Ten (or So) Great Sets of Poodle Resources

In This Chapter
  • Researching clubs and other organizations
  • Getting the scoop on grooming and training
  •  Reading about travel, shows, and other fun activities
  • Checking out health information
In this chapter, I provide easy-to-reference Web sites, books, and other resources to help you with travel, health, grooming, training, performance events, and more. Keep in mind that I can’t include every dog resource in this chapter. I may not mention your favorite training book, and you may know of a wonderful Web site for travel that I’ve omitted. I give you these resources only as a starting point. Explore. Enjoy. And start your own notebook of Poodle resources.

Kennel and Poodle Clubs


If you’re interested in showing your Poodle or competing in performance events, you need to register with a kennel club. The following major kennel clubs (which I introduce in Chapter Socializing Your Poodle) pack their Web sites with information and resources:
- The American Kennel Club (AKC) is the registry most dog owners know about. The Web site gives you information on all AKC events, as well as event rules and regulations. The site even includes an online store. For registration information, contact one of the following:
Phone: (919) 233-9767
www.akc.org (e-mail info@akc.org with questions)
AKC
5580 Centerview Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27606
- The United Kennel Club (UKC) is the second largest all-breed dog registry in the United States after the UKC. For information on UKC events, and to find out how to register your Poodle with the UKC, contact one of the following:
Phone: (269) 343-9020
Fax: (269) 343-7037
www.ukcdogs.com
United Kennel Club
100 E. Kilgore Rd.
Kalamazoo, MI 49002
Tip
If you want specific information on Poodles, the first place to look (well, other than here) is the Poodle Club of America at www.poodleclubofamerica.org. You can find breed information, breeder referrals, affiliate clubs, and rescue and health information.

Rescue Groups


Some folks buy their Poodles from a breeder, but you may be a gracious soul who chooses to rescue a Poodle instead (see Chapter Deciding Whether a Poodle Is Right for You or more information on both options). To find some information on Poodle rescue, see the Poodle Club of America site at www.poodleclubofamerica.org, or you can e-mail Poodle Rescue at PoodleRescue@poodlerescue.org.

Grooming


Grooming is a vital part of Poodle ownership. I cover grooming in Chapter Providing Your Poodle with a Nutritious Diet, but you can check out the following resources as well:
- Dog Grooming For Dummies by Margaret H. Bonham (Wiley)
- Poodle Clipping & Grooming: The International Reference by Shirlee Kalstone (Howell)

Training


A well-behaved Poodle is a happy Poodle (which makes for a happy Poodle owner!). I cover housetraining in Chapter Keeping Your Poodle Clean and Attractive and basic training commands in Chapter Housetraining Made Easy, but try the following resources if you want more information:
- Dog Training For Dummies by Jack and Wendy Volhard (Wiley)
- Any book by Carol Benjamin; my favorites include Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog (Howell) and Surviving Your Dog’s Adolescence: A Positive Training Program (Howell)
- How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With by Clarice Rutherford and David H. Neil (Alpine Publications)
- How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend by The Monks of New Skete (Little, Brown and Company)

Travel


The following list gives you some great travel resources:
- Traveling With Your Pet
This book published by AAA lists more than 12,000 pet-friendly hotels, motels, and campgrounds. The book also includes phone numbers, directions, and prices.
- www.petsonthego.com
- www.tripswithpets.com
- www.petswelcome.com
- www.pettravel.com

Performance Events andOther Fun Activities


Many Poodle owners have great fun by allowing their dogs to participate in performance events. For sanctioned kennel club events — such as conformation, rally, and obedience events — visit www.akc.org or www.ukcdogs.com (I cover these clubs earlier in this chapter).

Therapy Dogs


You can take your well-mannered Poodle to nursing homes, although some health facilities require dogs to be registered therapy dogs (see Chapter Showing Off and Enjoying Your Poodle’s Talents for registry tips). For more information on how to train and register your dog for therapy purposes, you can contact the following organizations:
- The Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org)
- Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (www.tdi-dog.org)
- Therapy Dogs Inc. (www.therapydogs.com)

Healthcare


The resources in this section can help you find a specialist, prepare home-cooked meals, give medication, and deal with your Poodle’s health issues. For information on specific problems relating to your Poodle, you should talk to your veterinarian. (Part IV has full details on Poodle health issues.) The following list presents resources that deal with healthcare for your Poodle:
- The American Veterinary Medical Association, at www.avma.org, provides articles on various health conditions.
- The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists allows you to search for an ophthalmologist in your area (www.acvo.org/locate.htm).
- The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society’s Web site lists certified veterinary acupuncturists by state (www.ivas.org).
- The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association can give you information about your Poodle’s chiropractic issues (www.animalchiropractic.org).
- The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy has a Web site, www.theavh.org, if you’re interested in homeopathy for your Poodle.
- If your Poodle has a health problem that requires a special diet, you can find special homemade diets for dogs with heart or kidney problems, diabetes, or allergies at www.2ndchance.info/homemadediets.htm.

 Memorials


When your Poodle is gone, you can remember her in many different ways (see Chapter Easing Your Senior Poodle into the Golden Years for more information about saying goodbye to your Poodle). The following list gives you some resources you can use to honor your Poodle’s memory:
- The Senior Dogs Project (www.srdogs.com/Pages/loss.html)
- Valley Monuments, Inc. (www.valleymonuments.com)
- My Crystal Companion (www.mycrystalcompanion.com)
- SoulBursts (www.soulbursts.com)
- Gray Parrot Glass Memorials (www.grayparrotglassmemorials.com)
- Comfort Pets (www.comfortpets.com/index.asp)
by Susan M.Ewing

Related Posts:

  • Ten Ways to Help Your Poodle if Disaster Strikes In This Chapter Keeping necessary supplies at the ready Planning for accommodations and transportation Making preparations in case you can’t take your Poodle with you In the United States, a disaster often is the resul… Read More
  • Instilling Good Manners in Your Poodle In This Chapter Beginning with basic training principles Working with a collar and lead Teaching basic commands to your Poodle Conquering common behavior problems Acquiring the help of professionals Dogs are pack anima… Read More
  • Making a Match with a Poodle In This Chapter Checking out the Poodle breed Figuring out if you and a Poodle are a match Choosing a specific Poodle Living with, training, and having fun with your Poodle Ensuring your Poodle’s health Welcome to the… Read More
  • Ten (or So) Great Sets of Poodle Resources In This Chapter Researching clubs and other organizations Getting the scoop on grooming and training  Reading about travel, shows, and other fun activities Checking out health information In this chapter, I provid… Read More
  • Welcoming Your Poodle Home In This Chapter Taking your Poodle home Showing your Poodle around the house Introducing family members (of all kinds) to your Poodle Getting through the first night Anticipating and solving potential problems If you’r… Read More
  • Staying Prepared with First-Aid Basics In This Chapter Keeping important items in a canine first-aid kit Trying your hand at basic first-aid techniques Knowing what to do in emergency situations Hopefully you’ll never have to deal with a canine health emerg… Read More
  • Hitting the Road with Your Poodle In This Chapter Going on vacation with your Poodle Keeping your Poodle at home You, the proud parent, will want your Poodle with you at all times, which is great (unless you’re in the shower or at work). But, as I show… Read More
  • Providing Your Poodle with a Nutritious Diet In This Chapter Reading about nutrients on a dog food label Finding out all about Poodle meals, snacks, and treats Setting up a feeding routine Altering your Poodle’s diet as time goes by Staying away from dangerous foo… Read More
  • Showing Off and Enjoying Your Poodle’s Talents In This Chapter Becoming a Canine Good Citizen Entering the dog show business Helping folks with therapy Poodles Poodles are smart, active dogs. Any behavior you want to teach them, they can do, unlike kids, cats, and … Read More
  • Taking Basic Care of Your Poodle’s Health In This Chapter Selecting and visiting a vet Organizing a regular checkup schedule Opting for alternative medicine Getting the facts on vaccinations Considering spaying or neutering your Poodle puppy Taking care of your… Read More
  • Easing Your Senior Poodle into the Golden Years In This Chapter Feeding your senior Poodle Adjusting your senior Poodle’s exercise routine Dealing with health problems that afflict senior dogs Letting go of your senior Poodle Just like an older person, a senior Pood… Read More
  • Considering Common Poodle Conditions In This Chapter Examining everyday illnesses and injuries Handling other health issues common to Poodles No dog is perfect — health wise, that is. Unfortunately, you may have to deal with a sick Poodle once in a while.… Read More
  • Choosing the Best Poodle for You In This Chapter Choosing a Poodle based on certain characteristics Finding your Poodle Making sure you go home with a healthy Poodle Registering your new pet Deciding that you want a Poodle may have been simple,… Read More
  • Deciding Whether a Poodle Is Right for You In This Chapter Knowing whether you have what it takes to own a Poodle Thinking about the time and money you need to own a Poodle Poodles are real people pleasers who have keen intelligence and a sense of humor. But… Read More
  • Socializing Your Poodle In This Chapter Getting your Poodle used to new folks Dealing with new situations, objects, and noises Faces, places, and things that go bump in the night: You want your Poodle to be comfortable with all of these thing… Read More
  • Housetraining Made Easy In This Chapter Understanding the basics of housetraining Surveying the different housetraining methods available to you Tidying up after your Poodle You can’t live outdoors for as long as your Poodle is in the pictu… Read More
  • Preparing for Your Poodle’s Homecoming In This Chapter Shopping for your Poodle’s everyday necessities Ensuring that your home is safe for (and from) your Poodle Setting up your Poodle’s special spots Making an appointment with a vet Bringing home a Poodle… Read More
  • Keeping Your Poodle Clean and Attractive In This Chapter Outlining a grooming schedule Choosing who will groom your Poodle (or grooming yourself) Homing in on hair-care concerns Styling your Poodle in different clips Caring for your Poodle’s nails, eyes, ears,… Read More
  • Unwrapping the Whole Poodle Package   In This Chapter Taking a tour of the Poodle’s history Looking at the Poodle’s build and temperament Examining the requirements of different breed standards You can just own a Poodle, period, or you can add to y… Read More

0 comments:

Post a Comment