Thank you for the replies Claire and Connie.

For those of you that have experience with Standard poodles, do you think that they still have some territorial instincts left? Do they tend to be more aloof with strangers or trusting? I know that I have met quite a few miniatures and toys that should be named "cujo", but I've only seen one standard in person (show trained dog) so I don't have much experience with their temperments. As long as a standard would be aloof with strangers (i.e. not go with one willingly) and do a good job of at least being a "watch" dog (if not a guard) then they may be a very good match for me. I have always wanted an excuse to buy some clippers

Connie- I will most likely either be feeding a high quality dry combined w/ raw or possibly all raw (if I can come up with a good ratio/recipe). If body odor depends so greatly on nutrition, maybe this will help me in that area.

Thanks again for your help!
Bethany

Bethany,
If you really want a protector, you may want to look at the "bad guys" view point. A Rotty and Doby have a public image of being mean/aggressive, and not a dog to be messed with. But poodles are thought of a weak, and fro-fro dogs. I'm guessing you don't want to do any PP training, so deterring a break-in or attack by intimidation (on the dogs part : ) ) before it even occurs would be a good thing.

A Standard Poodle may not have the intimidation factor of a GSD or Rottweiler, but they alert bark with the best of them IMO.

They are a wonderful, athletic and intelligent breed of dog that are written off way too easily because of the show ring image -- again IMHO.

When I was in high school and then going off to college my mother who lived alone got a Giant Schnauzer. Again a wonderful, smart breed that was a great companion to my mother. Another intelligent and athletic breed of dog I think.

p.s. Another dog breed I have admired is the Bouvier des Flandres. I don't have any personal experience with them though.

Katie

 Quote: Bethany Anderson

... If body odor depends so greatly on nutrition, maybe this will help me in that area. ...

Yes, canine body odor is very closely connected to diet.

 Quote: Bethany Anderson

I will most likely either be feeding a high quality dry combined w/ raw or possibly all raw (if I can come up with a good ratio/recipe).

http://leerburg.com/feedingarawdiet.htm

 Quote: Bethany Anderson

Carol- Although I hate to admit it, I just have never liked labs much... Not sure if it is solely their looks or their temperment or a combo of both.... My family's dog is 1/4 lab and (of course) looks just like a big black lab (well, a lab with a bigger bullier head and chest). Their genes must be somewhat dominant, as any lab mix I've ever seen looks very close to a pure bred lab.

Totally understandable....I have a black lab here but my preferred choice of a retriever would be Chocolate....or a Chesapeake Bay....

Had some hunters here last year for pheasant season working a standard poodle....that dog rocked!!!!
So, not only is the poodle a minimal shedder and smart...they can hunt too....

 Quote: bethany anderson

I actually fund an RR breeder's website that is in my same state (and I like what she says about her temperment philosophy), so that is definately in the RR's favor. She is a "show" breeder, but I am not sure whether there are any purely working line RRs (lure coursing dogs I suppose).

As far as I know, there are no purely "working" line RR breeders, anywhere. There are many breeders who actively lure course their dogs, some who do agility and obedience, and a very few who use them to hunt, though I don't believe there is any dramatic separation in the bloodlines between breeders who work with their dogs and breeders who primarily just show their dogs. This is likely a very good thing - as soon as a real "working/show" rift takes hold, the breed is at risk for deviating from the standard - on BOTH sides of the coin, which history has shown can be devastating. At present, my guess would be that prey drive might be lessened in pedigrees that didn't include a lot of coursing or otherwise "working" RRs, but that would be tough to verify.

That said, some people place more emphasis on temperment than others, and - with ANY breed you choose - I'd grill the breeder on their stud and dam's temperment, the temperment of any previous litters, and go meet the dogs, if you can. RRs temperments can suffer just like any others if the only selective pressures placed on them by breeders are for aesthetic, "show" qualities. If you ask me, I think it's a shame the breed is mainly driven by show breeders - not that they're ruining it, necessarily, but the RR was originally developed as a 100% utilitarian rural working dog, thus has the potential for a whole lot more than just beauty pageants. I get excited whenever I see breeders listing obedience, coursing and tracking titles on their dogs - they're more than capable, and they truly do love to get out and WORK.

Hope that didn't stray too far afield...

Cheers,
~Natalya

Thanks,
Michele- Yeah, I don't think a standard poodle screams "guard dog" lol, even in a very short trim (I've have to clip the dog short all over as I don't really care for the "poofy" look of the longer hair). Maybe a black poodle would fall under the standard "big black dog" catagory and still be intemidating? lol.

Katie- I was also looking at standard schnauzers, but I've been on several breed rescue sites and none of the reccomend keeping them with cats, apparently they can get along fine for years but several people have come home to find their felines massacered, it makes sense, I guess, since they are supposed to have the temperment of a terrier.

I have seen Bouviers on TV and think they look interesting, not sure how they'd take the heat though (the facial hair would definately have to go).

Carol- The chessies are definately one of my favorite retrievers. I saw an episode of "breed all about it" on them once and the show actually did a really good job of telling you why they weren't like other retrievers in temperment and how you needed to have prior dog experience before getting one.

Weren't poodles originally intended to hunt? (bird dog or something?) I think it would be great if working hunters started using and breeding them...it would be interesting to see what happened to the coat over several generations of breeding for hunting skills.

Connie- Thanks for the link. There are no holistic or pro raw vets in my area, (my vet recs hills science diet and had never heard of EVO when I brought a bag in for her to see-for my cats), so if I do go raw, I'll have to do it on my own from info online and/or in books.
Natalya- I think the breeder that I looked at does obedience, not sure about coursing. What I liked was that she has kept their original wariness of strangers and also "tries to breed a bidable dog"...I'd have to see her progeny to determine how I felt about that

Thanks everyone for your advice!

Bethany

>>As long as a standard would be aloof with strangers (i.e. not go with one willingly)...<<

Bethany, I'd like to ask what you meant by the above quote...the part about not going with someone willingly.

Do you plan to leave your dog alone in your yard or something like that? I'm not sure how else a dog would get a chance to go with someone willingly, other than being left alone outside.

leih merigian

leih- No, I am not planning on leaving him/her outside. The dog will stay in the house when I'm not at home, I had thought about putting in a doggy door (so that the dog, when adult, could go potty while I'm at work), but I haven't decided on that yet, as it risks the dog being alone for long periods of time in the yard while I'm away.

I am still looking for a house at this point and, unfortunately, most of the houses in my price range (for a first time home buyer) are not in the best area of town. Our area has had incidents of people stealing dogs out of backyards to either resell or for dog fighting purposes. Thiefs will usually target the small toy breeds, but also anything friendly and rare (expensive looking).

Ideally, I'd never leave the dog outside alone. I am planning to only allow the dog in the backyard while I'm out there with him or when he is let out to go to the bathroom. My backyard will be fenced (probably 6' privacy fence) and I am planning on keeping the gates locked. All of that said, many of the breeds we've been talking about are by no means common in my area and someone might try to steal my dog (even with the above efforts) and/or if someone were to break into my house, I wouldn't want the dog going willing along as a "bonus". If the dog were not friendly to strangers (when I am not there to approve them) that would solve most of these problems as your average would-be dog thief doesn't carry a catch pole to handle unruly dogs.

Of course, I could just be paranoid, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I will be installing an alarm system in the house, but am not sure what else could be done to the backyard (other than the points listed above).

Thanks!
Bethany

Bethany, have you considered a bullmastiff? I have a bullmastiff mix; here are the positive attributes (from my perspective):
-Medium energy, and does well in a small house.
-Breed standard is aloof to strangers; mine is not so aloof... she will stand her ground until she sees that someone is not a threat, but then she's a big wiggle-butt. I have a feeling as she matures she will outgrow this
-Short coat; minimal doggie odor(I feed EVO and raw alternating)
-Not a big barker (but when she barks she means it)
-Independent

Negatives:
-Independent!
-Probably not the best breed where kids are concerned(but do-able with constant supervision)
-Sheds to a greater or lesser degree all year; I don't find it to be a problem, but I don't wear white much either.
-Not sure about the small pet thing

Also, just a thought about doggie doors... (I am considering one myself)

If I put one in, I will also put in a small kennel that connects to the doggie door; it would enable the dog to get outsie, but limits access to the yard, and prevents anyone from easily taking the dog. (I have a fenced yard, so kennel would be within the fenced portion of the yard)