Emma
Standard Poodle

“We love our girl to pieces,” exclaimed Gina Urban about the Standard Poodle she shares with her husband, David.
  
Their “girl” is ten-year-old Emma, whom they adopted in 2013. She stood out to them in a litter of beautiful puppies because she was the lovey, affectionate one. Having a wonderful disposition, Emma is not only very affectionate, but also smart and funny. 

“She makes us laugh every day, especially when she gets the ‘zoomies,’" said Urban. “To keep those zoomies under control, she enjoys her trips to play with her friends at Safari Pet Resort.” 

Zoomies are a normal way for dogs to release pent-up energy and excitement. They are harmless, last a few minutes and are characterized by fast, circular sprints with sharp turns and a playful posture. 

Her massive energy bursts probably aren’t helped by Emma’s taste for coffee, especially a latte. When her human mom puts down her freshly made latte in the morning, even if she only turns her head for a moment, Emma is "Johnny on the spot." The coffee gets slurped. 

Emma is full of fun and surprise. One time, she got covered with mud on a stormy day. They tried to corral her towards the bathtub as they brought her into the house, but Emma had other ideas. 

“She jumped up onto our bed and rolled around gleefully,” added Urban. “What a mess she made!” 

Standard Poodles are very intelligent, and Emma is no exception. She understands quite a large vocabulary. 

“When her Daddy says, ‘Would you like...,’ she immediately snaps to attention, awaiting whatever pleasant choice she may receive: to go outside, to have a treat, to visit, to snuggle,” explains Urban.
 
She also communicates her needs with strong, unwavering eye contact whether it’s a trip outside, a refill of water or love. She is also very forceful in expressing her desire for food, kicking her bowl if she feels she is due for a meal. 

Originally bred as waterfowl retrievers, Standard Poodles are very athletic. Emma loves to chase after balls, and she has a variety of them. She knows the difference between "The Ball," "The Big Ball," and her other toys, and she always retrieves the one Gina or David request. 

Having a soft, curly coat, poodles come in a variety of colors, including black, white, red, silver, brown, or parti-color, which features a white base with large patches of another color. The largest of three poodle types, a Standard Poodle can stand more than 15 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 40 and 70 pounds. Which means she can make her presence known.

“She sleeps on our bed, often taking up the majority of the available space,” laughs Urban.