Birdpatch FAQ Page

Home AboutUs OurSires OurDams RainbowBridge Terms/Options

This page was developed to help viewers better understand
some of the more confusing questions in regards to Standard Poodles.

We try to cover everything we can think of from explaining the difference
in colors, temperaments and the sexes to understanding genetics,
line breeding and how C.O.I. works.

If you have a question that you don't see addressed on this page, please
email me or use our "suggestion" box and we'll be glad to answer it for
you. If the question is one that I tend to see often, I will add the topic
to this page for other viewers convenience.

Why can't breeders offer beautiful, healthy poodles without charging an arm and a leg??

Yes $800, $1,000, $1,200+ sounds like a LOT of money for a dog, but one must take into
consideration the cost of the breeding dogs as well as all their testing - both one-time
AND annual tests. Then there is the preparation that goes into a planned breeding,
often including stud fees costing anywhere from $700 to $3,000. Then there are
ovulation tests, the ultrasounds and later x-rays in order to get a puppy-count. Then
add in the registry of the litter, the tails & dew claws, vaccinating the entire litter x 4
vaccines, the worming, the quality feed, gruel, often supplemental formula - and this
is all "given" expense. On occasion there will be additional unforeseen expenses such
as emergency c-sections, illness, vet visits, medications, etc.

The "given" investments alone run in the hundreds. Then there are weeks of pampering
and watching over the pregnant dam, time off work (lost wages) for whelping and the first
3 days of life, hours of caring, tending, changing papers, feedings, socializing,
groomings, it goes on and on.

Now take the "profit" of that litter, subtract out the expenses for producing it,
divide into the weeks of constant work and care - a breeder really doesn't "make money"
- we just try to recoup our investment for the breeder dogs before they have to be
retired. A female can only be bred a handful of times before she is spayed, yet often
costs $1,000-$2,000 or more to purchase and hundreds more in testing.

It's kind of a case of "you get what you pay for". Breeders that don't invest in nice
(health tested) lines, the testing of their own dogs, quality foods, etc. can afford to
ask lots less for their pups, but one really has no assurance of the (future) health of
the pups. On the other hand, to purchase a pup from a "show" breeder, you will pay a
markedly increased price because they are not only breeding to recoup their investments,
but also absorb show expenses through the price of the pups they produce.

How can you know what the temperament of a puppy will be?

This goes back to that "Nature vs. Nurture" controversy. Well,
in Standard Poodles it's a case of BOTH playing a roll in the outcome.

A pups true "personality" or temperament - the one they are BORN with
comes directly from the parents (Nature). Rarely is a pups temperament
a "blend" of it's parents, but rather is that of one parent or the other. How
that temperament develops is dependent on their environment in it's first
8+ weeks of life (Nurture).

Much like a child the pups develop confidence, social skills and
independence when he/she is in an environment where they feel
safe, secure and loved. They learn how to interact within the pack
as well as with humans and other animals. A wide range of
exposure is very important for proper socialization.

How does personality and temperament between male and female Standard Poodles differ?

I am always SO pleased to hear people ask this question!
So many people inquire about a specific sex for reasons like:

"We've just always HAD male pets in the past" or
"Poodles are SUPPOSED to be girls - they wear bows"!

To understand the temperament of a Standard Poodle,
think of the days of old. Men were gallant, brave and
noble and chivalry was alive and well. The women
were treated like beautiful, pampered diva's,
constantly being doted on.

Here is What I Have Seen in My PERSONAL Experience.....

Both are equally intelligent, loyal and devoted to a fault, however I have found the
boys to be just a bit too dignified to openly beg for your attention and company.
Boys LOVE it - cherish every moment that you shower on them but hate to openly
ask (or beg) for it. Girls on the other hand are shameless when it come to looking
for your attention! Girls like constant conformation that they are the light of your
life and your "choice" or favorite of the pets.

Boys are much more willing to share their human, I think out of sheer confidence
that they really are the "special" pet in your heart. It's like they know where they
rank in your life thus do not require constant conformation of it. He will generally
play the roll of "Man's Best Friend", happy to just make you happy. His mission
in life is to make sure all is balanced in your life, knowing instinctively when it isn't.

If there will be routine absences (work, etc.) when the dog will be left alone,
either sex will adjust. However, boys adjust much easier than girls. She will
behave herself and TRY to be patient but will generally fret, worry and watch
the window the entire time you're away. Upon your return she will act as if
she hasn't seen you in a month of Sundays!

Girls tend to focus on THEIR feelings ("Oh, I'm all alone!", "Oh, she love the
cat more than me!") where a male tends to be focused more on YOUR
feelings ("He has to leave me - I'll protect our home and make him proud").

Examples of (Your) Possible Environment

I'm "a retired family" or "with someone home all the time"
Either sex will make a wonderful pet.

"I plan to have my pet with me constantly, taking it
"bye-bye" with me as one of the (human) family"
You will be thrilled with either sex.

"I have a house full of kids and a chaotic schedule"
Either sex will fit right in.

"We are a working family that is gone all day
and home only at night"
A male wouldn't necessarily be "happier" than a
female, but will certainly adjust and accept the
situation much better than a female.

So which sex would fit best into your home? It is solely dependent on how far up
your backside you wish your new poodle to be! Poodles do LOVE their humans!

The difference in male's and female's temperaments are very much like that of
daughters and sons - at least in my own experience with kids, and I have six!

I know what a "Black" and a "White" poodle looks like, but what is a Silver and a "Blue"?

Since I am asked on a regular basis - Here's a bit of "FYI" on the difference in colors...
For those of you unfamiliar with "silver" standard poodles, allow
me to offer a description. Silvers (like ECHO, below left) are born black,
but quickly begin lightening - initially through the face and feet,
then slowly over the rest of their bodies. They will usually clear to
their permanent color by around 18 months or so, depending on their depth
of color. They can range from a flannel gray to a "frosted" white known
as "platinum". The lighter they will be, the faster their coat will clear.

For those of you unfamiliar with "blue" standard poodles, again if I
may offer a description. Blues - like silvers - are also born black. As their
coat begins to clear, you will notice a lightening through first the face
and feet, then slowly over the rest of their bodies (note BUGSY, above right).
A blue will take longer to clear - often up to 3-4 years before totally
evening out into a solid color. Their coat (once totally cleared) can
range from a "Persian cat" true-blue to a deep gun-metal slate gray.

Again, the lighter they will be, the faster their coat will clear.
A tell-tale indicator of a blue pup vs. a black is when they begin
to get "brassy" looking around the ears and top knot when their
hair gets length on it.

Why are pure breeds like poodles becoming so prone to
genetic and autoimmune disorders?

Because this is a very broad topic with many factors playing into it, I thought a
few quotes straight from the "Canadian Veterinary Journal" may give you a better
understanding of how these disorders began surfacing so frequently.

What the heck is "COI" and "RC" and why is it so important?

Again, because the topic's definition is so extensive, quoting the
"Canadian Veterinary Journal" will help you to better understand it's
level of importance and how it works.

For a more detailed description of how to compute COI, please visit this link:

Wright’s Coefficient of Inbreeding

What does "Out-Crossing for Diversity" mean anyway?

This topic goes hand in hand with the topic of "COI" and "RC".

To our-cross is to breed two dogs that share little or no common ancestors.
Breeders that are competitive in the show ring will breed their lines very
"tight", only out-crossing every 3-5 generations. This dilutes the inbreeding,
lowering it's coefficient and broadening the gene pool. However, with the
continuation of line breeding the COI will again climb eventually requiring
another our-cross breeding.

All my dogs have outstanding, genetically healthy lines with no dog
directly related to the others. However the "show" style breeding
(line-breeding) is very evident in their lineage and pedigrees, with some
participants as high as 20% COI. By out-crossing two unrelated dogs, I
am able to markedly reduce the COI in only one breeding, and can
reduce it further in the second generation.

I am TRYING to bring together the "best of both worlds" with my program.
My champion lines are a testament to the "beauty" and "structural correctness"
of my lines. The out-crossing provides the marked reduction of the COI,
in turn increasing the probability of hardiness and longevity.

The outcome - dogs that are not only eye-appealing, but have stable
temperaments, a reduced risk of health issues and extended life spans.

I don't understand... How does your pricing work?

Let's start by looking at the insert below. It is the same insert you will find
on my "Terms/Options" page.

Now, let's start with a "base" price based on the pedigree of the parents of the litter.

Let's say, based on pedigrees that my FEMALE "unlimited registry" price is: $1,300.00
(Unlimited registry females are the maximum price of all options).

Now look at the chart.

You would deduct $200.00 for an unlimited registry male, reducing the price to $1,100.00
This price would be equal to a "limited registry" female as it also states a $200.00 reduction.
A "limited registry male would be an additional $200.00 reduction lowering the price to $900.00.
So forth and so on...

I don't however post my "base" price on my site because of the diversity of my lines and the various
ways I mix & match them in each breeding. One breeding may involved both parents being the
offspring of champion parents. This would obviously cause the price of the breeding to increase in
comparison to a breeding where neither or maybe one parent is the product of a champion breeding.
The price of every litter will likely differ from the one before it.

Got a question? I'll put it HERE...

Home AboutUs OurSires OurDams RainbowBridge Terms/Options

Contact:
Tracey Johnston: 812-597-1544
Or Email:
tracey@birdpatch.com

Indiana White Standard Poodle Breeder - Central IN Black Standard Poodles - Indiana Standard Poodle Puppy Breeder