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- Poodles are highly intelligent
- They are the clowns of the dog world, possessing
a keen sense of humor
- Poodles are very loyal to their humans
- They are also playful, affectionate, good-natured, eager to please, energetic and elegant in appearance
- Poodles are mild-mannered, yet protective, great family watchdogs, yet gentle with children
- They are sturdy dogs with life expectancies averaging between 12 and 18 years (depending on size)
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Poodles are descended from early German retrievers known as pudels.
The word pudel means puddler or "to splash in water".
The stylized haircut seen on show dogs today originated with hunters.
The ancestor of today's poodle was stockier, and had a very dense, tightly curled
coat that protected the dog from retrieving game in icy water.
This style of haircut was designed to allow the dog to swim freely while
keeping its major organs warm.
Today's poodles are athletic, intelligent, cheerful, and have a wonderful
temperament. Poodles do not shed, and therefore
make excellent pets for those with allergies. They come in a variety of colors.
The Poodle Club of America designates three sizes of poodle: Toy, Miniature, and
Standard. The club does not recognize sizes called Teacup (very small) or
Royal Standard (very large).
A poodle with two or more coat colors, often called parti-colored, is not bred or
advertised by reputable breeders, who are aware of breeding for good health and
even temperament.
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Because of their curly coats, poodles must be brushed often. Poodles do not shed, and therefore
make excellent pets for those with allergies. However, this also means that poodles
should be professionally groomed on a monthly basis.
They are prone to dental problems, but this can be avoided with a good-quality dry food and an
ample supply of rawhide "chewies" or other treats designed to clean the teeth.
If you want to adopt a poodle, you must consider both the attention they need
and the cost of maintaining one, in addition to annual vet exams, heartworm prevention
and flea and tick preventatives.
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Skin Care |
Poodles have dense fur which mats easily. If a poodle becomes matted,
their sensitive skin can become irritated and possibly infected.
Poodles should be brushed daily and bathed twice monthly with a mild canine shampoo.
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Eye Care |
Proper care must be taken to maintain clean eyes to prevent infection.
Many poodles have eyes which “tear” and stain the area below the eye.
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Anal Glands |
Your vet or groomer can manually express the anal glands on a regular basis.
Failure to do so could result in impaction, infection or rupture.
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Dental Care |
Poodles are prone to dental problems,
which can lead to serious health implications including heart and kidney problems.
For this reason, regular dental cleanings by a veterinarian is recommended.
Dental problems this can be avoided, however, with a good-quality dry food and an
ample supply of rawhide "chewies" or other treat designed to clean the teeth.
Many people also regularly brush their poodle's teeth with specially-formulated
canine toothpaste.
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Ear Care |
Poodles have a propensity to develop ear infections.
Their full, floppy ears provide the ideal warm, moist environment
for yeast and bacteria. Healthy poodle ears should be cleaned on a regular basis.
(See the
Helpful Hints Page for a cheap, effective ear cleaner.)
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Although their owners feel they are worth every penny,
poodles can be expensive to maintain. In addition to the normal expenses of
dog ownership, grooming costs can be high. At a minimum, a thorough grooming is recommended at least every 6-8 weeks.
The following are estimated expenses for a healthy dog.
Licenses, treats, toys, leashes, collars, medical care for illness, and so on,
are additional and should be considered.
*estimates depend on the size of the dog
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| Expense |
Estimated Cost
(Annually) |
| Annual Checkup/Vaccines |
$50-100 |
| Heartworm Preventative* |
$50-100 |
| Flea Preventative |
$100 |
| Grooming* |
$200-$700 |
| Food* |
$200-400 |
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Toy Poodles
Miniature Poodles
Standard Poodles
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Toys are ideal for older or less-active people,
or for those with limited living space.
Toys are not recommended for very active young children and should not be left
alone with them because of possible injury due to their small size. This is the smallest poodle size.
Toy poodles are 10 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulder,
and typically weigh less than 12 pounds.
Miniature poodles are taller than 10 inches and up to 15 inches at the highest
point of the shoulder. Minis generally weigh between 15 and 35 pounds,
depending on their height.
This medium poodle size is energetic and needs a moderate amount of exercise. Minis are the most common size we see come into rescue. The medium poodle size is energetic and needs a moderate amount of exercise.
They are also good for those with limited living space. However, they can
weigh up to 20 pounds, so they are harder to lift for more fragile people.
Like most large dogs, to support good manners and household etiquette,
standards must have regular walks and exercise. Standards are recommended for
those who have the body strength to control them. Standards are a poor choice for
people who live in small homes without a yard. This is the oldest breed size.
Miniature and toy poodles were developed by selectively breeding
standards down to smaller sizes. A standard poodle is taller than 15 inches
at the highest point of the shoulder, with no upper size limit.
Most standards are between the 22 and 27-inch range and weigh
approximately 40-60 pounds.
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Very Young
Puppy to 3 Years |
Young dogs require a good deal of patience, not to mention time for housebreaking and
training. Older family members can find very young dogs to be hazardous, as puppy's
exhuberance and lack of training can lead to accidents from tripping over them. Coastal Poodle
Rescue almost never places a very young dog with senior citizens. This is not only for
the safety of the humans, but because the lifespan of the dog may outlast that of the humans,
only to lead to another homeless situation for the dog.
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Young to Middle-Aged
3 to 8 Years |
Many people find this age to be ideal. Much of the chewing, nipping, and potty accident
problems have been resolved, yet the dog still has many good years left.
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Senior Poodles
8 to 18 Years |
Senior dogs whose lives have been disrupted in their later years
have so much love to give and like nothing better than giving it.
They tend to rely heavily on their owner for companionship and therefore
bond very quickly. The desire to reciprocate the companionship given to
them is very strong. See the informative site
In Praise of the Senior Dog
for more excellent reasons to consider an older, wiser dog.
"Old dogs, like old shoes, are comfortable. They might be a bit out of shape
and a little worn around the edges, but they fit well."
-- Bonnie Wilcox Old Dogs, Old Friends
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