“I wonder if other dogs think that poodles are members of a weird religious cult” – Rita Rudner
The poodle may be thought to be a toy breed because it looks all dainty but trust me that is not the case. They were initially bred in Germany as a type of water dog and they excel in many dog sports like obedience, agility and even herding. There are three types of poodles- standard poodle, miniature poodle and toy poodle. They were initially known as pudelhund. Poodles were very famous in Spain during the 18th century and are also shown in the paintings of the Spanish artist Francisco Goya. They were a favourite of Louis XVI. They are supposed to be good swimmers and their fur is moisture resistant. The miniature poodles were used as truffle hunters as they did not like going near the water and their small size was favoured as they did less damage to the truffle with their feet.
Poodles have always been depicted as clever and sophisticated dogs that have an air of royalty around them. But make no mistake, behind their impressive hairdo and regal behaviour you will find an obedient family dog with many talents. They were initially bred to retrieve water fowls for hunters and despite their primped and decked up appearance they are through family dogs and get lonely if left alone for a long time. Make sure to always train your poodle or else it might mistake itself to be the alpha dog. Teach your dog good manners and be assertive. This shows your dog that you are the alpha head of the family. Obedience training is very important for poodles so that their mind is always active. This prevents your poodle from getting bored and turning destructive.
The poodle has a lovely coat which needs a lot of grooming. Most poodles have to be taken to a professional groomer atleast once a month so that their fur can be maintained properly. Poodles have weepy eyes so make sure to wipe your dog’s face with alcohol free wet wipes or a cloth dipped in warm water. Remember to always buy a puppy from an experienced breeder so that your dog is free from genetic diseases and this way you won’t be supporting those dreadful puppy mills.
PERSONALITY
Poodles are generally described as intelligent, clever and loyal dogs. They always have an air of superiority around them and to most people poodles may appear as dogs that always have constant looks of disdain. Don’t be fooled by their appearance, they love to play and are always up for a game. They are always eager to please and are people friendly dogs. Like most dogs, poodles are protective of their families and they may take some time to warm up to new people. They have human like intelligence and learn extremely fast. Not only are they easily trained they also remember every single thing both good and bad.
CARE
Poodles can be kept in homes, apartments and estates as long as they get sufficient exercise. They love staying inside along with their family particularly the toy breeds. Since poodles learn everything extremely fast remember to sign up your puppy to an obedience class. Don’t skip the obedience class even if you have a toy poodle because they might pick up all bad habits and you might end up with a badly behaved poodle.
Poodles do not shed hence they are good dogs for people with allergies. Grooming a poodle is not an easy task. It requires a lot of patience and time. Most owners simply shave off the coat. But even then it does not mean that you will have any work. Even then your poodle will have to be bathed, brushed and trimmed every three to six weeks and sometimes even often. Always check your poodle’s ear for infections. Breeds with drooped ears are more prone to infections because their ear canal stays dark and moist. Make sure to clean your poodle’s ear on a weekly basis with cotton balls soaked in pH balanced ear cleaner. Brush your poodle’s teeth atleast twice a week if not daily to prevent bacteria and tartar buildup. If you brush your poodle’s teeth daily it prevents bad breath and bad gums. Make sure to accustom your poodle to veterinary checkups from an early age. This will help you in getting a hassle free checkup for your poodle even after he/she is all grown up. As you take care of your poodle always check for sores, rashes, inflammation, redness and infections. An early diagnosis of a disease will help in saving your poodle’s life.
CHILDREN AND POODLES
They make wonderful companion dogs specially the toy breed. Always teach your children on how to approach a dog without surprising it. Make sure there is no ear biting and pulling and pushing by either party. No matter how well trained your dog is and how well behaved your toddler is always supervise them. Teach your children to never approach a dog while it is sleeping or eating. Poodles get along well with other pets if they are introduced to each other from a young age otherwise your poodle may need some special training to accept a new pet.
Make sure you know what our are getting into before buying a poodle, because a lot of people buy poodles without a clear understanding of their needs and then leave them in pet shelters. So before running to the breeder to buy one make sure you can keep one for life.