Description:
Winter Springs is a lovely Poodle mix, Bichon maybe??? What a sweetheart he is! And what a smile on his face! According to his foster, "He is so adorable! He walks well on a leash, barely pulls and doesn’t try to run off in different directions (of course that is compared to my 80 pound lab that likes to drag me around the street J) and he is so affectionate! He slept in his crate last night, and whined for a couple of hours, then fell asleep. He woke up around 1 am and howled a little bit, but I think he must have gotten scared since he is in a place he doesn’t know.
He is tolerant of my Zoe (the crazy lab) and let’s her sniff him and he sniffs her. He did try to nip at her heels when I was petting him and she came near me, but I corrected him with a little poke and he stopped. He will come and sit next to you any chance he gets and loves to get rubbed! He is such a doll! When I took him to the backyard he would run off, pee, sniff then look at me with a huge smile and run back to me and sit right at my feet!"
We anticipate that Winter Springs will be neutered and ready for adoption by mid-November.

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, although the Poodle has been known throughout Western Europe for at least 400 years, its origin is controversial. Whether it was developed in France, Germany, Denmark, or the ancient Piedmont is uncertain. Despite the claims of several other countries, France has now been officially recognized as its country of origin, and the breed occupies a special place in the affections of the French. It is certain that the Poodle is descended from a now nearly extinct French water dog, the Barbet and possibly the Hungarian Water Hound. The name "Poodle" probably derives from the German word "Pudel," which means one who plays in water. The Poodle was used as a gun dog and originally was used in Germany and France as a retriever of waterfowl. Hunters clipped the dog's thick coat to help him swim, leaving hair on the leg joints to protect them from extreme cold and sharp reeds. The French capitalized on the breed's high intelligence, trainability, and innate showmanship, and made the Poodle into a circus performer. His great popularity in that country led to the breed's common name "French Poodle." In France, however, the Poodle was called the "Caniche," or duck dog. The Poodle has been used to sniff out truffles lying underground in the woods. Poodles are depicted in 15th century paintings and in bas-reliefs from the 1st century. Toy Poodles became royal favorites, particularly in the 18th century. The Toy and Miniature Poodle varieties were bred down from larger dogs, today known as Standard Poodles. The three sizes are considered one breed and are judged by the same standard. Today, the Poodle is primarily a companion and show dog, though he can learn almost anything. Some of the Miniature Poodle's talents include: retrieving, agility, watchdogging, competitive obedience, and performing tricks.
The Miniature Poodle is a cheerful, super smart, sensitive and highly trainable companion dog. The breed is great at learning tricks, and a favorite in the circus ring. The Poodle will feel slighted if it is left out of family activities. He is very amusing and clever. Many owners feel this dog understands speech in an uncanny way. Some love to play with children, but some are sensitive and nervous. They can be somewhat high-strung. Be careful where you buy your puppy. Purchase from parents you have met and liked, and even ask to see the grandparents if possible. They tend to be quite reserved with strangers and should be socialized as a puppy. Any effort the owner puts into training and socializing will be well rewarded. This is a very good watchdog for its size, seldom becoming aggressive. They do tend to bark a lot. Poodles are friendly with other dogs and non-canine pets. They have a life-expectancy of 12-15 years.