Poodles are the blondes of the dog world. Everyone makes fun of them, but in all actual point of fact, they are one of the most intelligent dog breeds. Poodles are often used as show dogs. Be sure to have your reason for owning a poodle well defined before you purchase one. If you are not going to show your dog, you will want to get a pet quality dog for a much better price.

Who Should Own a Poodle?

Poodles come in three different sizes and are adaptable to almost any living situation. The toy size is perfect for apartment dwellers. Miniature poodles are great for apartments or homes. Standards really need to go to a home that has a yard. Poodles are very intelligent. If they get bored, they may come up with inappropriate ways to relieve the boredom.

Poodles have only a single coat of fur,  instead of the usual double coats of most dogs. That makes them fairly hypoallergenic. There curly coat keeps shedding to a minimum. However, that means they will need lots of grooming to keep the tangles and mats to a minimum. Professional grooming can be expensive, and the cost needs to be figured into your plans. Home grooming is fairly easy to learn, but you will need special equipment. Your dog will need to be brushed daily and groomed about every 6 weeks.

Poodles are not the best dogs for families with small children. You probably know someone with children and a poodle, and it is working out very well. That is great. However, the poodle rescue shelters are full of great poodles that just couldn’t get along with kids.

Because of their smaller size toy poodles may be just perfect for folks that would have trouble lifting a heavier dog. They are also an excellent choice for folks that aren’t as mobile as they once were. A walk around the block is a long walk when you legs are less than 5 inches long!

Why Own a Poodle?

Poodles are great dogs for people that have time to spend with their dog, or are really interested in teaching a dog tricks. These incredible dogs are so smart and willing to learn. Poodles are great show dogs. A fair number of people probably start to own a poodle purely for their size or their beauty. They then fall in love with sharing their home with such an intelligent and playful dog.

A Brief Description

Poodles have been bred to three recognized sizes. The largest of the breed is the standard and they are poodles that are over 15” at the withers. Next in size is the miniature poodle whose measurement at the withers is over 10” but less than 15”.  The smallest of the breed is the toy poodle which is any poodle that is less than 10”.  The life span of the poodle is 10-18 years depending upon the size of the dog.

Poodles have long, straight muzzles and thin, strong necks to carry their head high. They are well proportioned and generally look very delicate. Show quality dogs must be all one color. The eyes are bright and oval shaped. Coats are curly or corded and are single layered. There are a variety of clip styles to groom your poodles coat to match your dog’s personality. As long as you are going to all the trouble to groom him, you might as well make a statement!

History of the Poodle

Poodles started out as waterdogs and are actually retrievers. The standard sized poodles were used by hunters to retrieve birds and other game. The first poodle clips were meant to help the dog move through the water better with fur left longer at the joints to protect them from the cold. The miniature sized poodles have been doing tricks at carnival and circus shows for centuries.

Health Problems

Progressive Retinal Atrophy affects cells in the retina of the eye. These cells die due to a lack of oxygen.  This will lead to blindness in your dog. As the name implies, the disease is progressive. It usually appears after the dog is 5 years old.  There is no cure for this disease. These dogs should not be used for breeding purposes. This is one reason why it is so important to go to a reputable breeder.

Patella Sub-luxation is a condition where the knee falls out of the groove that it normally rides in. This will cause pain until knee slips back into place. Surgery can be done if this becomes a problem. Hypothyroidism and epilepsy are conditions that your dog may develop which can easily be treated by medication.

Hip dysplasia is a problem in the standard breed. This condition is signified by pain in the hip as the ball and joint socket don’t align properly. Medication or surgery will be needed to solve the problem.

Training your Poodle

Poodles are very eager to learn and they thrive on the attention that training provides. Keep your training routine fresh, change up the pace. Don’t do the same command over and over.  Practice a command a few times and then move to something new. Your poodle does not like to be bored, so keep it fresh!

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