I really love the standards! I also would love to get a mini if it was a carbon copy of Reece. I have seen some mini's that would not be a good match for me, but I would love a dog just like Reece in both looks (love that little Reece) and personality. I would strongly consider getting a standard one day but my hubby is not sold on the breed yet...but he has so much more respect of standards since we saw pictures of some of the S&R dogs at ground zero in NYC working all those long, devistating hours. It brought alot more respect towards the breed. Here they were getting covered in soot and working tirelessly and bravely, finding only body parts, in extremely horrendous conditions. That's a far fetch from the foo foo dogs you see in the shows! These were real heros and hard workers and they were obviously well trained, otherwise they would not be there. Also, when I was in the training class for Delta Society Pet Partners (to be a therapy dog team with Graham) there were 2 standard poodles who were owned by the trainer and evaluator. They were both certified therapy dogs and they had exceptional temperments.

My hubby has alot more respect for standards now, but I would never want a dog breed that was not fully loved and appreciated for all that it is by every member of the family. I will not ever have a poodle unless my hubby were to change his mind. Thanks to the S&R dogs in NYC, and the therapy dogs in my class, he is far more enlightened about the wonderful breed.