POODLES
Poodles are once again, after a 25 year absence, in the top 5 most popular dogs. Between the years of 1960-1982 they were the most popular dog before dropping in popularity. Prior to this they were a fairly rare breed here in the USA. They are very intelligent dogs that were first used to search out fresh water. The French used them to sniff out truffles in the woods. The name Poodle was derived from the German word pudel or pudelin which means “to splash in water”
The poodle cut that is so familiar to us today, was originally done for a purpose. The trimmed area lightened the weight in the water and didn’t catch on debris under the water line, while the long hair protected the joints and vital organs from the cold.
Many people believe the poodle is a cross of several European water dogs, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hungarian and Russian. Some believe it has ancestry in the North African Barbet.
Miniature and toy poodles emerged slowly from breeding down the size around the 1400’s. The Kennel Club of England registered them as a breed in 1874, the AKC followed suit in 1886.
BREED TEMPERAMENT
Poodles are very people friendly dogs, outgoing and high spirited. they are not the least bit aggressive, but they are very protective of their own family.
They are a highly intelligent dog, ranked #2 in intelligence of all canines. Their high intelligence level makes them a very easy breed to train. They are wonderful family dogs and love children.
Poodles make great pets but as show dogs tend to steal the show in the ring in agility and obedience. Many poodles are bred specifically for show and not for pets.
POODLE COLORS
AKC recognizes black, brown, apricot, cafe-au-lait, blues, red, gray, silver,cream, white and silver beige.
POODLE COAT
The major advantage of a poodle is that they have hair, not fur, making them hypoallergenic. The hair continues to grow until cut like the human hair does. This distinction makes them a great choice for those with dog allergies. They have a single coat, not a double coat as most shedding dogs have. The hair shaft is very curly and requires regular maintenance to keep the hair from matting. A puppy will have its puppy coat for about one year - it will remain somewhat straight and wispy until the curlier adult hair grows in. They are fairly expensive to maintain as they require regular grooming to keep their hair from matting and in great condition.
Adult Coat
POODLE SIZES
Puppy Coat
The AKC recognizes 3 sizes of poodles. Standard, miniature and toy. A standard measures 15” at the highest point of the shoulders, anything less is disqualified. A miniature measures 15” or less, with a minimum of 10”. A toy measures 10” or under.