Poodle Information
You may have heard of the Poodle stereotype. An aloof, stuck-up dog peering down his snout at others. In actuality, however, the breed couldn't be more different. He is eager to please, easy to train, and loves being around his humans.
The Poodle has both brains and beauty. The breed is considered one of the smartest of all the canines. He also has an elegant, sophisticated appearance with a textured, hypoallergenic coat in white, black, apricot, or gray. This dignified dog has long been considered the national breed of France.
Poodles come in three sizes: Toy (9-11 inches tall), Miniature (11-14 inches tall), or Standard (14-18 inches tall).
Poodle History
The Poodle is famous for being the national dog of France; however, the breed is most likely from Germany. They used the dog as a duck hunter due to its swimming abilities. The name comes from the German word Pudel which means to "splash in water."
The Poodle's unique haircut originated with hunters as well. The dogs were trimmed to enhance mobility but left long around their chest, hips, and leg joints to keep warm. The puffs of hair left on the breed are called pompons.
Poodle Training & Temperament
Poodles are a very trainable breed. They are intelligent and happy to please their human companions. They do well with agility, obedience, tracking, and retrieving. Poodles can do well with any family members, including children, if introduced slowly. They also will warm to strangers over time.
Poodle Exercise
Poodles are an active breed. They need daily exercise to make them content, such as jogging or long walks, fetching, or swimming. In addition, they were bred as hunting dogs, so they typically have a retrieving instinct that can be used to give them adequate exercise.
Poodle Grooming
Poodles can be clipped to a short trim for low maintenance (aside from maintaining the clip). If they are kept long, you'll need to brush them often to keep them from matting. If keeping short, they will need grooming every 4-6 weeks. The breed also doesn't shed much, so it is an option for people with allergies when maintained.
Poodle Health
Poodles are generally a healthy breed. However, they tend to grow hair in their ears which can lead to ear infections. Checking their ears and cleaning them out with a cleaning solution as needed is best.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poodle, https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/poodle-miniature-standard/