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...
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 -...
End Gaslighting in Dog Show Culture
by sixgun | July 1, 2025 | Poodle Pulse, Poodles, titles | 0 Comments
Why We Must Avoid Gaslighting in the Dog World Gaslighting—whether intentional or not—erodes trust, damages confidence, and drives good people away from our community. As competitors, we have a responsibility to build a supportive culture that values growth,...
10 Things Every New Dog Owner Should Know
by sixgun | July 1, 2025 | Poodle Pulse, Poodles, puppies | 0 Comments
United Poodle Association Judge’s Handbook
by sixgun | June 7, 2025 | Poodles | 0 Comments
Announcing the Release of the United Poodle Association Judges’ Handbook! I’m incredibly proud to share that the United Poodle Association Judges’ Handbook is now complete, live on our website, and ready for distribution! This project has been a true labor of love. I...
Because I love this Breed
by sixgun | May 31, 2025 | Poodles | 0 Comments
Stop Making Excuses — The Breed Deserves Better Too many breeders today are falling back on the same tired excuses for why their dogs don’t have conformation championships (AKC) or Grand Championships (UKC): “I’m not breeding for show dogs — I provide pets.” “I’m...
Mini wins her class at PCA
by sixgun | April 25, 2025 | Poodles | 0 Comments
A Moment of True Validation At the biggest poodle event of the year, having our poodle recognized and pointed at by none other than Michael Gadsby of Afterglow was an unforgettable honor. As one of the most respected figures in the breed—renowned worldwide for...
When Whelping Goes Wrong: What Breeders Need to Know About Dystocia
by sixgun | April 19, 2025 | breeding | 0 Comments
For those of us who dedicate our lives to ethical, preservation breeding, the miracle of birth is one of the most humbling, powerful experiences we get to witness. But not every whelping goes as planned. One of the most serious complications breeders must be prepared...
Inbreeding Depression
by sixgun | April 17, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments
In my last post, I mentioned inbreeding depression — a concept that may be unfamiliar to newer breeders. I thought it would be helpful to take a moment to explain what it means and why it matters. Inbreeding depression is a term used to describe the reduced biological...
The Cellular Clock – Telomeres and Longevity
by sixgun | April 17, 2025 | breeding, Health, Uncategorized | 0 Comments
🧬 Telomeres and Longevity: Understanding the Cellular Clock In the quest to understand aging and longevity, telomeres have emerged as a significant piece of the puzzle. These protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes play a crucial role in cellular health and...
Is There a Perfect Recipe for Breeding the Ideal Dog?
by sixgun | April 17, 2025 | Poodle Pulse, breeding | 0 Comments
Spoiler: It's More Like a Balancing Act Than a Bake-Off Breeding dogs is often compared to baking—carefully measured ingredients, a trusted recipe, and a dash of heart. But here’s the truth: there’s no single recipe for producing the perfect specimen of any breed, no...
Poodle Pulse: UC Davis and Betterbred DNA Mapping – a deeper look
by sixgun | April 13, 2025 | Poodle Pulse, breeding, Health | 1 Comment
🧬 How UC Davis and BetterBred Map DNA – And What It Actually Means This is a follow-up to my post on Understanding Canine Genetic Diversity Research. When we talk about "mapping DNA" in canine genetic diversity testing, what we're referring to is the process of...