Article Title: Getting To Know The Poodle
Author: Dan Stevens
Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed,
and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance,
personality, and health requirements. Here's what you need to
know about the Poodle:
The Poodle is considered one of the smartest dogs in the world.
In addition, this breed is exceptionally easy to train. What
many people do not know is that the Poodle has been around for
centuries, originally being a large dog used for hunting. The
exact origin is controversial, some historians believing this
breed comes from Germany while others believe it comes from
Denmark, France, or even Piedmont. Regardless, the French are
now considered the official claim to fame regarding this breed,
which is why sometimes the dog is referred to as the "French
Poodle".
The Poodle, being a descent of the Hungarian Water Hound and
Barbet, loves water. Therefore, the actual name is a
derivative of the German word "Pudel, which translates to "one
who plays in water." With exceptional swimming and retrieving
skills, this breed was at one time used to fetch waterfowl. To
keep the dog from becoming waterlogged, giving it more
flexibility to swim, the hunters would clip the coat, leaving
only hair around the legs as protection from the environment.
Today, we still see the Poodle clipped in this traditional
fashion.
Realizing just how smart the Poodle was, the French began using
the breed to perform in the circus, which led even further to
popularity. The large, Standard Poodle was eventually bred
down to what we see more of today as the Miniature and Toy
Poodle. Keep in mind that the Standard variety is still
available although not as widely chosen for a pet. In addition
to excellent family additions, the Poodle is a great show dog
and performer. When showing, all three varieties are scored
the same.
The Standard Poodle is the largest of the three varieties,
followed by the Miniature version and then the Toy version.
All three are graceful, lively, and elegant. The Poodle is
also shaped much the same, only different according to size.
This breed is also a part of many hybrids to include Cockapoo
(Cocker Spaniel and Poodle) and the latest, the Labradoodle
(Labrador Retriever and Poodle).
Physical Appearance
All poodles have long ears that are flat and wide. The eyes
are almond-shaped and the face generally has an alert
expression. On this particular breed, you would find the head
to be slightly rounded and the teeth have a scissor type bite.
The Poodle's feet are oval and webbed, making it a powerful
swimmer. Depending on the owner, some will have the tail
docked and dew claws removed.
A great benefit to owning a Poodle is that this dog does not
shed. Therefore, people with allergies, respiratory problems,
or even people with a disability that would find cleaning up
after a dog difficult would love owning this breed. The hair
of the Poodle is another important aspect. The hair is curly
and therefore, must be brushed and clipped on regular
schedules.
Typically, a Poodle would be one color such as brown, black,
white, blue, apricot, or gray but you will also find
parti-colors, sometimes referred to as "phantom colors", which
means black and red markings. While the hair on the Poodle's
body is tightly curled, you may find your dog's ears curly or
straight. When visiting a dog groomer, you will find there to
be many different cut options. However, for show purposes,
just three cuts are acceptable. These include:
1.Puppy Clip
2.Continental (Lion Clip)
3.English Saddle Clip
If you plan to use your Poodle as a working dog and not a show
dog, then you could go with any clip you like. However, most
often, the hair would be kept short as a means of reducing
tangles and water remaining on the animal if used for fishing
or hunting. Unfortunately, if a Poodle is not properly
clipped, the hair can cause serious problems. As the hair
grows, it begins to cord. When this happens, it can pull on
the skin, causing lesions, sores, infection, and so on. At
this point, the only solution is to have the coat completely
shaven off.
To give you an idea as to size, the original Standard Poodle
would measure more an 15 inches at the withers, the Miniature
Poodle 11 to 14 inches, and the Toy, less than 11 inches.
Additionally, a Toy Poodle must be 10 pounds or less to qualify
for this class. Keep in mind that the FCI and AKC have slightly
different regulations so you would need to follow closely to the
one you wanted to use for show.
Temperament and Personality
The Poodle is an exceptionally bright dog. The breed is active
and alert, loving, and loyal. In addition, the Poodle does very
well with children if socialized when young and in most cases,
handles other animals quite well. This particular breed will
often go to great lengths to please its master and many times,
is a one-person type dog. Although the Poodle is typically
mellow, they can become bored and mischievous. Therefore, it
is important to exercise your pet and spend some quality time
playing.
You will also find the Poodle to be a sensitive dog. In fact,
when caught chewing on something or getting into something he
or she is not supposed to be in, you may even notice slight
embarrassment. This breed is comical and makes a great
watchdog. The one thing to remember is that if you find your
particular Poodle is a little on the high-strung side, proper
training, and socialization will reduce the risk of sapping
dramatically. Then, if you have smaller children, they would
need to be taught how to respect this breed, meaning no sitting
on the dog, and no pulling of the ears or tail, etc.
Health
Poodles will often have hyperactive tear ducts, meaning they
have streaks of brown running down the eye area. Sometimes,
keeping the eye clean with a cotton ball dampened with water is
enough but if you find the problem to be constant, your
veterinarian may prefer to check for a clog, which can be
corrected. Then as mentioned, it is imperative that a Poodle
have proper grooming. When buying this breed, the expense and
time associated with grooming should be considered.
Most Poodles will live to around 14 to 16 years of age.
Although typically a healthy breed, you should know that some
health risks exist, which vary depending on the variety. For
instance, things such as Entropion, Cataracts, Intervertebral
Disc Degeneration, Epilepsy, Legg-Perthes, Progressive Retinal
Atrophy, Luxating Patella, Urolithiasis, and Trichiasis are all
possibilities for the Miniature and Toy Poodle.
Then for the Standard Poodle, the above-mentioned risks exist
along with small potential for Canine Hip Dysplasia, Addison's
Disease, Gastric Torsion, Sebaceous Adenitis, and Von
Willebrand's Disease, a hereditary protein deficiency. In
addition, all varieties of the breed are predisposed for
mammary tumors. With good care and regular checkups, a Poodle
should live a long, healthy life.
About The Author: Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer
and author of SitStayFetch, a leading dog training guide having
sold over 21,000 copies. See
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/poodle.php
for more on dog breeds.
