For a lot of people, the Poodle breed evokes pictures of spoiled pooches relaxing on soft pillows with intricate hairdos but in actuality, these dogs have a lengthy past of being diligent water retriever dogs for hunters. Poodles are an ancient breed and are believed to have been created in Germany. It is also believed that Poodles came from Asian herding dogs and are a cross of several European water dogs. This breed was standardized in France and is the national dog. There are 3 sizes of Poodles – Standard, Miniature, and Toy. The standard is the eldest and was used for duck hunting, the miniature to smell out truffles in the woods, and the toy as a companion. Poodles were moderately uncommon in the U.S. until after World War II but by the mid 1950’s they were the #1 breed in the U.S. and they retained that spot for more than 2 decades. They are presently the 7th most owned breed in the U.S., as reported by the American Kennel Club.
Dissimilar to the majority of dogs which have double coats, Poodles only possess a single layer coat with no under coat. This coat is tightly curled fur that sheds nominally. Their fur doesn’t fall off their bodies. It instead becomes tangled in the surrounding hair, so daily brushing is mandatory. Poodles are high maintenance dogs and require continual visits to the groomer to have their hair cut, so this should be thought over before selecting this breed. Poodles are available in numerous colors, including white, black, brown, parti, silver, gray, silver beige, apricot, red, cream, and sable, in addition to several patterns. A large majority of poodles possess watery eyes that stain the fur below. The paler the dog’s fur, the more obvious they appear. Cleaning around the eyes every day can shrink staining but if that isn't effective enough, there are many tear stain remover products available for dogs, such as Angel Eyes. Their coat grows into their ear canals and must be removed, but a groomer usually attends to this task this while grooming the dog. Poodles have long life spans if they lead a healthy, active life. Standard Poodles live around 12 years, Miniature around 14 years, and Toy Poodles can live upwards of 20 years.
Poodles are a rather robust breed, however like every other breed, there are particular diseases and disorders they are predisposed to, including Addison's disease, gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat), thyroid issues, tracheal collapse, epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis, juvenile renal disease, hip dysplasia, and cancer. Ear infections are also very prevalent in Poodles. Poodles are incredibly intelligent, energetic, loyal, loving, and social dogs. They are very feisty and adore being with their family. They generally coexist well with other pets. Standard Poodles are good with children but miniature and toy Poodles tend to have less patience and tolerance and can bite out of fear. Due to their human like intelligence, Poodles are highly trainable and need obedience training or they will think they are the alpha dog. Poodles do fine in any type of home, including apartments, as long as they get regular exercise.
Fun Facts:
1. The English name poodle is derived from the German word pudel, or pudelin, which means to splash in the water.
2. Poodle-like dogs adorn Egyptian and Roman artifacts and tombs dating from the first centuries B.C. The drawings and statues show dogs that look very much like modern-day Poodles, bringing in game nets, herding animals, and retrieving game from marshes.
3. The elaborate haircut the breed is known for actually has a practical purpose. Trimmed areas lightened the weight of the dog's coat and wouldn't snag on underwater debris, while long hair around the joints and vital organs protected the dog from the cold water.
4. Gypsies used Poodles’ high intelligence to teach them to be circus dogs and perform tricks, dressing them in costumes and sculpting their coats into fanciful shapes to add to their stage appeal. Wealthy patrons took note and started clipping, decorating, and even dying their own Poodle companions.
5. Elvis Presley was a big fan of poodles. He owned a poodle named Champagne, and gave poodles to all the women he loved in his life, including his mother
