Product Description

For the first time, the Standard Poodlethe largest of the three poodle varietieshas a book to itself, concentrating on its history and development, and describing the Standard Poodles charming character and working ability. The Poodles ancient origins are traced, focusing on its role as a waterretriever, and its appeal as one of the most successful of show dogs. There is also valuable advice on puppy training, exercise, coat care and nutrition as well as tips for the first time poodle owner. This wonderful book is illustrated with top-quality color and black and white photographs.Eileen Geeson has been actively involved with Standard Poodles for over thirty years, and has enjoyed considerable success with her Janavons prefix. Ms. Geeson is an international Championship Show judge and is vice chair of the Standard Poodle Club.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #294982 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

From the Inside Flap
The Complete Standard Poodle At long last the Standard Poodle — the largest of the three Poodle varieties — has a book to itself, concentrating on its history and development, and highlighting the Standard's unique character and working ability. The Poodle's ancient origins are traced, from its role as a water-retriever, to its appeal as one of the most glamorous of show dogs. In a special section, there is unique coverage of the versatile Standard Poodle, highlighting its talents in many different spheres — Obedience and Agility, as a guide dog for the blind and a therapy dog — and, most surprisingly of all, as a racing sled dog. There is an in-depth analysis of the Breed Standard, plus detailed information on colours and trims, and preparing the Standard Poodle for the show ring. For the first-time owner, advice is given on choosing a puppy, training, exercise, coat care and nutrition, and for the specialist, there is comprehensive coverage of breeding and rearing a litter. Illustrated with more than 150 top-quality colour and black and photographs, this book is essential reading for all Poodle enthusiasts.

About the Author
Eileen Geeson has been actively involved with Standard Poodles for over thirty years, and has enjoyed considerable success with her Janavons prefix. Her first Champion, Ch. Janavons Daughter of Blest, was a Utility Group winner, and Ch. Janavons Midnight Blue made his name as the first blue Champion for many years. His breeding is behind many of the top-winning blues in the ring today. The Janavons line has also been successful overseas with Int. Finish and Swedish Ch. Janavons Yankee Doodle Dandy and Int. Finish and Swedish Ch. Janavons Ballerina. Ch. Janavons Pollyanna, with her outstanding personality, was a particular favourite in the show ring. She won Best in Show at the much-acclaimed Standard Poodle Club Championship Show in 1984. Eileen is a Championship Show judge and when she judged at the British Utility Breeds Association in 1986 she attracted a world record entry of Standard Poodles. Eileen judges many breeds in the Utility Group and also judges at Group level. She joined the committee of the Standard Poodle Club in 1977 and is now Vice Chair.

Customer Reviews

Eileen Geeson is as smart as a poodle!
I've owned standard poodles for 50 years and have been reading about them for about that long. This book is among the intelligent and enjoyable I've seen. The sections on obedience are excellent, whether you are doing companion training, show obedience, agility, or working on water retrieving.

If you take off the cover, maybe you can trick your friends who own other breeds into reading the training sections. The advice is so intelligent, it would make training more fun for non-poodles and their owners.

Excellent and Thorough
I didn't particularly like the cover photo, but I did a lot of research on buying a standard poodle (do not go the "puppy mill route!!"--so sad) and one of the things I researched were the many books out there that are available to the reader concerning this breed. This seemed like one of the best. When I received it, I was really glad I chose it.

The author is English, I believe, so keep that in mind...some of her phrasing is slightly different. Also, some of her advice goes against other books I have read, in certain small aspects. For example, her dogs sleep on her bed. Most dog books recommend getting your puppy used to a crate in a very specific manner, and it is probably safer to have them sleep there from the start. What if you need to leave? Wher will you put a new puppy comfortably for an hour or two if it doesn't have a safe little den already?

Also, her dogs eat table food. This is incredibly complicated to do properly. She has bred Standards for YEARS. You can't just give a dog scraps. She has an elaborate menu but--trust me on this--I don't feed my own FAMILY this rigidly. Good, high quality dog food is available to all of us. Skip the table food.

Other than that, this is the coolest book! It had great facts, tips on trains, grooming and showing, lists of breeders, etc. I read it cover to cover! When I was done, I realized my new family pet was probaby better than all of us, with an older lineage, handsomer in musculature, and maybe even more intelligent. All at only ten weeks old. So what. I am proud to owned by a poodle!

A great book dedicated solely to the Standard Poodle
I thought this book is informative and valuble. The information about the history of the dog is fascinating and includes a lot of facts not to be found in other books. There were informative chapters on puppy care, poodle behavior, colors and trims (including some very useful grooming and clipping instructions), showing, breeding, health care and more! I thought the confirmation diagrams would be very helpful to someone who planned to show.

Part of what I enjoyed about this book was simply how much Eileen Geeson loves her poodles. I trust the advice of an author who has been happily breeding poodles for over thirty years. I also loved all the great color pictures of dozens of different poodles (especially the sled dogs!)

The only information I wish this book contained was more on carefully choosing a puppy. Geeson certainly covers this, but a "list of questions to ask the breeder" would have been really helpful. Overall, though, I thought this was a very complete, informative book and would highly recommend!