Poodle: A Puppy You’ll Forever Love

May 26, 2021

Graceful. Self-assured. Intelligent. The Poodle is a dog of many impressive traits and talents. Over the years, this breed has been a favorite in numerous dog shows, mainly earning its rewards through its regal personality and clever tricks. And yet, along with its talented streak, there’s more to the Poodle that meets the eye. The Poodle is a family dog and maintains an affectionate, friendly attitude towards their loved ones (and sometimes, even strangers!). 

Despite the common portrayal of the breed as prissy, snobby dogs, Poodles are highly regarded as one of the most intelligent breeds in the world. This makes them easy to train and get along with. Poodles are eager to please their owners and will do any task to do just that. Poodles are perfect companions for families who constantly engage in activities with them. Any aspiring puppy parent who can meet the wants and needs of their furry friend will have a life-long, loyal companion!

History

The Poodle’s exact origin is a bit of a mystery, as no one really knows which dog breed is its direct ancestor. The Poodle is likely the result of breedings between different water and hunting dogs from Europe, including Spanish and French water dogs. Starting in the 1400s, dog breeders began breeding different varieties of the Poodle, which later produced the Miniature and Toy Poodle breeds. These smaller dogs were beloved by wealthy and noble Parisian families, who kept them as lap dogs. The larger Poodle dogs were used for hunting ducks and other animals. 

Due to their high intelligence, Poodles also became popular animals in traveling circuses and were often dressed in beautiful costumes and hairstyles. The first Poodle was registered in the Kennel Club in England in 1874. A few years later, the American Kennel Club registered the Poodle as an official breed. The breed was not very popular in the United States until the end of World War II. Since then, the Poodle has held its rightful place as one of the most popular and beloved dog breeds in the US for over 20 years.

Size

Poodles come in three different size variations: Toy, Miniature, Standard. The Toy Poodle typically stands up to 10 inches tall and weighs around 6 to 9 pounds. The Miniature Poodle grows up to 11 to 15 inches tall and weighs around 15 to 17 pounds. The Standard Poodle can grow between 15 to 22 inches tall. Male Standard Poodles weigh between 45 to 70 pounds while females weigh around 45 to 60 pounds. 

Temperament

Clever, fiercely loyal, and playful, Poodles are hard to resist from the moment you meet them. Poodles are known for having a regal, elegant appearance and attitude, but are rarely ever snobby. They love to have fun, and you’ll always find your Poodle trying to initiate playtime with you whenever possible. Their goofy personality comes from their love of people. Of course, Poodles are also very protective of their pack and home. Your Poodle may not feel comfortable around strangers and will take a while to warm up to new guests. 

That’s why it’s important to socialize your Poodle as a puppy so that they have an easier time getting along with unfamiliar people. The best trait of the Poodle is their high intelligence. Some pet owners even believe their Poodles are just as smart as humans, which means they’re very easy to train. Unfortunately, their high intelligence has a price. Poodles get bored with repetitive games and training because they learn fast so we recommend switching up training and playtime sessions to keep your fur-baby happy.

Grooming

Along with being super smart, Poodles also have a non-shedding, hypoallergenic coat. This makes them a great choice for those with allergies. Their coat usually comes in a variety of gorgeous colors, such as blue, black, white, brown, and cream. Their fur tends to be curly or wavy, which can be regularly trimmed and styled the way you like it. Now, grooming a Poodle can be tricky. Their coat is dense but requires a lot of maintenance to prevent knots and matting. We recommend grooming your Poodle every 3 to 6 weeks to keep your Poodle’s good looks. 

Exercise Level

Poodles are flexible with any type of home, including apartments and small spaces. However, they do need constant exercise and attention from their owners. They need at least an hour of playtime and exercise each day to be physically fit. You can also mentally stimulate your Poodle with puzzle games and Kong toys, which prevents them from getting bored. Remember: bored Poodles will indulge in destructive behavior so be sure to keep your dog entertained. Poodles are also better suited as indoor dogs, especially if they’re Toy or Miniature Poodles.

Training

As previously mentioned, all Poodles are incredibly intelligent. They learn very quickly, even bad habits, so be careful. Poodles are perceptive dogs and it can be easy to make a mistake in training them. This is especially important for the smaller Poodle versions. Take time to use positive reinforcement during training. Once you fully train your Poodle, you’ll have a great, loyal little friend by your side!

Apart from training and exercise, Poodles need love and attention from their loved ones. The media often depicts Poodles as prissy, uncaring dogs that only belong to the rich and elite. But this is far from the truth. Poodles are quite social, friendly, and affectionate. They thrive on being around people, especially their favorite humans. They’re unhappy when their owners do not give them the love and attention they deserve. Once you have a Poodle in your life, you’ll always have a special puppy waiting for you at home!