Thanks, Little Hawk. They are an addition to the household after a burglary last year at this time. I decided I'd rather have dogs, as labor-intensive as they are, than a burglar alarm.

I didn't run out and buy a dog, but pondered it a while, and Karma came into it in May when Cinnamon limped up the driveway. I walked outside to look at her, called her, she licked my hand, I patted her head, and she made the decision to stay. I didn't do anything the rest of the day, just left her to curl up in the sun in the corner where you see her in that first photo. I was watching the Dog Whisperer just yesterday talk about how to not overwhelm a rescued stray or feral dog with attention because it just confuses them and reinforces their retiring behavior, so I guess I innately got that part right. About six in the evening, when I was finishing in the flower bed I'd been working on all day in the front yard, she wandered over and nudged my shoulder companionably, and we walked to the back yard together. She saw my cats through the window and wagged and woofed up to the glass and ended up staying. I gave her food and water, which are good news to a stray. When I put the photo and an ad in the paper I put up a section of and old gate across the one gap in the backyard fence so she'd be there if anyone claimed her. Milan says that a dog's past is past, they live in the present and pampering them because of a difficult past is silly. I see signs occasionally of Cinnamon's past in things she is shy about (she was hit by a car, she is at times shy near roads that make certain noises, like tires over a bridge) so we respond with a task. Both dogs sit beside the curb whenever anyone drives past us in the street, so this is the response now, not fear. It just works that way and is pretty amazing, actually.

She was so desperate to mix with other dogs that I could hardly control her on the leash if we met other dogs out walking. After Katrina the Humane Society did a half-price sale to move the local dogs to make room, so I took Cinnamon down the the shelter to meet the dog I'd selected. They were instantly chest-to-chest licking each other's faces after a flurry of typical dog-language moves (rolling over, etc.)

These dogs are dog-shaped and dog-sized, which I think helps them stay healthier during their lifetimes. Fewer ailments based upon inbreeding and ratcheting too tightly the look of the breed (narrow hips, head shape, coat color, etc.)

Standard poodles are at least a normal size for a dog, and the ones I've encountered over the years are very smart and friendly. But some of those haircuts--you have to scratch your head and wonder what people were thinking.

I might take them to the feed store with me today when I go buy their food, because there aren't animals there very often. I'd never take them to the pet store (PetsMart) because I can't control them well enough around other animals yet and there are people down there who are idiots and can't control their dogs at all.

SRS