Simply Southern Pups > Dog Breeds > Poodle
Poodle Breed Information
If you’re looking to adopt a Mini, Toy or Teacup Poodle puppy for yourself, your kids, or your family, know that your decision will be rewarded with unconditional friendship, love, and unbreakable bonds between dog and owner. Poodle puppies are one of the most versatile breeds around. They are brilliantly smart, naturally skilled at a variety of canine jobs, and very well-mannered. They are also incredibly cute and make fantastic companions for toddlers, seniors, and everyone in between.
BREED TYPE / MIX
Purebred
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Minimum
TRAINING
Accomodating
TEMPERAMENT
Cheerful, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Playful
ADULT WEIGHT
Toy 4-6 lbs, Mini 10-12 lbs
ADULT HEIGHT
Toy 6-8 in, Mini 12-14 in
LIFE SPAN
12-15 yrs
Characteristics
- The adorable Poodles are perfect for people with allergies as they are hypoallergenic and do not shed
- The Poodle breed has been popular in America for the last 20 consecutive years and it’s a perfect fit for people who want a dedicated life companion
- Poodle puppies are one of the most trainable pups in the world, combining their sharp minds with their willingness to please and learn
- The pet Poodle is always ready for an adventure. These dogs love to enjoy the great outdoors by playing fetch or chasing their favorite four-legged friends
- The baby Poodle is without a doubt a great companion for anyone who likes playful and fun dogs
- Poodle dogs have a very playful and sociable nature. They enjoy both indoor and outdoor playtime with children, teens, and adults
- The Poodle is a wonderful therapy dog as it is very sensitive to human emotions and has a loving and caring attitude
Appearance
Poodles, regardless of their size (Toy, Mini, or Standard) have the same square shape, with a long, beautiful neck and a straight back. The tail is docked but not clipped, allowing it to wave freely. Poodles have a long muzzle and drop ears, giving them a skinny appearance. They have a lively, bouncing walk.
The Mini Poodle is elegant, graceful, and small in size. The average weight for a Mini Poodle is 10-12 pounds and the average height is 12-14 inches. With feathered floppy ears and dark oval-shaped eyes, each Mini Poodle has its own charm. Their coat is soft, curly, and luxurious and it can come in a variety of colors. Apricot Poodle is the world's rarest color. This hue is caused by a recessive gene and appears as a very faint red that borders on cream. Other Poodle colors include white, black, gray, brown, cream, and multi-color.
The hypoallergenic coat doesn't shed, making them an excellent option for people with allergies. Many breeds have a soft double coat, but the cute Poodle puppies and adults do not. Poodles have a single coat of curly hair that is dense and long. It grows and some hairs fall off just like human hair.
Temperament
Poodle dogs are known to be gentle around children and other pets, and they are often friendly with strangers. These dogs are easy-going and playful. Poodles are highly receptive and attentive since early puppyhood for two reasons. Firstly, they are sharp-minded and eager to please. Secondly, they are highly trainable due to their early receptiveness and attentiveness.
To understand this canine's mind, one must see the benefits in the poodle's willingness to learn and please. The Poodle dog has an outgoing and playful spirit. Poodle puppies love to be outdoors where they can go on long walks with their human families, run, swim, hike, play, and socialize. The Poodle is without a doubt a wonderful playmate for all ages. Playful and eager to have fun, the Poodle breeds enjoy playing with children and adults alike. They can play a game of fetch or a canine puzzle game in order to keep their minds entertained.
Poodle fans frequently use the terms intelligent, affectionate, loyal, and amusing to define the animal's behavior. The Poodle dog is also known for providing "an air of distinction," which seems to be a dignified temperament that is difficult to describe but easy to recognize in the dog. The Poodle is loyal and protective of his home and family. And, while he is loyal to his family, he may take extra time to warm up to new faces. Truly remarkable, the Poodle is a wonderful pet to have.
Care
Poodle Grooming
Poodle grooming needs are not as demanding as many breed enthusiasts tend to believe. They require more extensive grooming as puppies, and less as adults. Poodles are not born with their signature curly coats, but rather straight and soft fur. This means that you will have to brush your puppy every day or at the very least every other day. As they grow, you will have to scale back on brushing to some degree since adult Poodles have much curlier coats that don’t mat as much.
Other breeds of dogs have fur, not hair, which can lead to shedding. However, Poodles are the opposite. They have hair instead of fur, which is hypoallergenic and doesn’t shed. So, their coats must be groomed more often. Otherwise, they will grow too long and possibly become matted. Grooming often shortens their hair so it doesn’t get tangled or matted over time. The skin cells on your curly Poodle have a 21-day life cycle. As a result, we recommend bathing your Poodle only once every three to four weeks.
Poodle Exercise Needs
The Poodle breeds are one of the most fashionable breeds in the world. Poodle puppies are loving, energetic, intelligent and always ready for new adventures. All Poodle puppy owners must provide them with enough exercise. Poodles are active dogs that need to be walked at least 30 minutes a day or given at least 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity per day.
Poodle Health
Poodles are a dog breed that is prone to the same health issues as any other dog. However, because Poodles come in different sizes and shapes, their problems can vary. It's important for Poodle puppy owners to be aware of common health issues and problems that may affect their pet. It's important to do your research on any breed of dog before adopting one.
All Poodle breeds need to watch out for a variety of common problems. For Standard Poodles, common conditions include hip dysplasia, retinal atrophy, epilepsy, Addison’s disease, thyroid problems, hypoglycemia, bloat and collapsed trachea. Despite the fact that all Poodles, regardless of size, are the same breed, they do not all share the same health issues. Regular vet checkups should be something to take into consideration for your pet’s health.
Poodle Lifespan
The size of the Poodle dog is what dictates his life expectancy. This is not simply true in the case of dog breeds, but in all animals. The larger the animal, the shorter its life expectancy. The Poodle is not an exception to this rule either. The average lifespan of a Standard Poodle is 12 years. Some dogs may live to be 10, while others may live to be 13 or even 14 years old. Miniature and Toy Poodles have a lifespan of up to 18 or more years. Seamus, the world's longest living Toy Poodle, lived to be 20 years old.
Poodle Training
Poodles are great dogs with a lot of love to give. They're intelligent and love playing, but they also have a little mischief in them. This breed is found in three sizes - standard, miniature, and toy. But no matter the size, they are all the same when it comes to their temperament towards people. All poodles need to be trained, just like any other dog.
One of the best things about the Poodle puppies is how easy they are to train. In fact, their intelligence and natural athleticism make them one of the easiest dog breeds to teach. As long as training is implemented, the pet Poodle is happy and thrives.
Keep the following in mind when housebreaking your Poodle puppy:
- Take him out on a regular basis: when he wakes up, before meals, and after meals.
- For each month of age, a puppy can "hold it" for around an hour. A five-month-old puppy, for example, should be able to go five hours without having to go to the bathroom. However, we strongly advise you to get your Poodle puppy out more frequently.
When you're housetraining your adorable Poodle, keep him with you as much as possible. You won't be able to observe your puppy circling or demanding to go outside if you let him roam the house out of sight.
Treats and a leash are required for teaching your cute Poodle to heel. Train your sensitive, high-activity Poodle puppy when you're in a calm, good mood and your dog has had some exercise. This way your dog can focus on training rather than being distracted by excess energy or your mood. When training your Poodle puppy, always utilize positive reinforcement rather than negative reinforcement. Keep training sessions brief, especially for young puppies, to avoid frustration and boredom.
As far as command training, begin with the most basic command. Make sure you have a clicker and some rewards on hand. Begin by teaching your cute Poodle dog the most basic obedience commands: sit, come, wait.
History
The Poodle’s history and origin read like a portfolio of achievements. These dogs have been represented in ancient Egyptian carvings (dating back to the first centuries BC), French poems, and ancient Greek coins and artifacts from the Roman Empire. The Poodle's history is long and storied. It originated in Germany centuries ago, where it was used as a water retriever. During this time, the Poodle dog had a "trim" that would help them retrieve objects more quickly. This trim is now seen in the show ring where the Poodle is a frequent winner. They also had pom poms during their hunting days. These protected them from injury and kept them warm.
Duck hunting during wartime may sound strange, but the adorable Poodles were enlisted in the German Military for their excellent skills. These dogs traveled to France alongside German soldiers. Once the war ended, Poodles moved on to civilian life, building up their reputation as excellent working dogs. Hunters, retrievers, herders, show dogs - all of these tasks were performed by this wonderful breed. The Poodle dog breed's popularity skyrocketed with the French Circus. The Poodle became a highly trained and agile dog, so circus members began breeding them down in size to be easier to handle and carry with the circus. The Miniature Poodle, who quickly rose to fame as a show dog and movie star, soon became highly popular across the United States and Europe too.
In the Poodle breed, there are three categories: the Toy Poodle, the Miniature Poodle and the Standard Poodle. The Toy Poodle stands, on average, 8 to 10 inches tall and weighs 6 to 9 pounds. The Miniature Poodle stands 12 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 10 to 12 pounds full grown. Their popularity is due to being sweet companion pets. The Standard Poodle is a variety of dogs with an average height of 15-20+ inches and an average weight of 30-70 pounds. The Standard Poodle is known for being a circus performer, a duck hunter, and a show dog.
Poodles are lively, fun-loving, loyal, and active dogs that love attention. Therefore, many Poodle breeders choose to cross various other breeds with Poodles to create a new mix. Known as the most popular crossbreed on the market, these mixes are known as "Doodles".
Some popular Poodle Mixed Breeds:
- Labradoodle - Labrador Poodle mix
- Cockapoo - Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix puppy
- Maltipoo - Maltese Poodle mix puppies
- Goldendoodle - Golden Retriever Poodle mix puppy
- Pomapoo - Pomeranian Poodle mix
- Cavapoo - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Poodle mix puppies
- Schnoodle - Standard Schnauzer Poodle mix
- Yorkipoo - Yorkshire Terrier Poodle mix
- Chipoo - Baby Chihuahua Poodle mix