dog's body.

Also you need to keep in mind HUMANS have, through selective breeding, drastically altered the
biological makeup of the domestic dog.

Wild dogs only have one heat cycle per year where as domestic dogs have two.
Wild dogs have higher fears to their environment which affect their heat cycles and reduce the
number of them. They will not enter estrous if in a stressful environment.
Wild dogs naturally form packs where only ONE female is allowed to breed and produce
offspring.
After a couple of years she is over thrown (usually by a daughter)and a new female becomes the
alpha. This also reduces the number of breedings each dog has in her life.
Males also do not breed all the time. Only the Alpha male is allowed to breed. He too only stays
Alpha for a limited amount of time.
Wild dogs have natural predators and natural dangers which limit the lifespan and reproduction
capabilities of a wild dog. Also known as Natural Selection. Only the strongest survive.

Historically human ignorance has facilitated too closely related dogs to breed. Old fashioned
breeding programs have reduced the biological diversity domestic dog populations to such an extent
that there are now diseases in even mixed breed dog populations that are still considered rare in the
wild canine population.

Humans have altered the biological makeup of the dog so much from their wild ancestors that we now
have to take our own steps to ensure only very best dogs (the best psychology, correct anatomy, and
ones capable of reaching the highest level of Physiological Conditioning) , reproduce and those who
are not to the absolute highest standard do not procreate. The only way we humans can control this
is to spay and neuter.

Studies have shown that spayed and neutered pets live a very long, healthy lives. Altered pets do not
experience the same hormonal fluctuations that intact dogs do. They make better, healthier
companions and are easier to live with.

For these reasons all of our companion animals are ALWAYS on a spay/neuter contract.

Our puppies are cute and will undoubtedly pull at your heart-strings. However that cuteness quickly
wears off if you have taken home a puppy whose temperament is not a good match with your own.

You are seeking a companion that will be a part of your family for ten, twelve, or fourteen years –
maybe longer. It is better to consider all factors before allowing that furry little face to affect your
judgment.

We have been observing and documenting the personalities of each puppy from birth. We work very
closely with our dogs, so we know the personality and temperament of each one. We have recorded
the puppy’s progress from birth and can identify each one’s character traits. By the time the babies
are old enough for visitors, Paris Poodles has spent close to 350 hours observing and interaction
with that litter of puppies. EVEN if an adopting family spent a full day watching a litter of puppies,
the selection would be based upon what ‘feels right’ or ‘this one loves me’ instead of true
temperament or character traits and compatibility.

Some people would like "the Puppy to choose us”. This is also a very romantic notion which has been
proven time and time again to be a faulty way to match a puppy to a family. Typically the puppy who is
most outgoing with complete strangers is the most head strong and requires an experienced
handler. Puppies simply DO NOT have some mystical ability to see who will be their best family.

Pet Stores typically allow the owner to select because they don’t care if the match is a good one.
Their entire goal is to sell puppies to make money and therefore do not care if you are happy with
your dog once you have left and they have your money.

Puppy Mills and Backyard Breeders have neither the education, skills nor experience to know what
they are looking for in a potential match. Most often it has never occurred to them that a good
breeder should be in the best position to match a puppy to a family.

Breeders who are passionate about their dogs and their breeding programs will have a good idea of
the individual puppy temperaments by around 5-6 weeks old. Then the breeders arrange for an
extensive temperament test on each pup at approx. 7 weeks old to confirm what they have been
observing in each pup.

Our puppy assessment is performed by a Professional Dog Handler who has been training dogs, and
assessing working and companion dogs for more than 20 years. We firmly believe that a
temperament test is only as good as the person conducting the test. Temperament and Personality
tests performed by inexperienced people are at best, incomplete- at worst, completely inaccurate.

Our application is one of the tools we use to match your family to an ideal canine companion. We also
conduct several phone interviews to ensure the an ideal match between the puppy to the new family’s
lifestyle and personalities. A mismatch could cost the puppy his or her life and not be pleasant for
the family. As a responsible breeder we will not let you pick your own puppy but rather direct you to
the best match suitable to your own personality and lifestyle.

We are continually working towards improving our bloodlines. Therefore, we WANT keep in touch
with you in the future. We will help you with training or grooming issues and monitor the dog’s
health. If the dog develops a health or temperament issue we will want to know. Keeping track of the
puppies’ progress is one of the ways we monitor our breeding program.

You should expect a call from us if any other puppies from your puppy's litter develop unexpected
changes in temperament or health.

We will be your greatest resource for information, advice, and help.

We consider each litter we produce to be our responsibility for life, and we will gladly assist you in
any areas you need help. That is what is referred to as Breeder Support. This is very important to
us and will also be important for you!

Keep in mind that we are only looking out for our puppy – YOUR puppy!

What may feel like a disappointment in no being able to ‘choose’ your puppy stems from our love of
our dogs, love of the breed, and love of that furry little pup that you want to take home.

Both the prospective family and the breeder have the same goal. We are both trying to match a dog
to family.

We are confident that we will find you the ideal match for your family.

Many families , while researching how to find a reputable breeder, read articles in books
proclaiming that visiting a breeder before making a decision is imperative. In all likelihood this
information was published prior to the epidemics of Parvo and other deadly Canine Viruses. This
information needs updating to reflect todays canine heath concerns.

Canine parvovirus, first identified in 1978, attacks the gastrointestinal tract and can damage heart
muscle in puppies. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea -- which is often bloody -- dehydration and, in
severe cases, fever and lowered white blood cell counts. Parvo progresses rapidly and death can
occur as soon as two days after the onset of the disease. It is transmitted through fecal matter.

It is a highly contagious virus that can remain in infectious ground contaminated with fecal material
for six or more months if the conditions are favorable. This virus is extremely resilient to
temperature changes (surviving in temperature extremes for months) and most disinfectants cannot
kill the virus.

Canine Parvo Virus kills an estimated 80% of puppies.

Parvo Virus can be easily transported from one location to another by shoes, car tires, and even
other animals. It is a very opportunistic and deadly disease.

Even more recently a new virus has joined the list of Deadly Canine Diseases. It is often mistaken
for Bordetella or Kennel Cough. It is been dubbed the Greyhound Flu.

In 2004 there was a respiratory disease outbreak caused by the influenza virus in Racing
greyhounds Florida. The virus had jumped species by feeding Greyhounds raw horse meat derived
from horses with horse influenza (horse influenza is avian flu, which jumped species from birds to
horse). The Center For Disease Control is watching this epidemic very closely. The fear is that this
disease will mutate again and infect Humans.

Grey Hound flu morbidity rate is 80% with 20% being sub clinically affected and shedding the virus.
The course of the disease is 4 weeks There is no treatment and no vaccine.

In August of 2007 there was an outbreak of a Respiratory Disease with similar symptoms on
Vancouver Island in BC Canada. Reports across the US reveal that approximately 10% of adult dogs
in the US have contracted the illness.

The period of incubation is 2-5 days. It is airborne and can be transmitted by inanimate objects
such as clothing.

In light of these VERY Recent developments we now must minimize the traffic to our home by
limiting visitors to those that have deposits on puppies, and then, only after the puppies have had
their first immunization against Parvo.

We no longer allow families in our Puppy House as Parvo can live on surfaces for MONTHS. This
means the virus can be transported into our Puppy House before the puppies are even born. When
the puppies are weaned they would then contract Parvo Virus.

Instead we have posted photos of the inside and outside of our buildings here:
OUR HOME CLICK HERE

Are your dogs Kennel raised or are your babies raised 'underfoot'?

A Standard Poodle Puppy raised 'underfoot' really means the breeder does not have a proper facility!
Although we are sure this term is intended to mean positive things we KNOW what this really means
and would enjoy the opportunity to explain it!

What does proper infrastructure mean to you as a puppy buyer?

First this means your breeder is committed to what he or she is doing.

It means they are in this for the long run. A breeding facility is a big commitment!
Backyard breeders do not invest in proper breeding facilities because it would COST money to
breed. Most are in it FOR money so having a $120,000 building certainly wouldn't work in their
best interest financially speaking. (Neither would the extra cost of purchasing land so they would
be eligible for city licensing- in our town it is illegal to have more than 3 dogs living at a residence
unless you own at least 10 acres and qualify for a license (proper disposal of feces and proper
fencing)- YES! We have a license)

Second, having proper infrastructure means the babies are going to be raised in a clean, sanitary
facility.

We have heard of people claiming that the puppies were raised 'underfoot'. While it is certainly
possible to raise Standard Poodle Puppies in the home for about the first 4 weeks of life, (Which
we enjoy doing!) around 4-5 weeks old a mother will quit cleaning up her babies' poop! (Yes! She
eats it!) From about 4-5 weeks old the babies need to have A LOT of space to learn good toiletry
habits.
They need unrestricted access to OUTSIDE so they learn to soil there! NOT Inside. For a few
weeks they still have the occasional accident but given the proper environment will quickly learn
that outside is the proper place for their stools! (Wee wee pads and newspaper on a garage floor
are not acceptable as this inhibits learning proper house training... Unless you will allow soiling in
the house from your adult dog? Crates with wire floors are also not acceptable.... Again, unless this
is okay for your adult dog?)
Puppies who are left outside ALL DAY without inside access won't learn they need to go outside to
pee and inside for inside activities... Like sleeping! They need access to both Inside and Outside.
Most Backyard breeders whose babies are 'raised under foot' are actually living in a garage or a
garden shed in the backyard! This is because 6-10 babies pooping and peeing inside your home
for 8 weeks STINKS! We mean REALLY smells! (In spite of cleaning up every hour and taking the
puppies outside once an hour!) We question the cleanliness of a Human willing to live in such an
unsanitary, smelly environment. A human living in such conditions is perhaps not the best candidate
to teach your puppy clean habits?

We are also concerned that our puppies are not contaminating our environment. (You can imagine how
much waste even ONE litter would produce in a backyard) In many areas multiple dogs are prohibited
due to the high risk of ground water contamination. To ensure this will never happen in our area we
have installed a septic system exclusively for our dogs waste.

Typically those who breed dogs 'underfoot' also have no investment in the breed, the breeds future
or simply breed for no purpose other than to make more dogs for money or for the experience of
producing a litter

These breeders typically are extremely inexperienced- so much so they don't even know they are
doing something wrong! They produce dogs without knowing the pedigrees behind their dogs. (Often
breeding close relatives and claiming that it doesn't matter that the dogs are closely related!) This
type of breeder is responsible for producing MOST of the puppies you will see advertised in local
newspapers and unfortunately they are responsible for filling up our local animal shelters

To say we raise our dogs in a "Kennel" is not very accurate as our dogs live in our home. However,
when the babies are old enough that they NEED more space they (and their mother) live in the 'Puppy
House' were we have sealed concrete floors, and proper supplies to keep our puppies healthy and
happy. We even have a radio playing for them so they are accustomed to all types of typical household
noises. Our puppy house smells, looks and sounds like a home. We designed it this way. When our
babies go to your home they have enjoyed all of the supposed 'benefits' of being raised 'underfoot'
but are raised in a clean environment so our puppies grow to be clean dogs! (Dirty dogs NEVER
completely house train!)

You will appreciate the commitment we have made to make your dogs first 8 weeks of life the very
best!

We recently read another breeders website who had the same
articles as you. They were slightly altered but obviously cut and
pasted from your site.... ?

We too have noticed a lot of our articles 'published' (with perhaps little alterations) on other
breeders websites.

In some cases, the breeder has contacted us and asked permission to use our articles. In others
they were just cut and pasted without asking us.

They say the best compliment is imitation. We agree! We are happy that other breeders feel
compelled to educate their potential buyers!

All works on our site are written by Paris Poodles unless quoted otherwise.
(If we missed a source quote please feel free to contact us so we can give credit where credit is due!)

We know that not everyone has attended a College or University so they may not know that it is not
only courtesy but also considered plagiarism to copy and paste from other websites without quoting
the source of the information. (Thanks to the University of British Columbia for teaching us to do it
right! <Go Thunderbirds!!!> :-)

Thank-you to those who have sent us links to our works posted on other sites. So far we don't find
them to be used in an offensive way. Sure.... we would prefer we were sourced simply out of respect
for the time we put into writing our articles. But alas.... We truly are more concerned we are
producing quality dogs rather than worrying about such things!