Two doodles have an interesting adventure in Vermont--with two Poodles!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Hi all! Mattie and Lyric are all tired out tonight after an overnight visit with a friend that has two poodles. Our friend lives in Vermont in a beautiful home up in the mountains. We have never taken the dogs to another person's house that has dogs--so I was a bit nervous. I also wasn't sure how I would let my dogs just run around without a leash or a fence. We have not let them run free and I had a lot of concern about that. As we pulled up to the house, I was relieved to see that our friend has a fenced in area for the dogs to play in. The two poodles were very friendly, although one seemed very shy and less interested in playing. The other poodle, who is 9, was clearly in charge and kept my two doods in line with a bit of growling, but the tail was wagging the whole time. I was happy about that because Lyric can really get carried away and plays too rough at times. She immediately got the message and behaved herself. Mattie, Lyric and the older poodle started running around and playing with no problem.

As the day went on, it became clear that the younger poodle had something wrong with her. The owner and I eventually spoke about it and she told me that she feels that the dog has some brain damage or developmental delays. She was born a day before the rest of a litter of 9, but I don't know if that has anything to do with it. She doesn't play, doesn't know any commands, doesn't really make eye contact, but is so sweet and gentle. She either sleeps on or next to her owner or is sitting and waiting for her. It was very interesting to observe a dog that, in her owner's words, "doesn't know how to be a dog".

Then there were the toys...everywhere. Our friend has kept tons toys from all of the poodles she has had for 20 years and they are in baskets in just about every room. Luckily, the two poodles didn't have any issues about Mattie and Lyric playing with those toys--That would have been a real problem, since Lyric was pulling them all out and playing with them one by one. She loves toys, so was in heaven! I am so glad our friend was a dog person--she enjoyed watching Lyric run all over the house with a new toy in her mouth every few minutes! Mattie, ever the chow hound, found big bones mixed in with the toys and was checking those out for hours.

All the dogs were very tired at the end of the day and had a good sleep before we drove home the next day--but there was one more surprise for us. On the second day, we went down to the large finished basement with the dogs (which wasn't easy, since you needed to go down a spiral staircase to get there--which terrified the dogs!) In the basement, there were a few agility jumps set up. Mattie and Lyric have done some agility training but I can't afford to get the equipment to try it at home. My friend had bought the equipment for a poodle that died some years back and was not using it anymore ---so she gave it all to me! There are several really nice jumps and a weaving pole set-up--yippee! Can't wait to try it all tomorrow!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I'm glad everything went well. I love the mental picture of Lyric running around with different toys in her mouth. That would be Darwin's heaven too. How awesome that you got that agility equipment!

[Lynn D.]

Maybe the younger poodle is (somewhat) hearing or sight impaired.

Good job on the great score! We'd love to see some action pictures!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

It sounds like Lyric and Mattie just visited Disneyland. What a fun trip for them! Doesn't it just make your tail wag to see them so well behaved and happy? And now your tail is wagging because you came home as a proud Momma and with agility equipment to boot!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe the younger poodle is the dog equivalent of autistic. Anyway, I'd say it was sad but she may be happy and her owner is giving her a good life. Glad to know a visit with two dogs went well. We've never been away overnight.