Nothing Can Replace The Real Thing: Why Wool and Decompression Walks Should Never Be Substituted
As a poodle owner, it's essential for me to provide not only physical exercise but also mental stimulation for my dogs. I’ve found that the best, most consistent, and most productive way to provide this stimulation on a regular basis is through the decompression walk.
Galavanting Poodles as Adventure Dogs: The Versatile Companions You Never Knew You Needed
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!
Poodle Puppies and the Great Outdoors: Playing in the snow!
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.
Galavanting Poodles: Alaska's true adventure poodles, right from the start!
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.
Galavanting Puppy Update: The poodle puppies play outside and meet new friends!
Today we had a huge break in the rain! The sun was out all afternoon and the puppies had some serious playtime outside! We let both Sojo and Grace out to play with the puppies. Both parents loved their playtime! And the puppies enjoyed the organized chaos.
When Puppies Get a Mind of Their Own: Learning the value of recall
Teaching a solid recall begins when puppies are still at home with their breeder.
Cold Days and Cracked Paws; the conundrum for dogs during winter
Winter is a joyful season for my poodles. The snow adds a new dynamic to their world of outdoor play. Every time it snows, my dogs wake up to a blanket covering familiar scents and sights. To them, each new snowfall is a new land to explore. And they take full advantage.
The Value of Puppy Socialization
Puppy socialization is getting your puppy out and about to be social with other creatures. Domestic dogs interact with all sorts of living things; other dogs, humans, cats, pet fish, urban wildlife (rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels) not to mention the wildlife who stick around when our human habitats intersect with their own (moose, deer, wild cats, bears and birds of prey). In short, our puppies don’t really have much of a choice; they must be acclimated to these other forms of life. And the best way to accomplish this is through simple socialization.
Blueberries, Poodles and Mountain Tops
August in Alaska means berry season! A big trek to the mountain peaks in the backyard of Galavanting Poodles leads to blueberries, bears and the honoring of family traditions.
The Dog Days of Summer: 5 Highlights from our Poodle Summer
First, the heat! Alaska has experienced record breaking heat all summer long. And if the records were only barely broken. If the heat index had registered only a smidgen above what is normal for Alaska summers… maybe I wouldn’t be so worried. But the records that were broken were not gently tapped with the butt of a butter knife until cracks could be seen. Nope. Instead, these records were smashed. Demolished with a massive hammer that left nothing intact. What old heat index records? There are no old records here!
Poodles Climb Mountains; A Day in the Life of the Galavanting Pack.
Take a look at a day-in-the-life of hiking poodles and their catahoula sister. Life is good for this dog pack in the mountains of Alaska!
Poodle Versatility: More than just a pretty face!
Poodles are probably best known for their fancy haircuts and circus antics. But long before Poodles were performing tricks for human entertainment, they were the staple breed for the various water retrieving dog breeds we know today. It is the long history of selectively breeding the Poodle type… from water retriever to trusted human companion… that gives us a dog breed so diverse in natural talents.
What it's like to fly with poodles.
Curious how dogs get from Alaska to… well… anywhere else in the world? Click on this blog entry to learn all about air travel with dogs!
Dog Shows, Puppies, Friends and More... Kluane Goes to the Dog Shows!
It’s winter in Alaska, the long nights and cold climate makes for the perfect time to LEAVE Alaska and head to Washington and Oregon for some AKC dog shows. Read all about Kluane’s first big trip to dog shows outside of Alaska!
Snow Dogs! Poodles Enjoying Alaska Winter.
Do Poodles and winter mix? Absolutely!
Take a look at how the Galavanting dogs enjoy the snow and cold that comes with living and adventuring in Alaska!
Two Poodles and a Catahoula Go Dock Diving!
Jupiter, Catahoula, Bryce and Wallace, Standard Poodles, spend the day learning how to jump off a dock and into the lake! Read about their adventure and find out who made it into the lake, and who decided to just watch from a safe distance!
The Dog Days of ALASKA Summer!
The Dog Days of Summer take on a whole new meaning in Alaska. Where the days are long and the nights are virtually non-existent. Take a look at how the Poodles of Galavanting Poodles spend their long summer days in Alaska!
Hiking with Poodle Puppies
Hiking with any dog is fun. But hiking with Poodles brings just a little bit more adventure to the table! In this blog post, I explain exactly how I prep my Poodles for backcountry hiking as puppies! Check out the cuteness of puppy packing!