Poodle

Poodle

The Poodle is one of the most popular breeds of dog. The famous lion clip is not just a flight of fancy, but derived from the need to keep this water retriever's joints warm, while the mane provided buoyancy without weighing the dog down with a full coat.

History:

Although the Poodle is regarded as the national dog of France, it actually originated from Germany. With its origins in the 1400s, the exact history of the Poodle is obscure. Many believe that it is descended from the Barbet, or from generalized water retrieving dogs from which today's Spaniels are descended. In ancient France they were used as duck hunters, and were renowned for their intelligence and all-round retrieving abilities. The Standard Poodle is the original version, and the Miniature was developed later for people wanting all the abilities of the larger dog but in a smaller package. Indeed, between the 1940s and 1960s, the Miniature Poodle was the most popular breed in the world.

Physical characteristics:

The Standard and Miniature Poodles are identical except for size. Height: 10 - 15 in (25.5 - 38 cm) for the Miniature and over 15 in (38 cm) for the Standard. Weight: 26 - 30 lb (12 - 14 kg) for the Miniature and 45 - 70 lb (20.5 - 32 kg) for the Standard.

Both breeds have a long straight muzzle and a rounded skull. The almond-shaped dark eyes are set well apart, and the wide ears are long and hang close to the face. They have a deep chest with a short back and well-proportioned, muscular legs. The coat can be any solid color and does not shed. To keep the Poodles, coat looking neat, they need to be trimmed regularly, and two popular styles are the lion clip and the lamb clip, so called because that is what the dog ends up resembling.

Behavior:

The Poodle is a very intelligent dog. This dog rapidly works out exactly how far it can control the non-assertive owner and how best it can please the assertive owner. The Poodle is a highly individual dog, and its intelligence varies depending on how much encouragement and enrichment it is offered. Many people are happy for their Poodle to merely be a companion dog, and it performs this simple but important task very well indeed. However, if it is encouraged and trained, the Poodle will make an excellent retriever and can be a most amazing performer of tricks. The Poodle also makes a very good watch-dog and will delight in the task of informing its owner when potential intruders are around.