[tadd]

Standard poodle. Super smart, watchful, patient with children. Don't shed.

They are like 5 year olds themselves :-). Mine have learned to open doors (had to change lever door knobs for regular). For my first, I put up a bell by the door and showed her how to ring it to go out. She then started ringing it for her empty water bowl, then empty food bowl. What is really amazing is that she would ring it once to go out, twice for food, and three times for water. I didn't teach that... I miss my girl... RIP Colette.

My parents had a standard when I was growing up. They could put me in the middle of the yard and doodles would watch me from the porch. If I got too far from the middle, she would come down and pick me up by the dipers and put me back in the middle, then go back to watching from the porch.

Only 'negatives' are that they are really smart, so you will need to interact with them. They also need exercise...walk, throw frisebee, whatever. Finally, there is that no shedding. You need to clip them. I spent $250 up front for a nice set of oyster clippers over a decade ago and they still are going strong. About an hour a dog to shave them down. Nothing fancy. Usually monthly in the summer to keep them cool. only once in the winter. If you take them somewhere, it runs about $100 a groom. Although it sounds like a pain, it truly is 6 vs 1/2 dozen for your time since the house cleaning isn't buried in dog hair bunnies.

Like any smart dog, you will get out what you put in. My first girl I was in grad school and spent a lot of time with her when she was young. She did not need a leash and was amazing. The latest two are my spoiled beasts :-), who need more input from me for sure...