Poodles are proud, active, intelligent, and elegant, but all poodles are not small dogs.
The poodle is a breed that comes in three different sizes;
- Toy
- Miniature
- Standard
The Toy Poodle is the smallest of the three, standing up to 11 inches (28 cm) tall and weighing 6 to 9 pounds. (2.7 to 4 kg).
The miniature poodle stands between 11 and 15 inches (28 to 38 cm) tall and weighs between 15 and 17 pounds (6.8 to 7.7 kg).
The standard poodle is the largest of the three, standing over 15 inches (38 cm) with an average of 22 inches (56 cm) tall and weighing 45 to 60 pounds (20.4 to 27.2 kg).
Poodles are known for their curly hair and intelligence. This breed comes in a variety of colors including black, white, brown, gray, apricot, red, cream, and sable. Solid colors are the most common, although colored coats are acceptable according to the AKC.
Unlike many breeds of dogs, the Poodle does not have a double coat. The Poodle’s coat is dense and curly, which means it requires a lot of brushing and regular grooming to keep it tangle-free and matting-free.
Many people believe that the Poodle’s coat is hypoallergenic because it does not shed, but this is not true. The poodle sheds minimally, but the loose hair gets caught in the curly coat rather than falling off the dog. This makes the breed a popular choice among allergy sufferers.
Facts About Poodles
Health
The Poodles is generally a healthy breed that has a median lifespan of around 12 years. This breed is prone to some serious health problems, including Addison’s disease, thyroid problems, epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis, hip dysplasia, and gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat).
When it comes to breeding, the standard poodle has a fairly large average litter size of around 7 puppies, while the miniature and toy versions average 3 puppies per litter. Poodles also have a lower stillbirth rate and early neonatal mortality rate than many other breeds.
Poodles are a friendly and playful breed, eager to spend time with the family. But toy or miniature poodles can have a tendency to “small dog syndrome.”
Small dog syndrome occurs as a result of the owner indulging in the dog’s whims and allowing him to get away with things that a larger dog could not do. Things like jumping on people or barking at strangers.
For this reason, they require firm and consistent training to ensure that they do not develop problem behaviors such as chewing, whining, and barking. As long as you start training and socializing your puppy as soon as possible, you shouldn’t have a problem with this.
Poodles are quite good at entertaining around the house as long as they have enough toys to play with.
This breed needs daily physical exercise, as well as mental stimulation/interactive play, every day. Failure to provide this type of stimulation can potentially lead to behavior problems related to frustration and separation anxiety. This is likely to manifest itself in destructive or aggressive behavior. Therefore, it is not the dog’s fault, but the owner’s for not meeting basic needs such as daily exercise.
Temperament
Poodles are very sociable and love to be in the company of people and other dogs. They also tend to get along with children.
The Poodle dog breed is definitely a companion breed. These dogs crave human attention and tend to bond closely with their owners. Poodles are loyal and loving, eager to please their owners.
This breed is also very intelligent and quick to learn. This makes tasks like home training and obedience training relatively easy. However, as with all dogs, it is best to start training and socializing your dog as soon as possible to prevent the development of behavior problems.
As this breed is so people-oriented, it is not recommended that you leave them alone for long periods of time without another dog to keep them company.
Where Do Poodles Come From?
The Poodle is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was given the name Pudelhund in reference to the German word Pudel, which means “splash in water or puddles.” This name was given in reference to the development of the breed as a water retriever.
Because the Poodle is a relatively ancient breed, its exact origins are unknown. It is supposed to have originated in Germany, but it developed in France to become a distinct breed. The Poodle is commonly believed to be the result of crossing several European water dogs, including the Wirehaired, Portuguese, German, Spanish, French, and Russian Water Dogs, as well as the Irish Water-Dog.
Another theory holds that one of the oldest ancestors of the breed was the Barbet of North Africa.
Some theories claim that the Toy and Miniature versions of the Poodle breed were developed shortly after the Standard poodles. Others say that it was not until the 1400s that dog breeds began to produce these smaller versions.
The standard poodle was used primarily as a water retriever for duck hunting, while the medium-sized miniature poodle was best for truffle hunting. The main purpose of the Toy Poodle was to serve as a companion pet or lapdog for the French nobility. Toy poodles were also used as circus dogs by Gypsies, dressed in costumes and trained to perform a variety of tricks.
The standard poodle was first accepted by the UK Kennel Club in 1874. Exactly when poodles arrived in the United States is unknown, but the first poodle was registered with the AKC in 1887. The Poodle breed was quite rare in the United States Until the end of World War II.
By the mid-1950s, the breed’s popularity had exploded and, it has maintained its position as a very popular breed in the country for more than two decades.
Today, the miniature poodle is the most popular of the three sizes, ranking eighth in popularity according to the 2015 AKC registration statistics. The poodle ranked seventh in 2014, eighth in 2013, and ninth in 2009.