Best poodles for family

Question
We have a 10 yr old girl and 13 yr old boy and based on our reading would prefer a standard poodle, but our daughter wants a dog she can hold and snuggle with.  However, we've heard miniatures can get yappy and aren't as social with children.  What is your experience?  Would you recommend a standard or miniature for a family with pre-teen/teen children?  Thanks!

Answer
I can only speak from my experience. My first dog ever was when I was 4 years old. My parents brought home a miniature poodle puppy.  The first day I remember we all ran around the family room in circles - much excitement. I picked her up and was shocked when a geyser erupted - yes, Babby (Babbette was her actual name) was overexcited and peed.  She never nipped at anyone (except in play) until her later years when she was sore (arthritis) and a particularly obnoxious child kept pulling on her ear.  As to yappy, I currently have a toy and a teacup and both tend toward yappiness.  Any miniature I've ever had tends to bark now and then, but I never considered it yapping. A lot of it has to do with the environment the dog began in, the socialization, if you will.  For example, Babby was a wonderful dog, but if we boarded her for a week or so and then came to get her, she would get excited and if dad didn't let her run in the yard before getting in the car to come home, she would have an accident.

Other than the above, unless she/he has been abused or terrorized, in all likelihood he/she would be a wonderful pet.  

One thing about poodles: they've pretty much had the "pack mentality" bred out of them.  They consider themselves people.  They are one of the only breeds that has hair instead of fur, and they also see in color instead of black and white (not sure how they figured that out, but they did somehow).

I'd say a miniature is not a bad choice for you - but be sure of the breeder if you get her that way. Most pet stores that have dogs GET them from puppy mills, so it's wisest to either go to a breeder's home and have them SHOW you where the dogs have been living or do as I do now - all of my dogs were "throwaways" - shelter pups.  One thing about shelter pups is they are loyal to the death. They know you've saved them from "jail".  They don't have AKC papers or anything, but if you aren't planning to show your dog or compete, it probably wouldn't matter anyway.  The only dog I've ever had WITH papers (a throwaway that was a 'victim' of divorce and squabbling parents and tearful children) has more medical problems than any dog I've ever owned.  

As to the barking problem, a way that I've found works is when they bark (or exhibit any other unacceptable behavior) I pull out the water bottle and squirt them in the face.  It might not work on a puppy, but on adult dogs it is very effective. Another training tool is a can (soda or beer) with a few pennies in it.  Unacceptable behavior? Shake the can.  They do NOT like the sound.

I wish you luck with your new addition to the family.

Kathryn