Sometimes, though, I seem to get the same questions repeatedly. So to help answer some of your questions, and save my typing finger, (yes, I am one of those uncoordinated people who unfortunately never learned to type!!) here are some answers to frequently asked questions! |


2. Do males or females make better pets? Everybody has a different opinion on this question! Both male and female poodles make great pets and it is usually just individual preference as to which one to make part of the family. I personally feel that males are much more loving and get more attached to you than the females do. The main factor in people choosing a female over a male is that they worry about a male dog lifting their leg on things as they get older. I do not deny that if a male is left unaltered and around other dogs that they do tend to want to mark their territory. This is a natural instinct and is not the dog's fault! If a male is neutered early enough, this generally does not happen. In fact if they are neutered at a very young age, most never even learn to lift their leg and squat like a female to pee. Most people who have a problem with males lifting their leg after they have been neutered, have usually waited until they are adults or are already marking their territory before altering them. |

3. I am looking for a poodle locally. Can you recommend a breeder close to me? First, it would be impossible for me to know breeders in every state and town in the United States. And second, I now make it a policy to never recommend any other breeders to anyone. I can't control the quality, health or temperament of dogs that other people breed. So if someone has a bad experience with a breeder that I refer them to, they blame me!! So please don't ask for breeder refferals!! |

4. I'm thinking of buying a poodle. Could you tell me everything that you know about poodles? This is probably the hardest e-mail to answer. How do you put 20 years of experience into an e-mail? (especially when you type with one finger!!) It would take forever! The best advice that I can give, is to go to a bookstore or the public library and get a good book on poodles and read it. There are also some great informative websites just dedicated to information on poodles. All you have to do is type in "poodle" on any search engine. |
5. I just purchased a tiny poodle from someone and can you tell me how to take care of it? This type of letter always upsets me! Not because I don't want to answer questions as I'm always glad to help, but shame on any breeder that would sell a puppy to someone and not tell them how to take care of it! Here is a link (just click on it) to part of my puppy care info page that I give to new owners of my puppies: |

6. I have a tiny toy poodle that just received its shots from the vet and it had a very bad reaction will this happen again? This is a very important question, as tiny toy and teacups should not always have the same shot regimen as large breed dogs. Most vets are used to treating regular and large size pups. These dogs are large enough to handle multiple vaccines at one time. Very tiny teacups and toys should not be given several vaccinations at once, as this increases their chance of having a reaction or going into shock. Here is a link to (just click on it) more info on this and shots that I personally recommend: |
I will be adding more answers later! |
























7. How do I introduce a new puppy to an older dog or other pet? The most important thing when introducing a new puppy to an older dog or other pet is to never force the two together! Always give them time to get used to each other gradually and at their own pace. Sometimes you get lucky and the older pet accepts the new one right away and they become fast friends. But more often than not the older dog takes awhile to warm up to your new addition! Usually, the older the dog, (and more spoiled) the longer it takes. A lot of times the older dog will vary from either acting indifferent to; or even actually growling and snapping at the new pup. If your older dog is growling or snapping at your new pup, he is probably just establishing that he is the boss or Alpha dog. Dogs do have a pecking order and this is normal behavior. It is best not to intervene or scold your older dog for this behavior, unless the older dog has hurt or is large enough to really hurt the new puppy, then they must be well supervised at all times. Remember that this is your older dogs territory and he/she has been your only baby, so be sure and give him lots of extra attention to assure him that he is not being replaced. Little puppies are so cute and fun to play with that it is easy to forget this! Give them time, and eventually your older dog will warm up to the new one, but be patient as it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. |

8. Are Poodles good with children? Poodles make excellant pets for children, if they are raised with them. Some of my fondest memories as a child are of my little black poodle, who was my constant companion and believe it or not liked to be dressed up in doll clothes and be wheeled around in my dollbuggy! But there are two important things to remember: One, is to always buy a from a reputable breeder that has dogs with good temperaments. And two, is to get the right size poodle for your families needs. Regular size toys or even small miniatures are usually much more suiteable for homes with small children. Tiny toys and teacups are very small and more fragile and can easily be dropped or stepped on by young children. And remember, all young children should be well supervised when playing with young puppies no matter what size they are, to ensure the pups safety! |

1998-2005 Sharmin's Toy poodles. All pictures and printed data in this website are the exclusive right of Sharmin's Toy Poodles and may not be altered, copied, distributed or otherwise used without our written consent. |


9. We have an adorable female poodle at home that we love very much and would like to breed her. Can you give us some information? The best advice I can give to you, is only breed your pet if you are willing to take the risk of possibly losing her! When you breed any animal there is always the possibility that there may be complications and they may die. Most people only think of the positive aspects of breeding. They can't wait to see the adorable puppies being born and imagine all the fun of playing with the new additions and smelling their sweet puppy breathe. But in reality, sometimes there are complications and the puppies and even the mother can die. And the saddest thing, (that I have heard more than once) is that most times the thought of anything actually going wrong never enters the persons mind until it happens! And then unfortunately it is too late! I'm not saying that it will happen, but there is a possibility that it might happen. So my advice to you, is if you have a very dear pet that you could not bear to lose, then do not take the chance. |




I'd like to thank all of you that write to me about my precious poodles. I really enjoy meeting everyone ! |
1. I hear that poodles are good for people with allergies. Is this true? Yes, poodles can be great dogs for people with allergies. But, while it is true that poodles do not shed, and do not give off the same type of dander as other dogs, that does not mean that they are totally hypoallergenic. Some people that cannot tolerate any other breed of dog are able to be around poodles with no allergic reaction, but there are others that still show symptoms no matter what breed of dog that they are around. So, it is best to be sure before you go to all the expense and heartache of buying a puppy and taking it home, only to find out that you are allergic to it! If you have allergies, try to find a friend or neighbor that has a poodle and spend some time around it and see what your reaction is, before purchasing one. |

10. I have heard about litter box training a toy poodle. Is this possible? Toy poodles are very smart and easy to train and seem to acclimate easily to litter box training. This can prove to be a perfect solution for dogs raised in a condo, apartment, or just without an access to a yard or doggie door while away. It also allows pets to be kept inside during weather extremes like snow or excessive heat. Also this is great for tiny teacups! For more info on this, see link below. |

11. My dog pees when he first sees me; gets yelled at; or is excited. How do I stop this, because punishing doesn't help? There is a big difference between regular urination or soiling in the house and loss of bladder control when a dog gets excited (sometimes called nervous peeing). Some dogs, when excited or nervous, have poor bladder control that they cannot help. This would be the same as some humans that tend to lose bladder control when they sneeze; cough or laugh hard! (ever heard the expression, I laughed so hard I peed my pants?) Loss of bladder control in dogs can be hereditary and sometimes tends to run in some lines. The most important thing to remember, is that a dog with this problem cannot help themselves! So scolding or punishing them will do no good whatsoever! In fact, it will only confuse your poor dog. (It would be like spanking a child for sneezing) For more info on this topic, see link below. |
Here are some great training LINKS: |



















11. I bought a poodle from someone and it's coat is not curly. Or my teacup/tiny toy's ears are standing up. Does this mean that my dog is not purebred? Most poodles have what is known as a puppy coat until they are a year old, and some dogs are late bloomers and may take up to two years to get their adult coat. The puppy coat is usually finer with more waves than actual curls. It is usually especially thin on their top of their head which makes for a very funny looking topnot at 4 or 5 months old! Many things can effect coat texture. Some lines genetically have gorgeous coats, while others don't. Also many times, very tiny toys/teacups can have thinner, finer coats than some of the larger poodles. Some tinies have such thin coats and ear leather that their ears stand up as young puppies! Luckily as the hair grows and thickens, it weights down the ear leather and their ears usually go down as they mature. Once a poodle gets their adult coat it usually comes in thick and curly and they become the beautiful dogs they are supposed to be. |


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