JOLIE BELLE RENNER—THE FRENCH PRINCESS
When Bill and I decided to find a new doggie, we agreed to find another poodle after we lost our dear Sophie who lived just shy of her 18th birthday. She was an apricot poodle, a cross between a toy and a miniature, weighing about 11 pounds. We were so devastated after losing Sophie that we waited a year and a half before moving forward with a new pet.
I also decided that I wanted a smaller doggie to fit more easily under the seat as we flew back and forth between Chicago and Estero. We settled on a pure-bred toy poodle who was small enough to fit into a little carryon bag and had hair (rather than fur) that didn’t shed. Poodles are said to be hypoallergenic.
After an Internet search, we consulted a friend of ours who was very knowledgeable of the dog breeding world. She quickly told us to avoid the Amish farms that breed dogs as part of their income stream. Finally, we found a breeder of toy poodles who happened to be, in all places, in Estero, Florida. Go figure. Our breeder interviewed us to decide if we were worthy of adopting one of her poodle puppies. Thankfully, we passed the test.
Prior to our official adoption, Bill and I researched French names for our new little girl. Independently, we arrived at the same name. “Jolie” means “pretty girl” or “pretty one” in French. How perfect for the little girl poodle we were about to adopt!
Both of Jolie’s parents are former AKC Champions. While we didn’t need a fancy poodle, we wanted one with a good blood line to avoid inbreeding issues. Also, while this may sound a little strange, we decided to “test” the puppies to find the right fit for us. We had the choice between two little girls. So, we used a couple of simple tests and selected Jolie, who passed with flying colors.
Jolie was born pure black and looked like a baby monkey. When we were able to claim her after Hurricane Ian, she weighed in at 2.2 pounds. She was so tiny! She could fit into the palm of our hand. We had to be super careful not to step on her or drop her. She was very wiggly! As she aged, her nose grew, and her true colors started to show. Now she is considered a “silver” poodle. And while we agreed with the breeder not to breed her or to show her, she shows signs of her AKC Show breeding just by the way she stands. She is a proud little poodle. She is not cut as a “show poodle,” but has a puppy cut with a little height on the top of her head.
Jolie is now two years and seven months old. She is super smart and also a little stubborn. She weighs seven pounds. She loves her parents and especially her mom. Her pet ID tags reads, “Keep calm and call my mom.” She enjoys, and we know this is hard to believe, dressing up and meeting new people and other dogs. She has a fairly extensive wardrobe, thanks to gifts from a number of her “aunties.” She likes all dogs until they don’t like her. She is quick to run into her mother’s arms if she senses trouble or she is hurt. She is a picky eater, that is, unless she senses that you are eating something she might like. Then, she will sit at your side until a small bite comes her way. She is not a fan of the groomer or the vet, but she sees both on a regular basis. She has an amazing vocabulary. Her favorite words are “cheese,” “chicken,” and Auntie Anyone. She knows her Aunties will give her just about anything she requests. After all, they are not her mom.
Hope you enjoy the photos! You can see Jolie most days in the Oakwood neighborhood, touring Avalon or checking out the driving range.
