Katerina Earns her American Championship!

Katerina earned her Champion Title with a fabulous Best of Winners award at the Key to the Sea show in the Toledo, OH area yesterday. We are so thankful to the inimitable Ann Rairigh, Julia Kinsey and team for their beautiful presentation of Katie! And thank you to Judge Diane Anderson for recognizing my girl in a fabulous line up! Ann and team had nothing but compliments for Katie!

If I put the correct data into the calculator, this was Katie’s second 5 Point Major!

Meet Our New Poodle Chatbot: Your 24/7 Poodle Guide

by sixgun | August 28, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

At Standard Poodles of Forest Lakes, we’re always looking for new ways to support poodle lovers and puppy families. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our newest addition — a Poodle Chatbot, available right on our website. Think of it as your personal guide to...

Breeder Focus – Late Night Musings

by sixgun | August 13, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

I sat here pondering several recent conversations, and thoughts kept circulating in my head. This post is the product of those late evening thoughts. Hope you learn something from my rambling. 😉 What We Focus on as Breeders – and Why It Matters Breeding is far more...

Poodle Pulse: Overangulation

by sixgun | July 20, 2025 | Poodle Pulse, breeding, Health | 0 Comments

🚫 Why Too Much Rear Angulation in Poodles Is a Problem And why “more” isn’t always better You might notice that some Poodles in the show ring have long, sweeping hind legs that look dramatic or stylish when they’re stacked or moving. At first glance, it can seem...

Poodle Pulse: Collar or Harness?

by sixgun | July 20, 2025 | Health, Poodle Pulse | 0 Comments

Dangers of Collars and Harnesses Both dog collars and harnesses can cause injuries if not used properly, but wide collars and harnesses generally distribute pressure more evenly across more area and reduce the risk of injuries. Collars can lead to neck strain, trachea...

Poodle Pulse – The Real Effects of Gonadectomy on Dog Health

by sixgun | July 17, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

🧠 Canine Sex Hormones and the Consequences of Spay/Neuter and Timing Insights from Dr. Michelle Kutzler’s Presentation on Long-Term Health After Spay/Neuter (Gonadectomy) https://www.akc.org/akc-educated-breeder-webinar-series/ Many well-meaning dog owners opt to spay...

Showsight Magazine – Series on Examining Dogs

by sixgun | July 14, 2025 | Poodle Pulse, breeding, Health, Poodles | 0 Comments

This is a great series from Showsight Magazine! I summarized each segment with links to the original articles. All together, they appear to make up about 82 pages with images (not including the social media comments linked at the bottom of this page). You may also...

Puppies aren’t Products: Why Ethical Breeders Plan with Purpose

by sixgun | July 8, 2025 | Poodles, breeding, puppies | 0 Comments

Why You Can't (and Shouldn't) Shop for a Puppy Like a Product One of the most common messages I receive goes something like this: "We’re looking for a puppy—do you have any available?” or "We’d love a cream male—do you have one right now?" I completely understand the...

Dog Show Etiquette

by sixgun | July 1, 2025 | titles, Poodle Pulse, Poodles | 0 Comments

Dog Show Etiquette Cheat Sheet A Guide for Juniors, New Handlers & Guests Ring & Prep Area Etiquette Be Ready & On Time – Arrive early and be at ringside before your class. Keep It Clean – Pick up after your dog and yourself. Crates, grooming areas, and...

Mentoring

by sixgun | July 1, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Victim Mentality – Recognize and Counter

by sixgun | July 1, 2025 | breeding, Poodles, titles | 0 Comments

How Victim Mentality Feeds Cancel Culture in the Dog World Victim mentality is when someone consistently positions themselves as the wronged party—even in situations where they’re not truly being mistreated. When used intentionally, it can: - Deflect accountability -...