Miniature Poodle

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The Poodle is a breed of dog. Toy, miniature, and standard poodles are distinguished by adult shoulder height. Poodles come in many colors including black, blue, white, red, apricot, silver and brown. They also appear in parti-color, or multi-colors. While the multi-color poodles cannot be shown in the American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) or any Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) conformation ring, they can be shown in the United Kennel Club (UKC) show ring and in all performance rings.

The FCI lists the country of origin as France, but the breed's true origin is unknown and subject to dispute. Some experts believe poodles may have originated in Russia or Iberia; Germany is also frequently cited, including by the AKC, because the breed's name has German origins[1]. However, it is commonly agreed that the French are responsible for developing the modern breed into its current three sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. Poodles are one of the oldest breeds of dog[2] and have been popular all through Europe for several hundred years, and poodle-like dogs are found depicted on Roman sculptures.[3]

Poodles are retrievers, or gun dogs, and can still be seen in that role. The show clips evolved from working clips, which originally provided warmth to major joints when the dogs were immersed in cold water. The rest of the body is shaved for less drag in the water. Poodles are skilled at most other dog events including agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding.

They are elegant in the show ring, having taken top honors in many shows. The poodle coat is dense and generally does not shed. As a result, coats in show condition require extensive care and grooming. Most pet poodle owners keep their poodles in much simpler cuts that are easier to care for and require less grooming. Poodles vary in size, so they can accommodate any household size

The name poodle comes from the German word Pudel, which is short for Pudelhund, which means "splashing dog". This reflects the breed's use as a water dog (the word Pudel is related to the English word puddle).

Characteristics

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Build: Elegant, with a square silhouette
Toy weight: 6-9 pounds (3-4 kg.)
Toy height: Up to 10 inches (25.4 cm.)
Miniature w: 15-17 pounds (7-8 kg.)
Miniature height: 11-15 inches (28-38 cm.)
Standard weight: 45-70 pounds (20-32kg.)
Standard height: 15 (38cm) or more
Coat: Profuse and wiry, curly or corded
Color: All solid colors permissible. (e.g., black, blue, silver, gray, cream, apricot, red, white, brown, or cafe-au-lait)
Head: Long, with neck solid and slightly arched
Teeth: Scissors bite
Eyes: Oval and very dark
Ears: Wide, hanging close to head
Tail: Docked to half the original length
Limbs: Straight, symmetrical
Feet: Small, oval and webbed, with arched toes
Life span: Median 12-15 years

Unlike many breeds, poodles come in a variety of sizes, distinguished by shoulder height. The exact height cutoffs between the varieties vary slightly from country to country, but in the US, UK and Canada there are 3 sizes of poodle: standard, miniature, and toy.

In FCI countries there is a fourth size variety not listed in the chart. The FCI recognizes the "medium" poodle with a height over 35 cm up to 45 cm, and the standard poodle is 45 to 60 cm.

However, there is no "royal standard" or "teacup" or "tiny teacup" poodle other than for marketing purposes.

Most poodles are proportionally long-legged dogs. They have dense, curly, non-shedding hair (not fur) that grows year-round and requires regular grooming. Most are solid-colored, and many registries only allow solid colors in conformation shows. "Parti" (short for parti-colored) poodles have large patches of colors. "Phantom" poodles have the color pattern of a black-and-tan dog, although not necessarily black and tan. Solid-colored poodles may either "hold" their color (i.e., stay more or less the same color throughout their lives) or "fade" or "clear" to a lighter shade. Usually, the ears and the thicker guard hairs hold more of the original color than other fur.

The tail is usually docked in the US, less often in Europe. These days, tails, when docked, are left much longer than in times past. "Bunny like tails" (very short-docked tails) are now rarely seen except among puppy millers.

Coat
Poodles have hair instead of fur, causing them to be non-shedding and hypoallergenic. Texture ranges from coarse and wooly to soft and wavy. Poodle show clips require many hours of brushing and care per week, about 10 hours/week for a standard poodle. Poodles are usually clipped down as soon as their show career is over and put into a lower-maintenance cut. Pet clips are much less elaborate than show and require much less maintenance.

Temperament
Poodles are intelligent, alert, and active. Historically, their aptitude has made them ideal for performing in circuses across the globe for centuries. Otherwise notable is this breed's keen sense for instinctual behavior. In particular, marking and hunting drives are more readily observable than in most other breeds. Even Toys will point birds. Classified as highly energetic, poodles can also get bored fairly easily and have been known to get creative about finding mischief.

Poodles are extremely people-oriented dogs and, therefore, are eager to please. They are excellent watchdogs, but unlike some working breeds, don't usually become "one-person" dogs when they are part of a family. Standard Poodles in particular tend to be good with children. Poodles are adaptable and easy to train. Like most dogs, they appreciate daily exercise, such as a walk or a play session. Most are fairly agile and athletic.

Toy Poodles are also entertaining little animals. They will play ball and love to fetch. Play time is very important, but you must be sure that they get plenty of rest following long play periods and fresh water available at all times.

Potty training can be difficult in many dogs, but the poodle is one of the easiest to train. Whether going outside or being trained on a pad, they learn very quickly where to relieve themselves. However, they are animals that need time to understand what you want from them. It may take a while, but poodles are very smart and learn quicker than most dogs.