Thinking in the Future

I know it will be many years before we would get another dog (our Lab is only 6 yrs old and who knows how long we will have her), but we were considering future adoption of a cocker spanial after babysitting Keno's friend Trixie.

After reading about the breed I've decided that is not a dog we would really want. We do want a non-shedding dog and I really don't like poodles. But hubby had one as a kid and he really is kinda pushing "poodle".

So after looking at a few sites, I told him I would compromise and get a miniature poodle in the future............but it could only be a parti-color poodle - not the normal ones that are solid color. He had never seen one so I showed him a few pictures (from a good breeder too) and he's hooked - parti-color poodle or none at all.

So question is - has anyone seen a parti or happen to own one? I actually saw one a long long time ago (as a child) - someone in the neighborhood had one - black & white and it was pretty cool looking.

If you ever want a Bichon, I can lend you Izzy to curb that desire.

The biggest downside to non-shedding breeds, IMO, is the high grooming requirements.

In 6 years at the shelter, we've had tons of poodles come through, but I've never been lucky enough to see a "true" parti-color Poodle. We had 2 I fostered that were supposedly parti-colored, but I didn't buy it.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

The biggest downside to non-shedding breeds, IMO, is the high grooming requirements.

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Be prepared to spend around $40 a month on grooming for a Miniature Poodle. For a Miniature Poodle I charge $36 for a bath/brush/nails/pads/ear cleaning and $40-56 for a full groom depending on clip style and condition.

Also be very careful in selecting a breeder of parti-colored Poodles as parti-color is a disqualification in most registries. However, UKC does allow "Multi-Colored Poodles" in the ring.

We may learn to clip ourselves - we are not planning on showing so it would be a simple cut just to stay short.

The breeder I have bookmarked shows their parti's in UKC (lives in PA) and has many champions in UKC. Would consider contacting them to get a retired/trained poodle too rather then a puppy. Figure the retired ones have experience in clipping and would cooperate with us.

Our pastor has a Bichon and she is cute, but I don't really want one of those.

The other ones I looked up are more of byb's and I know what to look for in a breeder

IMO its a shame that the breeders in AKC banned the parti's - if you look at this breeder's dogs, they would give the solids a run for the money in the show rings. I just don't understand why they were banned in favor of solid colors only. Considering the parti's were in the breed from the start (from history/old pics).

I don't think they were ever allowed in the AKC standard rather than having been banned.

I did join (or put in to join) 2 Yahoo Groups that deal with partis, so hopefully I can get more breeder recommendations.

Well, I'm sure even excellent show breeders get partis on occasion. That's how it goes with show animals....you're always going to get mismarks that go to pet homes.