Purposefully Bred Standard Poodles Intentionally bred for Predictable Type, Health and Human Companionship.
Exceptional Standard Poodle Puppies & Standard Poodles Since 1969
TEL. (760) 744-7886 / FAX (760) 591-9662
Email: bengals4u@sbcglobal.net

Summermist^©® is a registered Trade Mark created and owned by John and Sheila Fowler.

Summermist offers educational articles to enhance the Poodle Breed Standard, provide notice of animal feed issues, to protect and extend the life of all of our animals and to assist our clients in achieving the most with their animal relationships. We will post articles from time to time as we feel necessary, so keep checking for new information.

The following articles are available from this site:

1. How to Feed Carnivores (dogs & cats)

Due to the FDA releasing a study showing certain brands of dry dog feed are somehow connected to Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), we felt it necessary to provide background information as to how we feed our dogs & cats. We stress that we are feeding "carnivores" to explain why feeding RAW is an important supplement to any dry food product. We feed Acana Wild Duck & Bartlett Pear and Zignature Turkey, but never alone and always with a raw meat source. We have never experienced a problem with bacteria, viruses, parasites, bone splintering or tooth chipping feeding RAW, but we do not buy commercial RAW products to keep total control of the preparation and quality of any raw food we utilize. And remember, dietary DCM can be reversed if caught in time!

This article is written to assist our clients with how to feed their dogs & cats and avoid dietary DCM. While most dietary DCM cases are less than others, there are a significant number of cases that do not have a diagnosis or anything beyond having a possible case of DCM. So, we Need to wait for the total investigation that resolves all the issues. In the meantime, we offer guidelines to prevent dietary DCM should one be feeding only dry feed.

2. Poodle Breed Type – One Interpretation

This article was published in the 1993 Stud Issue of the Poodle Variety Magazine. This article goes in to detail of selected features of the Poodle Breed Standard with detailed explanations of the importance of Breed type. The Author presents a unique labeling of the Poodle in Figure 1 showing the year each feature was added to the Poodle Breed Standard. The article is a stimulating exportation of what a breed standard means and how it affects the breed.

3. Poodle Temperament

This article was published in a 1990 Issue of the Poodle Variety Magazine. The Poodle Breed Standard defines Poodle temperament as follows:

Carrying himself proudly, very active, intelligent, the Poodle has about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself. Major fault: shyness or sharpness.

This definition is taken from the Poodle Breed Standard approved August 14, 1984 and Reformatted March 27, 1990 and is the last revision. The purpose of this article was to challenge the Poodle Club of America to consider a better definition of Poodle Temperament than exists today.

4. Lifelong Immunity – Why Vets are Pushing Back

This article is written by Veterinarians frustrated by the abuse of vaccines for increased revenue. Summermist requires that any client chosen to be a caretaker of a Summermist bred dog or cat must follow our guidelines for vaccines and must manage their veterinarians to prevent excess and unnecessary vaccines from being injected. While the cost is one thing, it is more important to avoid shorting the life of our pets and/or creating disease reactions to certain vaccines. This is a must read article.

5. How to Correct Your Dog’s Bad Habits

This article will help one understand the importance of the "Pack Leader" when it comes to living with and training dogs. The authors provide a clear example based on their real world experience that will provide a clear and solid explanation and appreciation of the pack leader. The reader is then given methods the authors use to correct bad habits.

6. Preservational Breeders

Preservational Breeders, an article by John A. Fowler introduces you to the term Preservational Breeders (PB) and what it means to be a PB, what they do and why. The article categorizes breeders and how some have behaved historically, But, while criticisms abound about "breeders" the PB is the previously unrealized breeder doing the right thing. Summermist Standard Poodles are Preservational Breeders to provide loving companions that live long healthy lives.