Basic Information To Know About The Poodle

The Poodle (also known as the "French Poodle" though this is something of a misnomer) is a non-sporting breed of dog that comes in three sizes - standard, miniature and toy - and features long ears with a wiry, non-shedding coat in colors such as blue, gray, silver, brown and cream. The breed has origins dating back to the 15th century in Germany, and they were first bred for the main purpose of retrieving game from the water.

A few of their most recognizable features include their hypoallergenic coat that is often clipped in a variety of outrageous hairstyles as well as their high level of intelligence, obedience and playfulness - which help make the Poodle one of the top companion breeds around the world for active owners and families while being equally suitable for aspiring dog groomers, allergy sufferers, for use as a circus dog, competitive obedience and agility or even in hunting as they were originally designed for.

The Poodle is typically associated with France, though they are believed to have originated in Germany as early as the 15th century and were commonly used as water retrievers that would swim and collect game for hunters - giving them their original name, "Pudlehund" in German which would loosely translate to "dog that splashes about". They are
believed to be a descendant of the Barbet and Hungarian Water Hound. Later they achieved popularity in France, Spain and England where smaller versions of the Poodle were developed in the 18th century.

Poodles are commonly known to come in three separate sizes - standard, miniature and toy. Standard Poodles are classed as a large-sized dog with a height of 22-27 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 40-80 pounds. Miniature Poodles measure 10-15 inches tall and weigh 15-20 pounds and are classified as a small-sized dog, whereas Toy Poodles like their name suggests are a toy-sized dog and refers to any Poodle under 10 inches tall and usually weigh 6-9 pounds.

The Poodle is well-known for their playful, obedient and devoted temperament. They are generally reserved with strangers though well-socialized dogs can often be very outgoing, which can make them quite unsuitable as a guard dog.

The Poodle is also known to be extremely intelligent - ranking 2nd compared to other dogs based on their ability to learn obedience commands. They are also known to be good with children - making them highly suitable as a family pet. The Poodle is quite compatible with other dogs and smaller animals such as cats if raised with them though due to their prey instinct may chase squirrels and other small animals when venturing outdoors.

The Poodle is happiest with a small yard to run around in, but they can be fairly suitable for apartment living if they are exercised enough.

The Poodle enjoys activities such as chasing after a ball, learning tricks or going for a swim. They have a high level of energy and need to be given daily exercise in the form of only moderate-length walks to help keep them calm and manageable while inside the house.

The Poodle can make the perfect dog for families, allergy sufferers or active owners with plenty of time to care for a dog. They are suitable for anyone who is willing to commit to a very high amount of grooming and take time to give them early socialization and ongoing mental challenges as well as take them for moderate daily walks and give a good amount of companionship and attention. Though they might be somewhat unsuitable for those who don't have the patience or means to commit to a high level of grooming, if you are able to meet this requirement as well as provide them with plenty of mental stimulation then the Poodle could make the ideal dog breed for you.

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