I would like to buy a minature poodle but I've heard that they get meaner as they get older. Is this true?
2007-12-13 03:11:17 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
The short answer: No, they don't get meaner as they get older. But many do get more defensive with age.
Purebred dogs have advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that some health disorders are more prevalent (or just more reported) among purebreds than among mixed breed dogs.
Poodles are prone to a degenerative eye disorder called Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which causes progressive loss of vision beginning around age 6 or 7. Because miniatures and toys tend to live longer than standard poodles the effects of PRA are more obvious in the smaller dogs; standard poodles tend to die of other causes before serious visual impairment sets in. With their longer lifespans miniature poodles with PRA will often spend their last years virtually blind.
Blindness and impaired vision in dogs is hard to diagnose because they rely more on hearing and smell than we do. (In general a dog first hears his environment, then he smells it, then he sees it. Humans see first, then hear; we smell very few things we don't end up eating. It's very hard for a human to understand how a dog perceives the world.) A blind dog can compensate for its impairment using its other senses better than a human can, but it does tend to make them more defensive, especially around strangers or when they're outside their territory.
2007-12-13 04:29:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The meanness you speak of has nothing to do with being poodle, and everything to do with over-permissive owners who spoil their dogs. Poodles are very intelligent, they'll take over the house if their owners let them. Good training and consistent rules are important for all dogs, but people with small dogs often think it's cute when their dogs jump on people, snap at people, and otherwise misbehave. They project their own human feelings on the dog and assume that the dog has the same kind of emotions they do (how many times have you heard a toy dog owner say "she's just scared" and soothe the dog when it has done something atrocious?) and these people positively reinforce bad behavior with soothing voices, petting, and laughter.
Get the poodle and train it...you'll have a good dog. Don't let it do anything that you wouldn't let a St. Bernard do (jump on people for attention, sit at the table for dinner (I have seen lots of toy dogs do this!), and the like.
2007-12-13 03:50:28 · answer #2 · answered by Leigh 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not in my opinion. We took my mother in law's miniature poodle about a year ago. My mother-in-law had beaten and kicked her for years, but when my mother-in-law went into a nursing home, we took her into our home. It's worked out really well. Miss Megan is 7+ now, and seems very grateful to have a loving home now. She is a real snuggle bunny and a joy to have in our home. She gets along well with our Westie (whom she's known for many years) and is now a very happy dog. My wife has had miniature poodles throughout her life, and hasn't seen mean older poodles. So I don't think you can generalize about this breed. I wouldn't give up Miss Megan for anything, even though I'm a guy and she's a 'lap dog'!
2007-12-13 10:29:52 · answer #3 · answered by pasdeclef 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ihave one that is 8 years old and I have had her since she was 5 weeks ( mom was let out and was hit and killed by a car)
She is exteremely sweet and loving dog .
I have had toys for 15 and 18 years and no change.
I did know someone that had a 6 year old Mini that turned mean but after an exam found the dog had a brain tumor and that's what caused the change.However this is not normal.
2007-12-13 03:48:49 · answer #4 · answered by Kit_kat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs can get a bit cranky in old age - like people. They can lose sight, mobility and hearing and it makes them a bit more defensive, especially if there are big changes in their routine. I wouldn't let old age put you off getting the dog you want - provided you know what you want and that a miniature poodle is right for you in every other respect.
2007-12-13 03:17:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Leigh has my vote.
I'm a groomer and the small dogs are allowed to do things a
large breed would never get away with. Don't treat it like a baby. My favorite dog growing up was a poodle. We treated him like he was a big dog. Don't get me wrong, he was loved and pampered, but knew the rules. I taught him 13 tricks, from crawling on his belly like RinTinTin to sneezing and flipping in the air over backwards. They are extremely intelligent...often brighter than their owners.
2007-12-13 06:45:13 · answer #6 · answered by buzzword07 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best insurance against this would be to go to a responsible breeder who (preferably) raises dogs holistically - and then, go to training classes. Positive training will help dogs to learn how to get along in a family and be great dogs! Punishment will have the opposite effect. Training is not rocket science and positive training is fun for humans and dogs too.
http://clickertraining.com/
2007-12-13 03:50:55 · answer #7 · answered by Misa M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Minature poodles do not get mean as they get older.
Just treat the animal as a family member and he/she will respond in kind.
2007-12-13 03:15:21 · answer #8 · answered by Chipmonk 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not because of the breed. Some dogs get slow and cranky as they age, primarily due to athritis or other ageing things.
Poodles are amazing dogs, especially when they are bred and trained properly.
2007-12-13 03:20:38 · answer #9 · answered by maxmom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a mini I just got and she is 7 1/2 years old and delightful and funny
2007-12-13 06:57:38 · answer #10 · answered by twylajane1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋