Before my eyes open, I can feel his breath on my face. His nose pressed as close as he dared without touching my face. He senses I’m awake. My eyes are still closed, but he knows the rhythm of my breathing as though it were his own. I smile. Slowly, I open my eyes, squinting from the bright sun pouring in through my window. It’s barely 7 am, but the Alaska sun is high in the sky.
Seren sits in her ex-pen, she’s staring at me while delivering her signature high-pitched bark. She is insisting I release her from her confinement.
“You get this prima-Donna attitude from your grandmother,” I tell her as I toss some treats into her pen to distract her. I know it will only work for a moment.
While Seren snuffles around her pen for the treats I tossed, Sojourner excitedly prances over to find out what Seren is snacking on . He stands with his four feet square, neck perfectly arched as he observes the puppy and her treats.
You’ve just hiked a vertical mile. You are at the crest of your favorite destination, prepared to relax and take in one of your favorite views. You settle in to rest with your hiking partner, your dog.
Can you imagine the dog you have with you?
Did you imagine yourself with a poodle?
No? Well then, I encourage you to keep reading so I can alter your imagination a bit.
Take a minute, and get yourself comfortable while I tell you what makes the standard poodle the ideal hiking partner you never even knew you needed!
I understand the importance of maintaining healthy lineages; that is why I exhaustively research the pedigrees that go into my breeding program. My specific breeding process is research-based, taking into account the science behind maintaining a strong genetic pool. I enjoy reaching into the past to see which poodles have contributed to my gene pool. Sometimes I find a family of poodles that have offered a great deal to the health or temperament of my current line. And sometimes I will find a few “odd poodles out” that have not brought as many positive attributes to the overall poodle population. I weigh the good, the bad, and the mediocre when choosing pedigrees to move forward in my breeding program.
There's nothing quite like a poodle puppy. They're so full of energy and life, always ready to play and have a good time. Poodles are one of the most popular dog breeds for a reason—they really are the total package. I'm fond of saying; "a poodle will adventure in the mountains with you one day, and chill on the sofa to binge Netflix the next." However, their true love for spending time outdoors with their people is truly an extra special trait in poodles.
So you've decided to add a poodle puppy to your family! Congratulations! Whether this is your first puppy or you're a seasoned dog owner, there are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare for your newest family member. Here we'll discuss what to expect in the first few weeks after bringing your poodle puppy home, from acclimating to their new environment to their first vet visit. We'll also touch on the importance of socialization and early exposure to grooming.
Every poodle puppy litter raised here at Galavanting Poodles gets to go on several field trips as they learn about the world. But there is one field trip that takes the cake for these puppies! It’s the one that includes a visit to an airstrip, an airplane hangar, and many of the good and wonderful things that come along with living a pilot’s life.
As I write this blog entry, my sweet puppy, Sojourner, is almost five months old. Life with him has been so special! In some ways, it feels like Sojourner has been a part of my Galavanting poodle crew from the beginning. He’s such a good, biddable puppy and he fits right in.
But then, isn’t that the goal of a breeding program; to create dogs that compliment a home?
I have to be honest: I did not expect 2021 to be quite as successful a show season as it ended up being for my “baby” Grace. The fact of the matter is, American Kennel Club dog show season in Alaska is painfully short. It is incredibly difficult for a poodle in Alaska to finish her AKC Championship in a single show season. With only 16 All-Breed dog shows and 1 Non-Sporting Dog Club show between May and the end of July, my goal for the Alaska show season is usually to collect the major wins necessary for a Championship title and then take our time traveling around for single points in and outside of Alaska.
