Out of the 196 dog breeds of the world, the breed that holds the 7th position is the Poodle dog breed. The Poodle dog is famous for characteristics that are rare and are only seen in this dog breed.

They grab the attention of people by their intelligent eyes, lovely coat, athletic body, and innocent acts. But when it comes to beauty, some specific dog breeds are famous mostly because of their beautiful gait and the outlook. Let’s read about this beautiful dog breed in detail.

About Poodle Dog Breed

The Poodle dog is a true aristocrat of dogdom. It comes in a variety of sizes large, medium, small and a variety of colors like white, black, blue, cream, brown, and apricot. The sizes vary but all the three have the same built and proportion.

Generally, a Poodle dog has a friendly attitude towards everyone. The Poodle dog is a purebred show dog that generally has a square appearance. They are one of the most intelligent dog breeds, easily trainable, loving, smart, and ready to do any task that you throw upon them.

The Poodle dogs have an ancient history that has its basis in Germany and France both. It was developed to be a waterfowl hunter and a duck retriever.

American Kennel Club recognized Poodle in 1887 and Poodle stands at the 9th rank in the dog breed list of AKC.

History of the Poodle Dog Breed

The Poodle has been a well-known dog breed of Europe for more than 400 years. The paintings of the Poodle dog are as old as the 15th century. The true origin of the Poodle dog is still a subject of debate. France claims to have the origin of it but the AKC has credited Germany to have the true origin of Poodle dog as it was developed there as a duck retriever. However, this is a fact that Poodle dog is a descendant of the French Water Dog which has become extinct now. This connects the origin of Poodle somehow with France as well.

The word ’Poodle’ has its roots in the German word ‘Pudel’ meaning ‘one who plays in the water’. The ‘Poodle clip’ was an invention of the hunters. They used to leave hair on the leg joints of the dog that would protect them from extreme cold weather. The hunters from Germany and France used these dogs as Gundogs, waterfowl retrievers, and sniffing truffles in the wood.

The Poodle dog breed got introduced in France as a circus dog as they admired the intelligence and trainability of this dog breed. In France, it became ‘French Poodle’. People gave it the name of ‘Caniche’ meaning ‘duck-dog’.

The original large Poodle dog was of standard size and the Toy and Miniature were two other sizes that were bred down from the standard size. Now, these three are considered as different sizes of the same dog breed.

The Englan Kennel Club recognized this dog breed and registered the first breed of this dog in 1874. The American Kennel Club registered this dog breed in 1887. The first Poodle Club was formed in 1896.

The Personality of the Poodle Dog Breed

The Poodle dog is a loving, smart, active, and obedient dog breed. It is famous for its various traits and talents like competitive obedience, watchdog, retrieving, agility, and trick performing. It is often called as intelligent as a human being.

The gait of a Poodle dog shows that it is a proud, noble, graceful, and a high standard dog. It has a good, friendly, playful, and enjoyable nature that attracts the viewers. They are sharp and intelligent and can be easily trained for hunting.

They remain calm and inactive with normal routine but lack of proper exercise makes them pro-active and furious.

Health Care of the Poodle Dog Breed

Poodle dogs have a relatively long life span but they are prone to many genetic diseases. Progressive Retinal Atrophy, running eyes, and cataracts can cause blindness in dogs. Their skin is quite sensitive and can easily catch allergies. Bloating is another major health problem of Poodles. These dogs are sensitive and need some extra care.

• Divide their food in 2 to 3 small meals to avoid bloating.
• This active dog needs a daily walk, running, and playing opportunity.
• Their curly coat needs to be groomed and brushed every 3 to 6 weeks.
• You can shave the coat away if it becomes denser and unmanageable.
• Bathing will also be required every 3 to 6 months to make your dog look nice and graceful.
• Brush the Poodle’s teeth twice or thrice a week.
• Trim its nails twice a month.
• Check its ears weekly for allergy, infection, or redness.

Physical Needs of a Poodle Dog Breed

The poodle dog is an active dog with a high potential for playfulness and energy levels. It loves to play, run, fetch, and jump in the water for hunting. It needs to be engaged with some mental or physical jobs and remains happy with it. If it gets bored and frustrating, it indulges in destructive activities.

They need regular exercise and a walk that keeps them calm. If not taken for a walk, they become furious.

The Adaptability of a Poodle Dog Breed

The Poodle dogs can adapt well with a family in the apartments where they have enough space for physical activities. They easily adjust will the new adopting family and do not create problems for them.

They love to be with family members and cannot tolerate it if left alone for a long time. They are sensitive dogs but they can survive in the cold and hot weather. However, harsh weather can be dangerous for them.

Feeding the Poodle Dog

The standard Poodle dogs need a 1.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food. This food must be divided into 2 to 3 small meals. Choose best quality dog food for better nourishment of your dog.

Meat can be added to its food but corn or by-products of meat should not be a part of the Poodle’s food. The amount of crude protein the food should be 21%, crude fats 20%, and fibers must be 4% or less.

The amount of food required varies for individuals depending upon their size, metabolism, age, and build. To keep your dog active and in shape, do not overfeed it with multiple food and treats. It will make your dog overweight and inactive.

Breeding of the Poodle Dog

Like other dog breeds, the gestation cycle of a Poodle female dog also lasts for about 9 weeks or 63 days. The female goes into the heat cycle twice a year, and some only once a year. The second heat cycle is most preferable for breeding than the first cycle.

Watch carefully for the physical and behavioral changes occurring in the dog and take special care of the female during the pregnancy period.

Life Span and Growing Cycle of the Poodle Dog

The life span of the Poodle dog is longer as compared to the other dog breeds. A Poodle dog can live up to 18 years approximately.

The Poodle dog breed comes in three sizes, Standard, Miniature, and Toy.

• The toy poodle is the smallest that is about 10 inches high at its fullest and weighs about 6 to 9 pounds.
• The miniature is a medium sizes poodle. It is 11 to 13 inches tall and weighs about 15 to 17 pounds.
• The standard poodle has a comparatively smaller hight than other dog breeds. It is about 15 to 17 inches tall.
• The male standard poodle weighs 55 to 70 pounds and the female weighs 45 to 60 pounds.

Coat and Color of the Poodle Dog Breed

The Poodle dog has a curly and non-shedding coat. This makes it a good choice for people dealing with allergies. The curly dense coat is available in various colors like black, blue, white, brown, apricot, grey, silver, and cream. This coat can be clipped, trimmed, or completely shaved.

However, this coat helps the dog to tolerate the cold and hot weather but cannot survive in the harsh weather with the coat alone.

Friendliness Level of the Poodle Dog Breed

The Poodle dog is a friendly natured and loving dog that goes quite well with children and other pet animals. The Poodle dog enjoys the company of other animals at home and takes a little time to accept the newcomers.

The children must be trained well before leaving them with a Poodle dog and never take a chance of leaving a child alone with a dog. It can result in an accident or an unwanted event.