Contents
Key Breed Facts
Breed Characteristics
Introduction
History
Appearance
Temperament
Intelligence / Trainability
Children and Other Pets
Health
Caring for a Poodle
Grooming
Exercise
Feeding
Average Cost to keep/care for a Poodle
Key Breed Facts
Popularity #40 out of 238 Dog Breeds.
Lifespan
Toy Poodle : 14 - 15 years, Miniature Poodle : 13
Pedigree Breed ?
No - Not Currently KC Recognised
HeightToy Poodle : Males 24 - 28 cm; Females 24 - 28 cm at the
withers Miniature Poodle : Males 28 - 38 cm; Females 28 - 38 cm at the
withers Standard Poodle : Males over 38 cm; Females over 38 cm at the
Weight
Toy Poodle : Males 3 - 6 kg; Females 3 - 6 kg
Miniature Poodle : Males 7 - 8 kg; Females 7 -8 kg
Standard Poodle : Males 30 - 35 kg
Females 21 - 32 kg
Average Price (More Info)£531 for Non KC Registered
Breed Characteristics
There are many breeds which are often better suited as companions rather than family pets thanks to their small and tiny size. Medium and large size breeds are often better suited to families with children, although it's important to note that not all breeds tolerate being roughly handled by younger kids. Large and Giant breeds tend to be a little too large to be around toddlers and younger children simply because of their huge size, although very often many of these breeds are in fact gentle giants.
Pets4homes always recommends that potential owners take into account a breed's size before making their final decision on which type of dog would be best suited to their families and lifestyles.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 3 out of 5 for "Size"
Rating 1
Tiny
Rating 2
Small
Rating 3
Medium
Rating 4
Large
Rating 5
Giant
Many breeds are high-energy dogs which is particularly true of "working dogs". Dogs that boast having a lot of energy need to be kept busy mentally and physically to be truly happy, well-balanced characters when they live in a home environment. They need a ton of exercise which has to include keeping their minds occupied which makes them the perfect choice for people who lead active, outdoor lives and who like to have a canine companion at their side.
Breeds that are considered low-energy are just as happy lounging around the home as they are being taken out for a walk and they are the perfect choice for people who lead more sedentary, quiet lives.
Pets4homes always recommends that potential owners take a dog's energy levels and exercise requirements into account when choosing a breed so it matches their own lifestyle.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 5 out of 5 for "Exercise Needs"
Rating 1
Minimal
Rating 2
Low
Rating 3
Medium
Rating 4
High
Rating 5
Extremely High
Some breeds are known to be highly intelligent which generally means they are easier to train and that they learn new things quickly. However, because a breed is known to be a fast learner, it means they are just as quick to pick up bad habits too.
Other breeds take their time to learn new things and need more in the way of repetition to get it right which in short, means more time and patience is needed when training them.
Pets4homes always recommends that potential owners take the time to read up on a dog's intelligence and their needs before making the final decision on which breed is best for them.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 4 out of 5 for "Easy to Train"
Rating 1
No
Rating 2
Challenging
Rating 3
Average
Rating 4
Very
Rating 5
Exceptionally
All dogs shed whether it's hair or dander (dead skin) with some breeds shedding more than others. As such, living with a dog means having to put up with a little or a lot of hair being left around the house and on clothes. Some breeds shed all year round, whereas other breeds typically blow their coats a couple of times a year which is when they shed the most.
A few breeds shed steadily throughout the year and blow their coats in the Spring and Autumn too, whereas other breeds only shed a little hair no matter what time of the year it is. Houseproud people should choose a low shedding breed to make their lives easier and there are a lot of low shedding breeds to choose from.
Pets4homes always recommends that potential owners check how much a breed sheds before making a final decision so they are well prepared for their new pet's presence in the home.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 1 out of 5 for "Amount of Shedding"
Rating 1
None / Minimal
Rating 2
Low
Rating 3
Moderate
Rating 4
High
Rating 5
Heavy
A lot of breeds are easy maintenance on the grooming front and only need a weekly brush to keep their coats looking good and their skin in great condition. Other breeds are much higher maintenance and ideally need to be professionally groomed a few times a year to keep their coats nicely trimmed and looking good which can add to the cost of keeping a dog considerably.
Pets4homes always advises potential owners to check out how much grooming a dog's coat requires before making the final decision on which breed would be best for them.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 5 out of 5 for "Grooming Needs"
Rating 1
Minimal
Rating 2
Low
Rating 3
Medium
Rating 4
High
Rating 5
Extremely High
Some breeds are not tolerant of children at all, whilst other are exceptionally good around children of all ages and will tolerate being pulled about, they put up with noisy environments when kids shout, scream and chase around like toddlers and younger children often do.
However, all children need to be taught how to behave around dogs, how to handle them and when it is time to leave a dog alone which is especially true when it's meal time.
Pets4homes always recommends that any interaction between toddlers and younger children be supervised by an adult to make sure playtime stays calm and things never get too rough.
We recommend that you never leave any child alone with your dog, even for a few minutes, no matter what breed of dog you have. If you do have younger children and are looking to buy or adopt a dog, we advise against larger or strong dog breeds.
For further advice please read the following article on Keeping Children Safe around Dogs
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 3 out of 5 for "Good With Children"
Rating 1
No
Rating 2
Below Average
Rating 3
Average
Rating 4
Above Average
Rating 5
Yes
A few breeds are known to suffer from specific hereditary and congenital health issues, although good breeding practices go a long way in reducing the risk of a dog developing a genetic disorder.
With this said, not all dogs will develop a hereditary disorder during the course of their lives, but the risk is greatly increased if they are not bred responsibly.
Pets4homes always recommends that potential owners ask breeders about any genetic diseases that are known to affect a breed and to see all the results of DNA and other tests carried out on parent dogs before they commit to buying a puppy from them.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 3 out of 5 for "Health of Breed"
Rating 1
Poor
Rating 2
Below Average
Rating 3
Average
Rating 4
Good
Rating 5
Exceptional
Apart from purchasing a puppy or dog, there are other expenses that need to be factored into owning and caring for them correctly. This includes the cost of vaccinating, neutering and spaying a dog when the time is right. Other costs include investing in good quality collars, leads and coats which many smaller breeds need to wear during the colder months. Apart from these expenses, there's pet insurance to consider which lots of owners choose to take out just in case their dogs fall sick or get injured.
Vet bills include things like regular check-ups and annual boosters which help reduce the risk of dogs catching any nasty diseases. Frequent visits to the vet also helps catch any health issues earlier rather than later which often means the prognosis is a lot better for a dog.
Pets4homes always recommends that potential dog owners calculate just how much it would cost to keep and care for a dog making sure they are fed the right kind of food to suit the different stages of their lives which helps ensure they stay healthy right through to their golden years.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 4 out of 5 for "Cost to Keep"
Rating 1
Very Low
Rating 2
Low
Rating 3
Average
Rating 4
Above Average
Rating 5
Expensive
A lot of breeds form extremely strong ties with their owners which means they stress out when they are left on their own which includes for short periods of time. As a result of being left alone dogs can become destructive around the house which is their way of relieving the anxiety they may be experiencing and not necessarily because they are being naughty.
Breeds that form strong bonds with their families are best suited to households where at least one person stays at home when everyone else is out because they are at greater risk of developing separation anxiety.
Pets4homes always recommends that potential owners check out just how tolerant a breed is of being left on their own before making the final decision on which breed would best suit their lifestyle.
Pets4Homes also recommends that no dog be left alone at home for more than 4 hours at a time.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 2 out of 5 for "Tolerates Being Alone"
Rating 1
No
Rating 2
Short Periods
Rating 3
Moderate Time
Rating 4
Long Periods
Rating 5
Yes
A lot of working breeds were bred to be independent thinkers capable of doing their job on their own when needed. These dogs have evolved to be highly intelligent with some breeds being more than capable of working for extremely long periods of time.
Just because a dog is extremely intelligent does not mean they are easy to live with because like the Border Collie, they can be very demanding when it comes to the amount of exercise and mental stimulation they need to be truly well-balanced, happy dogs when they live in a home environment.
Highly intelligent dogs do well when they take part in "obedience training" and other canine activities where they get to use their brains while at the same time having a great workout.
Pets4homes always recommends that potential owners check out a breed's intelligence and their specific energy needs before making their final decision so their dog's needs fit in well with their lifestyle.
Pets4Homes rates the "Poodle" breed as 5 out of 5 for "Intelligence"
Rating 1
Low
Rating 2
Below Average
Rating 3
Average
Rating 4
Above Average
Rating 5
High
Introduction
When you mention the word 'Poodle' people conjure up an image of a pampered pet. In fact, the Poodle, a dog of many sizes being found in 3 sizes, the Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Standard Poodle, is often cited as being in the top 5 for intelligence in dog breeds and is an excellent multipurpose dog, excelling at many canine sports.
History
The Poodle as a breed has been around for many years and was bred as a water dog to retrieve game and fowl from rivers and lakes. The name 'Poodle' is thought to be a derivative of the old German extraction 'pudeln' which translates roughly as 'to splash in water'. The exact origins are unclear. Whether its ancestors originally hailed from the East or Africa is debateable, but it is believed that they eventually found their way to Europe, notably Portugal, where one of its alleged cousins, the Portuguese Water Dog hails from. Having very similar appearances, this is not impossible. The 3 sizes of Poodle have existed for centuries, with the larger sizes working in the field, and the smaller sizes being kept as companions. The toy variety, sometimes know as the 'Sleeve Poodle' was sometimes kept in the sleeves of its owners and was used as a hand warmer. Poodles have had a very colourful history being kept by nobility and royalty, through to travelling people. They have been utilised in every possible role a dog could fill and to this day remain a popular companion.
Appearance
Height
Toy Poodle : Males 24 - 28 cm; Females 24 - 28 cm at the withers,
Miniature Poodle : Males 28 - 38 cm; Females 28 - 38 cm at the withers,
Standard Poodle : Males over 38 cm; Females over 38 cm at the withers
Weight
Toy Poodle : Males 3 - 6 kg; Females 3 - 6 kg,
Miniature Poodle : Males 7 - 8 kg; Females 7 -8 kg,
Standard Poodle : Males 30 - 35 kg, Females 21 - 32 kg
Poodles have a luxuriant, even textured and curled single coat which does not shed a great deal, making it a good choice for people with allergies. Its coat is always a solid colour, and comes in a variety of colours including black, white, cream, silver, apricot, red, fawn and brown. The coat is frequently darker in colour around the ears, but otherwise is usually a regular colour all over the body. The colour of the nose and lips is usually black but is also proportional to the coat colours, with the lighter coloured coat liver or slightly paler skin is allowed. All sizes of Poodles are very well proportioned and have well-muscled hindquarters which is sometimes enhanced by the variety of cuts the coats are seen with. The desired appearance is boxy with strong legs, back and neck. The head of the dog is narrow with a tapered muzzle, dark and fiercely intelligent eyes and ears that flop forwards onto the cheeks.
Temperament
As a very intelligent dog, Poodles can get bored quite easily if not enough mental and physical stimulation is provided. This needs to be in the form of exercise, play, learning and obedience. The Poodle is very capable of learning new commands and has a talent for learning tricks, the reason why, along with its showy appearance, it used to be used on a regular basis in circuses. They are playful patient and loyal to the family, but can be reserved with strangers until they get to know them. This makes them (all sizes) good watch dogs and they will readily bark to alert of anyone approaching the home. They are very companionable animals and like children and other animals, however the usual early socialisation will not hurt at all. The Poodle has a high energy and drive, even the Toy variety, and requires at least two walks per day, and it can become destructive if an outlet for this energy is not given to it. Do not make the mistake of thinking that the Toy Poodle is not energetic. While, of course, it does not need to walk as far on a daily basis as it larger counterpart, it still needs a structured exercise routine. The only real comment on difference with regards to the size is that the Toy size does need careful handling as it is quite small and cannot tolerate too much rough house play as it could be easily injured.
Health
Standard Poodles live up to 13 years of age, with Toy and Miniature living a little longer on average to 15 years. They are quite a hardy breed of dog with Bloat being the main complaint in the Standard Poodle. Bloat is a medical emergency that can cause horrible pain and proves fatal in an estimated 40% of all cases. It is a gastric dilation of the stomach caused by an unusual accumulation of gas/liquid. This can be dangerous enough in its own right, but sometimes it leads to a second stage called volvulus, which is a stomach twisting or torsion. This shuts the stomach off from the rest of the body and prevents any of the accumulated gas or fluid within to escape. The stomach continues to expand, setting off a catastrophic series of events that in most cases can only be averted with emergency surgery. To minimise the chances of Bloat, this dog should be fed at least an hour before or after exercise with its water provided on a raised platform.
Caring for a Poodle
Regular grooming of the coat is an absolute necessity to prevent matting. This will take a considerable amount of time on the part of the owner, who must be dedicated to doing this for the dog. Professional help is usually required at least every 3 months, and these costs must be taken into account when deciding to own a Poodle. They also require at least two daily walks or runs, or one decent walk for the Toy variety.
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