Poodle

Temperament: Standard Poodles are intelligent, lively, quick to mimic and learn. They are highly intelligent and very obedient. Poodles love to be around humans and are not good for kenneling. They are good with other pets and children, but wary with strangers, although they do warm up to them. They are friendly and affectionate, and are slightly less sensitive than their Miniature siblings. He is a gentleman in the home. They are jubilant, athletic and hearty in the show ring.
With Children: Yes, they do well with children.
With Pets: Yes, they get along with other pets.
Special Skills: Gun dog previously, now family pet.

Watch-dog: High. Poodles are very alert.
Guard-dog: Medium. Although their size could defend and they are slightly wary of strangers, they are relatively friendly.

Poodle Care and Exercise: Frequent trimming, brushing and shampooing of the coat. Ears must be kept very clean. Nails trimmed short and teeth brushed weekly. Even the pet poodle should attend the canine beauty parlor every six weeks or so. Standard Poodles enjoy a fair amount of exercise like swimming and retrieving, walks or free run. Makes a great jogging partner.
Training: Fairly easy to train as they are very intelligent and they learn quickly. The Standard requires the most coat care.
Learning Rate: Very High. Poodles are highly intelligent and greatly enjoy performing. Obedience - Very High. Problem Solving - Very High. This is why the Poodle is so often chosen to perform in dog shows.

Activity: Medium - Low. They are not an overly-excitable breed.
Special Needs: Exercise, professional grooming and training.
Living Environment: A home with a fenced yard is preferred as Standard Poodles are energetic dogs who enjoy exercise. An owner of a Poodle should desire a smart, happy, dog who excels in obedience. The best owner for this breed would be an active family living in the suburbs or rural country.

Poodle Health Issues: Hip dysplasia, stifle problems, Addison's disease, epilepsy, luxating patellas, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), renal disease, skin disorders, sebaceous adenitis, thyroid problems and bloat. Bloat is a health concern to most breeds, being the largest killer of dogs second only to cancer. It is also known as gastric torsion or twisted stomach.

Life Span: 10 - 13 years.
Litter Size: 3 - 8 puppies.

Country of Origin: France
Poodle History: Despite the claims of several other countries, France has now been officially recognized as the country of the Poodles origin though some authorities attribute Germany or Great Britain as their country of origin. There are also references to other dogs of similar type in Russia and several others in southwestern European nations. The Germans probably gave them the name Pudel, which means "to splash in water", referring to the sound an oar makes when hitting the water. Another name for the Poodle is Chien Canard, which means "duck dog". Originally bred as a retriever and flushers of birds, the Poodle became quite popular among French aristocracy and was designated the national dog of France. The Miniature and Toy Poodles owe their history to the Standard. They share common ancestors with the Irish Water Spaniel, and were originally used as a gundog and retriever. Their original purpose hardly goes in line with what they are used for today: shows. Poodles have become the iconic breed of dog shows to most people. France is where the Miniature was bred down in size. The Miniature and the Standard have both been found in seventeenth century paintings, and are known to have been popular with European aristocracy. Louis XVI owned a Poodle, as well as Queen Anne of England. In the 18th and 19th centuries the breed performed in numerous circuses, and known as a circus breed. In one circus a Poodle named "Domini" was thought to be able to tell time and play dominos. Poodles were also used to seek out truffles, an edible fungus. The Miniature Poodle became the most popular of the breeds after World War II in the 1950s and 60s. The Poodle was accepted by the AKC in 1887. Originally the "Poodle cut" haircut was for a specific and legitimate reason: it was kept long around the joints and organs for when the dog went splashing into cold water, and kept short on the rest of the body for speed and agility. Later, however, the coat turned into a ridiculously silly ornament on the dog's body. At one time people clipped their dogs to have a coat of arms in the fur, beards, moustaches and anything the owner wanted. Today the breed does not have such a silly cut as before, but still quite unique from the rest. Poodles first came to the United States in the end of the 19th century.

First Registered by the AKC: 1887
AKC Group: Non-Sporting Group
Class: Non-Sporting
Registries: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 9), KC(GB), UKC