Congats on the new pup!
I read you shouldn't take the biggest or smallest of the litter
I don't really buy into that. A friend of mine had a Brittany Spaniel who was the "runt" of its litter and it was one of the nicest, well-behaved dogs I've ever met. The best advice I can give you for bringing a new dog into the home is to make special time exclusively for give Jake attention. This will ease the transition.
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Thanks to you and everyone for the congratulations.
I had immediately discounted him because he was the smallest as I want a huge, giant, monster poodle like Jake on my homepage. He kept looking at me though, he was observant, he wasn't timid or cowed by the other puppies, I spent the first half hour observing all of the puppies interacting (after I met the mother who had a WONDERFUL disposition) and even though he was the smallest he played with the other dogs as an equal.
As I mentioned in the body with the pictures he performed the best in all the tests for the best pet candidate, he totally trusted me, didn't squirm now matter how I held him and looked at me in the eyes with a different level of understanding that I have with my Jakey. Poodles are telepathic, the smartest breed, this dog spoke to me with his eyes in a way the other puppies didn't, although they were all amazing.
After I spent time with him and put him back in the pen, he was standing at the cage trying to get my attention, the other dogs I held didn't do that, the breeder said he was very smitten with me.
The dogs who don't look at you much when you hold them and squirm will have more of an independent streak and a little harder to train, it doesn't mean they wont turn out great, they will with proper training. In addition to being very sweet he was a little more curious in exploring areas out of the pen, he will probably be a very lively dog, the combination I was looking for. Standard Poodles need 1-2 hours of exercise a day, and lots of mental stimulation as well, they crave it, they're different than other dogs.
This is why poodles have always been in the Circus, they are easy to train and LOVE to please and entertain people, they don't like to be left alone, they like to be challenged and to work. I would like to make him and maybe Jake therapy dogs and take him to see sick kids and people in hospitals. They are great therapy dogs, Jake is a natural, my mother stayed with me when she was suffering from infections and C-diff after a hernia operation. Everyone was paranoid about him jumping, touching her stomach etc. I wasn't, I brought him on the bed with my mother and he was as gentle as a lamb and comforted her, and my mother is the "no doggies on the bed type".
One day I came home and was sick, Jake was DYING to go for a long walk, I went right into bed and said I'm sick Jakey, he immediately stopped asking for his walk and came into bed with me and extra snuggled with and slept with me until I felt better.
As for him and Jake, Jake lives up the street. I will start bringing him things with the puppys' scent on it, so he becomes familiar with the scent. Then he and Jake will meet at a neutral location so he doesn't feel he's taking Jakes territory at my house. Then they'll start getting super
That's the important thing. You can do all of the research in the world, but when it comes down to it, it is the "intangible" qualities that really matter when making your selection.
As for him and Jake, Jake lives up the street. I will start bringing him things with the puppys' scent on it, so he becomes familiar with the scent. Then he and Jake will meet at a neutral location so he doesn't feel he's taking Jakes territory at my house. Then they'll start getting super
That's a great game plan. I still must stress, though, be sure to give Jake plenty of "alone" time after the new guy moves in. It's funny, people give the same advice for bringing newborns into a house when another child is present.