Mary Allen
The history of the poodle goes far back into the Middle Ages and into antiquity. These happy, intelligent dogs, which were even considered the most popular dog breed in Germany in the 1960s, are ideal companions for families, singles, seniors, and anyone who wants an uncomplicated and loyal four-legged friend.
The poodle was recognized by the FCI as an independent breed as early as the 1930s. The standard bears the number 172 in Group 9: Companion and Companion Dogs, Section 2: Poodles, Without Working Trial.
Poodle Dog Breed Information
Size: 45-62cm
Weight: 05/02/2017 kg
FCI Group: 9: Companion and Companion Dogs
Section: 2: Poodles
Country of origin: France
Colors: Brindle, Black, Cream, Red, Silver, Grey, Blue, Brown, Apricot, White, Sable
Life expectancy: 12-17 years
Suitable as: guide, search, companion, and family dog
Sports: trick dogging, dog dancing
Personality: Active, Intelligent, Attentive, Loyal, Trainable, Instinctive
Exercise requirements: rather high
Drooling potential: low
The thickness of hair: low
Maintenance effort: high
Coat structure: rich, woolly, fine, and dense
Child friendly: yes
Family dog: yes
Social: rather yes
Origin and Breed History
For a long time, there was no consensus about the actual origin of the poodle. Already 2000 years ago, dogs with curly fur were found both in ancient Rome and in Persia, where they were apparently kept as domestic dogs. Targeted breeding and use of woolly dogs for hunting waterfowl began in the Middle Ages, as their thick fur protected them better from water than other dogs. At that time, the poodle’s ancestors were found practically all over Europe, far into Russia, which is why France, Russia, and Germany fought for a long time about who the poodle’s country of origin was. The FCI settled this dispute with breed recognition in the 1930s, simply ruling that the poodle was originally from France.
While the classic poodle gradually lost its hunting qualities, other breeds with a comparable coat, such as the Portuguese water dog, are still bred as working dogs for use on and in the water. One such water dog, the French barbet, is actually considered the ancestor of today’s poodles. Also as a reference to its earlier “wet” use, the German breed name “Pudel” is traced back to the old German terms “puddeln” = splash in the water or “Pfudel” = water puddle, pond.
Even if the poodle was used less for hunting, it has not lost its fun in retrieving. In general, these dogs always showed a great desire to learn things, which is why they were often shown as circus dogs in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They enchanted the audience with cute tricks like walking upright on their hind legs or jumping through hoops. The high nobility soon discovered this breed for themselves, since the smaller specimens, in particular, were willing and affectionate lap dogs, while the larger ones caused a stir as companion dogs with their elegant elegance and springy, dancing gait.
After the first official breed standard was set towards the end of the 19th century, the targeted breeding of the poodle to become a family and companion dog began. Due to the special selection of breeding animals, it was soon possible to breed different sizes and this is how the standard and small poodles came about. The miniature poodles were added as further independent breeds and finally, in the 1990s, the toy poodles were added as a result of a special selection of the smallest parent animals in Great Britain.
What Does Poodle Mean?
The German term “Pudel” is derived from the old German terms “puddeln”, which means something like “splashing in the water”, or “Pfudel” for puddle or pond and indicates the earlier use of this breed as a water hunting and retriever dog.
Nature & Temperament of the Poodle
Poodles are lively dogs that are also wonderfully playful and clever into old age. They are always happy to come up with fun surprises for their owners and really enjoy drawing attention to themselves. It is due to their great intelligence that poodles are so docile and are always willing and willing to learn new commands or tricks. Nothing is worse for a poodle than boredom – a future poodle-owner should always keep that in mind!
A poodle is extremely sensitive and immediately notices whether his favorite human is doing well or not. He builds up a very close relationship with his caregivers and therefore needs close contact with his “pack”. He is absolutely suitable for families and also loves to play with children. Due to its docility, the poodle is also a good beginner dog, provided the poodle person is willing to devote enough time and attention to his new companion.
Are Poodles Aggressive?
Poodles are clearly great family dogs and typically don’t show up in the dog bite incident statistics at all. But of course, every dog is an individual, and so there can be exceptions in every dog breed, no matter how peacefully described.
The Appearance of the Poodle
At the beginning of official poodle breeding, there were only two size variants, namely the large and the small poodle. In the course of the 20th century, two further types were added with the miniature poodle and the even smaller toy poodle. The size parameters precisely prescribed by the FCI standard are:
Shoulder height in centimeters:
- Standard poodle 45 – 62 cm
- Miniature poodle 35 – 45 cm
- Miniature poodle 28 – 35 cm
- Toy poodle 25 – 28 cm
The weight specifications vary from 2-4 kilograms for toy poodles to 12 kilograms for small poodles and up to a maximum of 30 kilograms for large poodles.
The physique should look roughly square. The head, carried high, with the clever, black or brown, slightly slanted eyes and the long, floppy, richly hairy ears is crowned by a thick tuft of hair. The classic Wool Poodle is characterized by its dense, woolly, and heavily curled coat, which is soft and fluffy to the touch. In addition to the curly-haired poodles, there are also the so-called corded poodles, in which the long hair is twisted into cords that are at least 20 cm long. These days, however, these are rather rare. The colors permitted by the FCI standard are black, brown, white, grey, silver, and apricot, but without exception in one color. Other very popular colors include the two-tone black and white or brown and white spotted “Harlequin Poodle” and the black and tan poodle with the typical “brand” on the legs, chest, and head. However, these are not recognized as poodles in the strict FCI standard.
Training and Keeping of the Poodle – This is Important to Consider
The poodle is considered to be one of the smartest dog breeds out there. He thirsts to learn and be kept busy. This is what makes raising a poodle so easy. His docility, adaptability, and above all his great need to please his favorite person make it easy for even a beginner to be successful in dog training. But that doesn’t mean that as a poodle owner you don’t have to do anything about it! As with any dog, clear announcements and affectionate consistency are also very important for the poodle, so that it doesn’t dance on its owner’s nose out of sheer high spirits and joie de vivre. Participation in puppy clubs, which are offered by practically all professional dog schools, is highly recommended in order to bring the new housemate into contact with other dogs from the start. Here he also has the opportunity to really let off steam in the unbound puppy game.
However, it is very important for the sensitive poodle to be in close contact with its owner or family as constantly as possible. Although he can get used to having to stay at home alone during the day if there is no other option, a poodle belongs in a household where everyone leaves for work or school early and someone only comes home hours later no way! And with the entry of the poodle into the lives of its people, holidays will also only take place as “holidays with dogs”!
Diet of the Poodle
As a rule, poodles do not have any special requirements when it comes to their diet. As with all other dogs, only high-quality food with a high meat content should be fed. Basically, this works with both wet and dry food. Access to fresh, clean drinking water must always be ensured.
Since more and more allergies are also occurring in dogs, which are often triggered by food ingredients, it is necessary to find a type of food that the dog can tolerate. In extreme cases, this can mean that the dog owner has to cook for himself. The veterinarian will draw up a detailed nutrition plan for this. And don’t worry – your dog won’t find it boring to be served the same type of food over and over again! Frequent changes of variety often lead to stomach or intestinal problems and also to intolerance reactions. If a change of feed is necessary, the new feed should always be mixed with the old feed-in increasing quantities over a period of a few days.
Depending on age and activity, a dog’s energy requirements vary greatly. This must also be taken into account when choosing the food in order to avoid obesity and the resulting health problems.
Healthy – Life Expectancy & Common Diseases
Basically, when breeding poodles, reputable breeders attach great importance to health and longevity. Depending on the size, there are some clinical pictures that are more common in poodles and can sometimes be hereditary. Bone and joint problems, above all the hereditary hip dysplasia (HD), occur above all in Standard Poodles. Therefore, potential parent animals must first be examined by a veterinarian before they are approved for breeding. The smaller poodle breeds, on the other hand, tend to suffer from a predisposition to luxating the patella, instability of the kneecap that leads to lameness.
Eye diseases can also occur in poodles. A hereditary disease that primarily affects Miniature Poodles and Toy Poodles is what is known as progressive retinal atrophy, which leads to blindness in dogs. Genetic tests help here to check future parent animals in advance for the presence of this defect and, if necessary, to exclude them from breeding. The eye disease cataracts are also more common in poodles.
Finally, toy poodles bred to extreme dwarfism, in particular, are prone to various health problems. This is mainly due to the fact that when the parent animals were selected over generations, the external appearance, i.e. the special smallness, was rated more important than the hereditary health. The small body size and minimal weight alone make these miniature dogs more susceptible to injuries and broken bones.
However, a healthy, well-fed poodle has a relatively long life expectancy. So the poodle owner can look forward to a happy 12 to 17 years with his four-legged friend.
How Old Do Poodles Get?
The life expectancy for poodles is quite high at 12-17 years, with the smaller poodles usually living longer than the standard poodles.
Care of the Poodle
The poodle’s woolly, heavily curly coat constantly grows back and practically never sheds (poodles really don’t shed!), so it needs to be clipped regularly about every 6-8 weeks. It shouldn’t matter to the poodle whether it’s a practical clip for pure fur trimming or one of many different fashion clippings such as the lion cut, which was very popular in the past, the classic exhibition clip or the puppy clip, and therefore depends solely on the preference of the respective owner. To prevent the dense, soft hair from becoming matted, it also needs to be brushed through several times a week. Depending on how often and in which terrain a poodle is walked, the hard claws may also grow back too long. These then have to be shortened to prevent the paws from becoming misaligned.
How Do I Clip My Poodle?
There are many different styles of grooming for this breed. In order to avoid unwanted injuries to the dog’s sensitive skin or a failed hairstyle, this procedure should be left to an experienced dog hairdresser. Only long-time poodle owners with the appropriate experience like to do this themselves.
Poodle – Activities and Training
The poodle’s great urge to move and the desire for intellectual activity requires the poodle owner to be willing to go for frequent walks and to have a certain wealth of ideas as to how the four-legged friend can be challenged. All poodles, no matter what size, love to fetch balls or sticks. Most representatives of this breed love to splash around in the water. Practicing various small tricks is great fun for them and prevents them from getting bored.
Poodles are very well suited for a wide variety of dog sports such as agility, obedience or dog dancing. Intelligent poodles are also often used in training to become guide dogs or therapy dogs – standard poodles are more likely to be guide dogs for the blind. In therapy use, for example, for people with disabilities or accompanying in psychotherapy, child or elderly care, but also the smaller poodle strokes.
Good to Know: Peculiarities of the Poodle
Due to its eye-catching and elegant appearance, the poodle has always been very popular in the world of the rich and beautiful. For example, such famous personalities as the composer Richard Wagner or the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called a poodle their own. Ludwig van Beethoven even dedicated the “Elegie to the Death of a Poodle” to his beloved poodle, and the American writer John Steinbeck described his three-month road trip in a camper through the USA in his report “Journey with Charley: In Search of America”. his poodle.
The list of stars with one or more poodles on a leash is almost endless: from Marilyn Monroe to Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Walt Disney, Maria Callas, and Grace Kelly to Thomas Mann, Wilhelm Busch, the Jacob Sisters or Rihanna – they all were or have succumbed to the charm of a poodle!
The great popularity of the poodle and its friendly nature has also led to many other dog breeds being crossed with poodles in order to combine certain characteristics or visual traits. The resulting new “dog breeds”, which are not recognized as such by the FCI, are called “Labradoodle” (= Labrador + Poodle), “Goldendoodle” (= Golden Retriever + Poodle), “Schnoodle” (= Schnauzer + Poodle ) or “Maltipoo” (= Maltese + Poodle). The appearance of these dogs also varies greatly, even within a litter there are always exciting surprises!
How Much Does a Poodle Cost?
A purebred poodle puppy from a good breeder will cost around $1000-1800, possibly more. You should definitely stay away from cheaply offered pedigree puppies whose origin is uncertain, as they are usually bred under cruel conditions and very often develop serious diseases.
Cons of the Poodle
In addition to the health problems already mentioned that occur with some poodles, another disadvantage is the sometimes very frequent, excited barking, which the smaller poodles, in particular, tend to do. With consistent training, however, this can be brought under control with intelligent four-legged friends.
The future poodle-owner must also be aware of the intensive and time-consuming care of his dog’s coat. Regular clipping at the dog groomer also costs money.
Is the Poodle Right for Me?
Before you decide to get a dog, no matter what breed, you should always ask yourself a few basic questions:
- Do I have enough time to look after the dog, walk it several times a day and keep it busy?
- Do all family members agree to a new roommate moving in?
- Who takes care of the dog if I can’t?
- Am I ready to organize my holiday with the dog?
Do I have enough financial resources to cover not only the purchase price for the puppy and the initial equipment with a leash, collar, dog bowl, and dog bed but also the running costs for good food, visits to the vet, vaccinations, and medication, dog school, dog tax and liability insurance to pay? After all, a dog costs about the same as a small car over the course of its lifetime!
If you have finally thought about everything and decided to bring a poodle into the family as a new family member, you should first look for a reputable breeder. Important criteria for the fact that the breeder is really serious about breeding poodles are a manageable number of breeding animals and litters and the keeping of bitches and puppies within the family and with close contact to reference persons. A good breeder will ask questions of the prospect, wanting to know how and where their puppies will be kept and, if necessary, will refuse to sell a dog if the prospect’s answers are not satisfactory. Recommendations for feeding, information about veterinary treatments such as initial vaccinations and deworming, and the offer to contact you after the purchase should be a matter of course for a good breeder. The best thing to do is to visit the breeder before you finally buy the puppy and have a look at him.
In addition to purchasing from a breeder, it may also be worth going to an animal shelter – purebred poodles are always waiting here to find a new and beautiful home. Various animal protection organizations have also dedicated themselves specifically to helping poodles in need and are looking for suitable, loving owners for such dogs.
Poodles make wonderful family dogs and love children. But they also feel “at home” in a single or couple household, and they are even ideal as a senior dog. Depending on the mobility of the future owner, it may also be advisable to take in an older dog that does not need as much activity and exercise as a very young puppy.
Due to the fact that poodles don’t shed their hair, they are always described as suitable for allergy sufferers. However, since this statement cannot be medically proven, it should always be tested first to ensure that it really works, to be on the safe side for both the owner and the dog. Poodle breeders who really care about their dogs will certainly like to let potential dog owners contact the puppies and the mother once (or several times) in order to try out the effect.