Poodle Love

by Sandie

Luc is in the middle, Remy is on the right.
Luc still tilts his head like that when I talk to him.

We owls have written many a word about our beloved pets. I love hearing about your fur babies! So, on this Sunday, March 22nd, the fourth birthday of my beloved poodles, I thought I’d tell you a few things about mine.

I grew up with toy poodles but once when I was a child, I met my first standard poodle. I swore that one day I’d have one! But, the time never seemed quite right for a big dog. When we lived in Korea we were given a little maltese (we think he’s mixed with terrier, too). He’s been a great little dog, although rather yappy, nervous and okay, mean. LOL! Poor little Ippuni (means cute in Korean) is 14 now and losing his sight and hearing. He’s mean as spit. But, we love him anyway.

When we moved to Georgia, I thought it was time for that standard poodle I’d always wanted. My hubby wanted to wait until Ippuni passed. My kids thought that giant poodles had to be the most embarrassing dog you could ever have. (Now they adore them and say they will have them one day, also.) One day when I was getting Ippuni groomed, I noticed a flyer on the wall for standard poodle puppies. You know I snatched that phone number clear off the wall! I called the woman that day, told my husband I was “just going to see them,” but he knew it was all over. The kids and I drove over the next day and she had four puppies left out of seven. They were all boys. The kids were immediately drawn to the runt, who had been rushed to the vet when he was born because his mom accidently bit his stomach open when she was biting off the umbilical cord. Miraculously, he lived and was just fine. He was apricot but as a puppy was more of a red color—he was gorgeous!

But, my eyes locked with the cream colored puppy, and I was absolutely taken. Something in those soulful eyes just drew me in. My kids didn’t agree. So, being the Mom that I am, I gave in to the kids. We left that day with the red/apricot puppy and named him Remy Sebastian, a nice French name. As we drove away, I looked one more time into the eyes of the cream colored puppy and my heart broke.

Remy

Let me stop a minute to give you a little poodle background. Poodles are credited to the French but actually originated in Germany, where they got their name from the German word for puddle, since they are dogs bred to retrieve water fowl. Standard poodles were the first poodles, and later bred down to miniature and toy breeds. Their “poodle cut” was done for a reason—their tail ends were shaved for speed in the water leaving their chests covered in fur for warmth in the water and their heads (top knots) and tails were left poofy and ball-like so that they could be seen while swimming after water fowl. Poodles are the most recognized breed in the world due to their unique look. They are extremely athletic, graceful, loyal and witty—honestly! They often get a bad name because people think they are frou-frou, girly dogs. They are anything but!

Remy was a great puppy and we adored him. We were going on vacation a few weeks after we got Remy and the breeder had offered to watch him that week so that we wouldn’t have to kennel him. When we returned to pick up Remy, she had one puppy left—my soulful-eyed beauty. He came right to me and put his head on my lap. I picked up my phone, called my husband and literally begged to bring him home. After a few “are you crazy’s and “no way’s” he gave in. We left with Remy and Luc Marcel (another great French name!).

Luc

Luc and I have a connection that I can’t really explain. I swear he knows what I’m thinking. He has to be near me all the time and if we’re sitting or napping together he has to have at least one paw on me at all times. I call him my gentle giant. I know we were meant to be together.

Although they are a lot of work (they have to be brushed and groomed regularly), they are the best dogs I’ve ever had. They adore us as we do them. They also are very attached to each other (my vet calls them the “Brokeback Brothers” as they huddle together and lick each other when they go to the vet—I think they’re reassuring each other that everything will be okay.) Even little Ippuni has gotten his second wind around them. Today is their fourth birthday and I pray we have many more years together!

Happy Birthday, Luc and Remy!!

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