APAW – Poodle Pups for Working Roles

Atlas, son of Harmony, was Jillian’s first keeper pup, first home-bred UKC Champion, first dog to select and raise for search and rescue from puppy-hood, first to finish a weight-pull title… and the most wild and fun dog she’s owned to date, affectionately referred to as the search team’s “Curly Haired Malinois”. Atlas did not complete certification or work in the capacity of a search dog due to his handler’s changing life circumstances, but he did very well in his year of training with the team for wilderness live-find, often making his finds at impressive distances.

Atlas was intended to be bred but was diagnosed with Autoimmune Thyroiditis, a hereditary condition, at 6 years old so was removed from the potential gene pool – a good example of why it is important to wait until dogs are mature instead of breeding any time after 2 years old! He was getting ready to compete for his novice obedience title and further rally, weight-pull and trick titles when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and passed two weeks later at not quite 8 years old.