Poodle
There are three sizes of Poodle, all considered part of the same breed: going from smallest to largest, there are the Toy, the Miniature, and the Standard. The Standard is probably the oldest of the three varieties. They were bred for hunting and their hair was cut to make it less dense in the water and a top knot tied in their hair to show they were working.
They have the reputation of being ‘girly’ dogs due to their grooming but,there is nothing girly about these dogs, they are playful, fun and are great companions. If you are looking for a active and fun addition to your household, this could be your perfect breed.
They need plenty of exercise so as long as you have an energetic life and time to play outdoors and take them on a good daily walk, they are a fantastic addition to your active family. They can cope quite well to apartment living and as long as all their exercise needs are met and given plenty of playtime.
Remember a bored dog will usually become a mischievous dog, whether it be nuisance barking, chewing or digging. Try to make sure they are occupied with jobs, playtime or plenty of exercise to keep them out of trouble.
They love their families and being with people. They are not suitable for families with young children as they have their limits to being pulled around. They are very playful so with older children and those used to being around dogs they will play endless games running around the garden with them. They are likely to suffer with separation anxiety so do not get this breed if you work full time.
They make for great watchdogs, in fact one the best breeds, they will alert to everything little thing going on. They can be little un-trusting of strangers and you will need to make sure they are socialised early on to combat this.
They should be fine with other dogs and cats if brought up with them. They are hunters so the instinctive need to chase neighbours cats and small animals is probably too strong to control. Make sure your outside area is well enclosed and they can’t escape when giving chase.
They are very intelligent and easy to train. Try to keep training both interesting and fun for the best results. Identifying their motivation reward early will get you the best results and it’s normally food. They are so intelligent, this is not a breed you can just ignore, you will need to make sure they have challenging games to play, like hide and seek – they love it.
Poodles do not need to be clipped like they are in the show ring, they can be clipped look like normal dogs. They shed very little and is the main reason they are crossed with so many other breeds. They will will need a groomers every few months, you could learn to do this yourself to save on costs.
Poddle Stats
Poodles have been in existence for many centuries and historical reference to them has been found in Germany, England, Italy and France. In pictorial evidence the dogs nearly always appear in the traditional lion clip, which leaves the hindquarters bare except for leg bands and a pom-pom on the tail, while the forequarters are heavily coated except for the face and legs. This appears to indicate that these dogs were used for sporting and retrieving purposes. As the coat is quite heavy when wet, they were clipped in areas to alleviate weight. The tail was docked as a long tail would be caught in the undergrowth. The ribbon on the topknot was to indicate that the dog was working and also to signify it was not a bird or other animal.
- Weight -4kg –8kg
- Size – 28cm – 30cm
- They live for 14-16 years
