Tall Tales

Here we will try to explain some of the tales you may have heard about Poodles and Shih Tzus.

Sizes: Poodles come in three sizes: standard, miniature and toy. Some people advertise 'tea cup', but nowhere can you find information on this size. There are Poodles available in the 'tea cup' size, but only as a result of breeding secondary dogs - usually 'runts' - to achieve this result. Although many people find this size appealing, be careful. Some people have complained that they ended up with a sickly dog. This may change in the future as genetics improve.

Allergies: Poodles are great for people with allergies. They are supposedly hypo-allergenic because they have hair, not fur. Although this may be true, do not be alarmed if you still have allergies. Unless you are able to control the dog's surroundings such as grass, dirt, trees, and other friends who own pets and may carry dust, dander, etc., into your house or yard, this may not be so.

Hair Shedding: Poodles do not shed hair like other dogs, but occasionally you will find tufts or hair around the house. This usually indicates a need for a hair cut, or maybe a need for nail trimming.

Shih Tzus loose hair to some extent. They are high maintenance dogs requiring grooming (combing/brushing) almost on a daily basis unless you keep their hair fairly short.

Tails: Contrary to what some believe, Poodles are born with tails. They are usually docked within 3-5 days after birth.

Male Marking: Many people prefer female dogs as they believe male dogs always mark their territory (house). Most male dogs won't mark inside the home but will outside. This generally can be handled during training. If your male puppy tries, scold him and this habit can be broken like other bad habits. However, you will heighten the chances of your male marking if you bring another male dog into your home.

Bessie's Babies
R.R. 1, McArthurs Mills, Ontario, Canada K0L 2M0
Tel: (613) 332-8270