The Poodle
The Poodle
POODLES ARE ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT DOGS YOU CAN OWN! They are easily housebroken, and can even be trained to use a litter box. They require a lot of interaction, and stimulation.
POODLE HISTORY
Poodles are supposed to have originated in Germany, where it is known as the Pudel or Canis Familiaris. The English word Poodle comes from the German Pudel , meaning to splash in the water. However for years it has been regarded as the national dog of France, where it was commonly used as a retriever as well as a traveling-circus trick dog. In France it is known as the Caniche, or duck dog. It is known that this breed has been around for at least 400 years throughout Western Europe. Despite the conversey France has now been officially recognized as its country of origin.
The Poodle's distinctive looks have made it a popular subject for paintings, dating back to the 15th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Poodle could be seen in circuses throughout Europe and America performing a variety of tricks. The French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec did a series of drawing and paintings of the breed. The Toy Poodle was breed down from the Standard and Miniature Poodle. This breed has become one of the most popular dog breeds ever.
DISCRIPTION
POODLES COME IN THREE SIZES that are recognized by the American Kennel Club: Standard, Miniature and Toy. NO OTHER BREEDS were used to obtain these specific sizes! "Teacup", or "Tiny Toy" are terms used to help determine dramatically undersized Poodles. Not every household is suitable for such small pets.
The Standard Poodle is the largest of the three with no restrictions on size, it is typically 21 to 27 inches at the highest point of the shoulders.
The Miniature Poodle is the mid-size. It stands between 10" - 15" high. This variety is a sturdy compromise between a Standard and a Toy. This size is well suited for both apartment life and a lively lifestyle of a family with children.
The Toy Poodle is the smallest of the breed. It has to be 10 inches or under at the shoulder height. This size is particularly great for apartment life, or as a traveling companion.
Smaller than the Toy is the Tiny Toy and Teacup Poodles, which are not separately classified, but AKC Toy registered.
The Tiny Toy Poodle has a maturity weight of 4 to 6 pound, with the height of approximately 8 - 9 inches.
The Teacup Poodle averages 3 pounds and is under 8 inches in height. This size is NOT suitable for everyone.
The Poodle is a very energetic, intelligent, and elegant appearing small dog. It has a beautiful dens, curly, and harsh textured coat. Most coats are solid throughout. The ears are long, wide, thickly feathered and hang close to the head. The skull is moderately rounded with a long, straight muzzle. Jaws are strong with a scissor bite. Their eyes are oval in shape, and usually dark in color. Neck and shoulders are strong and long enough to carry the head high with dignity. The body has a muscular squarely built appearance. The chest is deep and wide with well-sprung ribs. The top line of the back is level from the shoulder blades to base of tail. The bones and muscles of both hind legs and forelegs are in proportion to its size. The tail is straight and carried up sometimes docked of length to insure a balanced outline. Their feet are rather small and oval in shape. Toes are arched, with thick hard pads for good cushioning. Dewclaws are generally removed.
Poodles make very rewarding pets. In spite of their small size, the Toy Poodle has retained the independent personality of large Poodles, and is an affectionate, playful companion.
POODLES COME IN A VARIATION OF COLORS. Including: Snow White, Paper White, Ice White, Platinum, Black, Mahogany Black, Cafe Au Lait, Chocolate, Brown, Silver Beighe, Gray, Silver, Chinchilla, Blue, Cream, Champagne, Red, and Apricot. As well as our favorites: the special Parti Poodles (a mix of two colors) and the Phantom Poodles. For years these specially marked dogs were considered undesirable, and the sad reality is that they were destroyed by breeders for fear of perpetuating and passing on the "mismarkings". Today you will find them rare, and hard to obtain.
TEMPERAMENT:
The Toy Poodles intelligence is renowned; they can be taught all different tricks through various skill levels. They appear to enjoy performing and entertaining their owners. They are one of the easiest and brightest breeds to train. It is alert, responsive, playful, and eager to please.
While the standard Poodle has a high playfulness with other dogs the Toy poodle is a little less enthusiastic. Of course this is just in general and depends on the environments in which they are raised. They can be shy with strangers and should be socialized as a puppy. They tend to love children interaction with their owners. The Toy Poodle is not considered as a "yappy" dog. They will bark to defend or warn their owners but tend to be more reserved then other small toy breeds. Although they are high in excitement they don't seem to be a destructive type when left alone. Some dogs when left alone at home can damage items out of boredom or anxiety. This tends not to be the case with Toy Poodles as long as they get sufficient amount of exercise and companion. Some bloodlines may be high strung and are more liable to react nervously to new circumstances. Generally Toy Poodles are devoted to their family and have a friendly, cheerful disposition.
EXERCISE:
Even though this as a very activate and enthusiastic dog, the requirements for exercise can be easily meet. Not only are walks a great way to get out energy and also indoor games work well with this breed. Retrieving comes naturally to most Toy Poodles. Water retrieving may be ok to some but seems more to suit larger Standard Poodles. Depending on their temperament to water this is also a great way for the Toy Poodles to get exercise. Interaction is a must for these dogs. Walks, playing games, or learning new tricks is a great way to keep these dogs in good spirit.
TRAINING:
This is the star trait for this breed. There ability to learn almost most anything has done a lot to keep its popularity high throughout all these years. In circuses it was trained to learn skills such as walking on its hind legs, skipping, performing card tricks, and even playing dominoes. Training techniques that work well for Toy Poodles include treats, toys, and most importantly praise. Because of their personalities rewarding with praise is a great way to get them to learn new tricks.
GROOMING:
The Poodle has a beautiful coat that is a single layer and completely non-shedding.
Appearance is a big part of this breed. They need to be bathed regularly and clipped every 6-8 weeks. Toy Poodles shed little to no hair, which makes them a great option for allergy suffers. There are various types of clipping styles for Toy Poodles.
