# Do men live with poodles? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366 "2011-08-11T18:39:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/61 "2011-08-12T19:28:57Z")
I love dogs and would likely love a poodle. But as a male I have a no Fru-Fru rule for canines. But it’s better than a Yorkie. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/62 "2011-08-12T19:49:35Z")
I have a minature phantom poodle Bosworth, i have no issues with owning a poodle, Than again im very secure in my hetrosexuality. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/63 "2011-08-12T19:55:51Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > \ > > You can also tell him that being a man doesn’t depend on outer accessories. Well, there are a couple that you need. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/64 "2011-08-12T20:20:58Z")
> [@akira5822](#): > > I have a minature phantom poodle Bosworth, i have no issues with owning a poodle, Than again im very secure in my hetrosexuality. Did you watch **ctnguy’s** link in Post #26 (I think)? Cool! ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/65 "2011-08-12T22:36:41Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > I know a guy who’s a second-generation Standard poodle owner, a hobby he picked up from his father. The breed has [specific health problems](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poodle#Health), however, and he’s already lost one poodle to GDV, a fast-acting and horrible way for any animal to die. It’s worth noting that nowadays in breeds prone to GDV/bloat, you do have the option of having a gastropexy performed (basically suturing the stomach to the side of their abdomen so it doesn’t twist on itself and kill the animal). [Canine gastropexy - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_gastropexy) If I were to get a dog that was from a breed prone to bloat, I’d do it. Even if it’s expensive upfront, it’s worth it to avoid the chance of an emergency surgery later that the dog might not survive. I’ve heard that it is fairly common now to have this done when a dog from a bloat prone breed is spayed (since you’re going in the abdomen anyway for that) but I am sure if you asked you could have it done on a male animal who was under for neutering. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/66 "2011-08-12T22:53:16Z")
Ditto everyone else who’s pointed out that there’s nothing sissy about a standard poodle! Gastroplexy isn’t a 100 percent guarantee, GDV-prone breeds can still bloat and torse (is that a word) despite being stapled. It’s a good idea but no guarantee; I know someone who lost a stapled bloodhound. Better - if buying from a serious breeder, make sure they don’t breed dogs with a history of GDV and other common breed ailments in their bloodlines. There may be a genetic predisposition to it. (I’ve owned a somewhat bloat-prone breed for 27 years, so I’ve done a bit of research on this.) If you’re going the rescue route, that’s not an option but you can read up on GDV online, lots of info about it. Keep activated charcoal on hand, and if you’re the prepare-for-all-emergencies type, a [bloat kit](http://www.twinoaksbh.com/gdvbloat.html). Mainly I posted to say that I knew a fairly manly-man who owned an [Italian Greyhound.](http://www.akc.org/breeds/italian_greyhound/) Which is a very small, very delicate-looking sighthound. He had a tee shirt that read “It Takes a Big Man to Walk a Little Dog.” Squee! New poodle. You da man. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/67 "2011-08-13T17:24:33Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > What would John Wayne say about a man and a poodle. That’s the question you have to ask yourself. You mean what would on-screen John Wayne say. Real life John Wayne was hardly a taciturn, uneducated shit-kicker in cowboy drag 24/7. I bet he would have loved a nice big standard poodle. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/68 "2011-08-13T18:00:34Z")
What’s in a name? With poodles, it’s mostly the cutesy name that makes them seem feminine, then the frou-frou haircuts. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/69 "2011-08-13T18:52:38Z")
My own personal experience: about 13 years ago, I bought my very first house. After renovations were complete, I decided that a dog would truly complete my new home. I’m allergic to dogs on paper, so I stuck to non-shedding breeds. There was a local Standard Poodle rescue group, so I tried contacting them. Two or three emails, a few phone calls … they didn’t give me the time of day. I dig a bit deeper into their Web site, and checked out the photos of recently rescued dogs and their new owners. \* All\* of the new owners were women. I bought a Portuguese Water Dog puppy from a well-respected breeder instead. Do a Google image search for “men with poodles”. The results aren’t flattering. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/70 "2011-08-13T20:43:38Z")
Oh, I forgot to mention this but **Attackdog’s** nickname is _ **Chick-magnet** _. When we lived in Vancouver I couldn’t get half a block on walkies without attractive young women stopping us. This has always struck me as a manly man kind of problem. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/71 "2011-08-13T21:08:16Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Standard poodles were originally bred as [retrievers](http://www.lakelandhuntingpoodles.com/). My great uncle bred and trained standard poodles as hunting dogs. They did not have fou=fou cuts. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/72 "2011-08-13T21:38:06Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Do a Google image search for “men with poodles”. The results aren’t flattering. We’ve sorta done that right here! Anyway, I’m going to adopt a poodle in spite of any gender bias. I’ll just teach her a secret “rip out the throat” phrase in french. To clarify, when I was a kid, there was supposed to be a secret german phrase which told a german shepherd (police dog) to rip out your enemy’s throat. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/73 "2011-08-13T21:57:40Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > We’ve sorta done that right here! > Anyway, I’m going to adopt a poodle in spite of any gender bias. I’ll just teach her a secret “rip out the throat” phrase in french. > To clarify, when I was a kid, there was supposed to be a secret german phrase which told a german shepherd (police dog) to rip out your enemy’s throat. 😉 Hooray for your poodle adoption! I look forward to hearing tales from puppy-training classes soon! ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/74 "2011-08-13T22:34:39Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > I bought a Portuguese Water Dog puppy from a well-respected breeder instead. I think that is a neat breed, but jeez louise are they expensive. Also, they are quite capable of being [pansied up](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:C%C3%A3o_de_agua_Portugu%C3%AAs_1.jpg) :D. But I’ll grant that _Portuguese Water Dog_ does somehow sound better than _Poodle_. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/75 "2011-08-13T22:48:37Z")
Here is the dog my good friend Matt suggests I adopt; > **[Bouvier des Flandres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouvier_des_Flandres)** > > The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog breed originating in Flanders, Belgium. They were originally used for general farm work including cattle droving, sheep herding, and cart pulling, and nowadays as guard dogs and police dogs, as well as being kept as pets. The French name of the breed means, literally, "Cow Herder of Flanders", referring to the Flemish origin of the breed. Other names for the breed are Toucheur de Boeuf (cattle driver), Vlaamse Koehond (Flemish cow dog), and Vuilbaard (dir... Pretty cool, but I want a poodle. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/76 "2011-08-13T22:53:09Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Here is the dog my good friend Matt suggests I adopt; > [Bouvier des Flandres - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouvier_des_Flandres) > Pretty cool, but I want a poodle. Stick w/ the poodle. Bouviers are higher maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/77 "2011-08-13T23:08:10Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I think that is a neat breed, but jeez louise are they expensive. Also, they are quite capable of being [pansied up](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:C%C3%A3o_de_agua_Portugu%C3%AAs_1.jpg) :D. > > But I’ll grant that _Portuguese Water Dog_ does somehow sound better than _Poodle_. When someone asks if he’s a golden doodle or some other -oodle, I usually explain that since he has a poodle mother and a poodle father technically he’s a poodle-doodle. Otherwise I tell them he’s a Canadian Cougar-Hound. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/78 "2011-08-13T23:26:59Z")
I’ve been checking around for a reputable standard poodle breeder. I’ve always adopted dogs from shelters or privately, sometimes old or disabled dogs who needed a companion until their life was over. That requires a strength I no longer have. So I’m looking to adopt a standard poodle puppy who has a good chance of growing old with me while can still get around. How does one go about finding a good breeder? One the AKC-type organizations? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/79 "2011-08-13T23:33:14Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I think that is a neat breed, but jeez louise are they expensive. Also, they are quite capable of being [pansied up](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:C%C3%A3o_de_agua_Portugu%C3%AAs_1.jpg) :D. > > But I’ll grant that _Portuguese Water Dog_ does somehow sound better than _Poodle_. That’s the lion cut, which was actually the _original_ working Poodle cut before the bobs and poofballs became the iconic Poodle coif. It’s really only the hardcore PWD aficionados that get lion cuts for their dogs. Most Portie owners prefer retriever trim, the rough equivalent of the “puppy cut” for Standard Poodle owners. [Here’s my PWDs in retriever cuts](http://i.imgur.com/20n7n.jpg). Maybe Poodles could earn some more street cred if they were called “German Water Dogs” instead. The “French Water Dog” is the Barbet; the “Italian Water Dog” is the Lagotto Romagnolo, the “Irish Water Dog” is the Irish Water Spaniel, and the “Spanish Water Dog” is … the Spanish Water Dog. The English Water Dog is extinct. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366/80 "2011-08-13T23:39:04Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > How does one go about finding a good breeder? One the AKC-type organizations? Check the [Poodle Club of America](http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/). They’ll probably have links to legitimate breeders. Since Poodles are very popular, they’re also going to be a lot of backyard breeders; avoid them if you can. A properly bred Standard Poodle puppy, with a champion-filled lineage and all the proper genetic testing performed, probably won’t be cheap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-live-with-poodles/592366.md?page=5)