When a dog has been struggling, a small improvement can feel enormous. It finishes a meal, walks a little farther, sleeps more comfortably, or looks at you with an expression you have missed, and suddenly you can breathe again. I understand that relief. But I also think we need to be careful about what we…

There is a point in the dog world where wanting something badly can interfere with our ability to look honestly at the dog expected to provide it. A title, a breeding, a performance goal, a trip already paid for, a handler already booked, or simply years spent imagining what this particular Poodle might accomplish can…

Poodles are capable dogs. They are observant, quick to learn, interested in what is happening around them, and often far more willing to participate than people expect from a dog they first noticed because of its haircut. I love that about them. But owning an intelligent, athletic breed comes with a responsibility to provide a…

One of the things that concerns me most about intelligent, willing dogs is how much we can ask of them before we realize what it is costing them. A Poodle can be bright, responsive, eager to come with us, and very determined to participate in life, and we can become so accustomed to that willingness…

I think one of the most important things we can admit in the animal world is that wanting something to work can affect how we judge whether it does. That applies to a veterinarian using a treatment, a breeder planning a litter, a nutritionist recommending a feeding approach, and an owner who has spent money…

I have strong feelings about preserving hormones, and I do not hide that. As a breeder, I want reproductive decisions to consider the dog’s whole life, and I want owners to know that preventing pregnancy and removing the gonads are distinct decisions. But if I am going to ask the veterinary profession for a thoughtful…

I spend a great deal of time looking at dogs, and one of the things I keep coming back to is how easily we confuse a dog looking impressive with a dog functioning well. We notice the coat, the expression, the movement that catches our eye, the pedigree, the titles, and the photograph that makes…