By Lauren Tharp
The perfect mix of beauty and brains, the Poodle has rightly earned its spot as the 8th most popular breed in America and the 2nd most intelligent by the American Kennel Club. The Poodle, originally used as a hunting dog, has had an ever-changing role throughout its history. Being employed as anything from a guide dog to an Army working dog to a circus performer, Poodles are now known more for their haircuts but one thing has never changed: How much their owners love them.
Physical Traits
Size & Weight: This wonder dog comes in all sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy! Standard Poodles are 15-20 inches at the shoulder and weigh 45-70 pounds. Miniature Poodles are around 10-14 inches at the shoulder and typically weigh 6-10 pounds. Toy Poodles, the smallest of them all, measure 10 inches or less at the shoulder and weigh an itty-bitty 4-6 pounds.
Coat & Color: Poodle coats are curly or corded. They’re available in nearly all solid colors including white, black, cream, blue, gray, silver, brown, and apricot.
Other: Poodles don’t shed; their hair grows and grows and grows. It’s because of this that the breed has their hair clipped on a regular basis. However, the classic “poodle cut” was originally designed to help the dogs move through water more efficiently when on hunting trips with their masters.
Life Expectancy: 12-17+ years. Life spans for Poodles vary. As a general rule: The smaller the dog, the longer the lifespan.
Temperament
Never shy. Quite the opposite, really. Poodles are bold, confident, and highly intelligent. Highly “people-orientated,” this breed loves (and needs!) human companionship. They follow orders extremely well.
Wags:
- They’re fantastic at obedience training! They learn quickly and they retain what they’ve learned, making them well-suited for old pros and first-time owners alike.
- Great with children.
- Considered by many to be more “hypoallergenic” than most breeds due to is lack of shedding.
Challenges:
- Requires regular professional grooming. This can be expensive and time-consuming.
- Due to their strong hunting instinct, they’re not always the best breed to mingle with smaller animals. Birds in particular could be in danger if your poodle isn’t introduced to them early enough.
Can grow to be high strung or mischievous if not physically exercised or mentally challenged on a regular basis
If you are considering adding a poodle to your family, please consider contacting one of our local rescue group or New York Poodle Rescue. Need some gear for Poodle? Check out this cool site CollarPlanet.com or for breed specific Poodle goodies, RamonaLovesDogs.com
It’s amazing how underestimated poodles are perceived. They are smart, strong, and a geat family dog. They even outlive most other breeds. Fun fact about the army program, I never imagined them as seeing eye dogs, but I guess they have all the traits for it.