brief information
- Breed name: Poodle
- Country of origin: France
- Weight: large 20 – 30 kg, small 8 – 14 kg, dwarf 6 – 8 kg, toy ~ 2.5 kg
- Height (height at the withers): large 45 – 60 cm, small 35 – 45 cm, dwarf 28 – 35 cm, toy 24 – 28 cm
- Lifespan: 12 – 15 years
Basic moments
- Poodles are among the kindest and most loyal dogs.
- He has an extraordinary brain, an outstanding sense of smell, hearing and vision. Large and small dogs can be trained for hunting, detective work and truffle hunting.
- The poodle loves swimming and is ready to frolic in it endlessly.
- Active, able to endure great physical exertion. It needs long walks in urban conditions.
- All Poodles, even their small varieties, are unpretentiously healthy and have the status of Centenarians.
- Dogs are not aggressive; rather, they are endowed with special benevolence towards humans.
- Excellent companions, but poor watchdogs.
- A dog representative of the breed gets along well with children, becomes their friend, and partners them in games.
- Poodles have thick, springy coats that are versatile for creating a variety hairstyles. They need regular brushing and triming.
Toy Poodle full grown Dog
The Poodle is the embodiment of elegance, extravagance, and harmony, combined with the harmoniously balanced constitution of this dog, and its magnificent temperament and high intelligence. The adorable appearance of the poodle shines with artistry, charm, and expression; and his kindness and love for life know no bounds. These wonderful dogs are distinguishable by their incredible devotion, which extends throughout the entire family, while poodles tend to be very sensitive to human attention They are cheerful, playful, love to fool around, and are always ready to join in games and fun.
Characteristics of the breed
*The characteristics of the Poodle breed are based on the assessment of lapkins.ru experts and reviews of the dog’s owners.
History of the poodle breed
The idea that the poodle is among the oldest dog breeds unifies all experts from the world of cynological science. There is no consensus about his birthplace, ancestral origins, or the stages of breed formation. At different times, Germany, Hungary, and France claimed the right to be called the birthplace of the poodles. Poodles originally had a purpose of hunting, and their ancestors were shaggy shepherd dog breeds and so-called “water dogs” used to bring a shot from ponds during hunting. This kind of dog was found in many countries of Western European.
Today, the prevailing view is that the poodle originated from several different dog breeds that differed from each other in size but had a common feature – a shaggy coat that covered the entire body. It is the growing number of different breeds of dogs that are still causing disputes about their origins. Among the ancestors of a large poodle, a small spaniel is called, who in turn is related to Komondors, which are related to water spaniels. Water Spaniels are also called bullets because they were bred for hunting. There are features of toy spaniel breeds, Maltese dogs, and Bichon Frise dogs in the appearance of little poodle dogs. Retrievers, pointer dogs, and greyhounds probably also influenced the formation of these breeds.
To reconstruct the history of the breed of dog, experts used etymology, written documents, images resembling a poodle. Poodle is an English word that derives from the German word pudel, meaning “puddle”. The French name for this breed is Canadien. The word “canine” comes from “Canis lupus familiaris”, which means “dog familiar to man”.
Dogs resembling poodles in appearance can be found on ancient Roman and Greek coinage, bas-relief sculptures from ancient Roman tombs. Dogs shaped like poodles are depicted in medieval murals of the Benedictine monastery at Monreale in Sicily, and the Abbey of Saint Remy in France. Poodle dogs with the lion-cut characteristic of poodles were present on the canvasses of painters of the early Dutch and Flemish schools. The first written descriptions for the Poodle can be found in early European chronicles dating back centuries ago, and they already mention various types of these dogs that differ in size and color.
Poodles were so popular by the 18th century that they became a status symbol for the European nobility. Hairdressing was rapidly developing in France during the reign of Louis XVIII. During his reign, the first grooming saloons appeared in France. Hairdressers, who had mastered cutting the thick-haired women of their noble masters, began to cut them in various styles. For the sake of her husband, who loved poodles, Queen Marie Antoinette declared the miniature poodle the royal court breed.
The poodle’s cute appearance and friendly nature appealed to people who were creative, artistic, and extravagant. These dogs were favourite pets of such great people as Georges Sand, Thomas Mann, and Schopenhauer. Poodles have become popular among circus performers because they’re able to be trained to perform amazing feats in the ring. However, the poodles were also entertaining high society and bohemian circles. He was courageous, devoted and ingenious during military battles. He searched for the wounded, carried messages and delivered secret reports.
The first Poodle Standard was defined and published in England in 1886, later breed standards were drawn up in Germany in 1891. Each of these countries had different breeds of dogs, which led to the development of various types of poodle. The British preferred the light, graceful skeleton of the dogs. And in Kaiser’s German shepherd dogs, these dogs were bred to give them a heavy, massive constitution Since the end of the 19 th century, the archive of Kaiser Germany has been guarded by imposing royal pugs. For a long time, in the countries of Eastern European – Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary – dog breeders were guided by the German standards, in other parts of the world they preferred Poodles from the English dynasty.
The first Poodles Club was founded in 1923, but very quickly this country became known as the founder of the modern breed standards. A long time club president and owner of poodle breeding kennels, Mademoiselle Galyni, has achieved excellent results by breeding dogs of various sizes, including some that became champions. The FCI (Federation of Cynological Clubs International) approved the breed standard for the French Poodle developed by the French poodles club.
Poodles were first bred in Russia in the 19th century. However, they had been popular at the Russian royal court since the reign of Catherine II. These noble-looking animals were recognized not only in aristocratic circles but also in the intellectual circles of the Russian intelligentsia, artists, actors and writers. There has been an opinion that poodles are dogs for people with taste and intellect. Poodles were bred mainly in Russia, and miniature dogs were imported from Europe.
After the Great Patriotic War (WWII), under the Soviet Union’s DOSAAF, the section ‘Royal Poodle’ began working, and in the 60’s a section of people who liked small poodles was opened. The All-Union Poodle club was established in 1989, renamed in the 1990s to the Russian Poodle Club (RPC). Today it is part the structure of the RKF.
Today, some diversity is still preserved in the poodle breed, which is most clearly visible when comparing large poodles and a toy poodle from the mid-20th century. Breeders have come close to achieving their goal – to produce the smallest dog that is a perfect copy of the largest representative of its breed.
Video: Poodle
Appearance of poodles
The current breed standard approves six poodle color options, two coat types and four height varieties: large (or standard, royal), small (or medium), miniature (or dwarf), toy poodle.
Frame
Poodle with Teddy Bear haircut
A poodle is proportionately more complex than a greyhound. The length of its body exceeds the height at its withers, which corresponds to the height at its rump. Its chest is deep, long and wide. Its front part is located high. This gives the poodle pride and nobility. The ribs are oval-vauled. The line of the back should remain straight. The loin should be strong, muscular and taut. The belly and groin of the dog should be tucked up, but not so expressive as those of the Greyhound.
Head
Elegant, in proportion to the size of the body, has an elongated shape, but is not overly light. The skull is shaped, slightly convex in shape. The line of transition between the skull and the muzzle is almost invisible. The contour of his muzzle is straight, elongated, not too sharp. The lips are of average thickness, the upper one covers the lower one, but doesn’t hang down. The color of the lip in black, white and gray dogs is black; in brown dogs, it is dark brown; in apricot poodle dogs it can be any shade: from thick black to black. The same color scheme as the animal’s nose is characteristic of its species. The nose is quite large, and the nostrils are well-developed. The cheekbones do not protrude, but they fit snugly against the zygomatic bones.
Jaws and teeth
The jaws of the dog are strong. The bite should be scissors, teeth should be bright white.
Eyes
Almond-shaped and located slightly obliquely above the bridge of the nose (not directly below). Eye colors in black, white, gray, and apricot dogs are dark brown or almost black, with a blue tint.## Inputs Poodles have brown eyes Often in their color, they have a dark amber hue. The expression of the eye is lively, curious and sometimes even passionate.
Ears
They’re set high, fairly long, and hang down to the corners of their lips along their cheeks and adjacent to them, widening downward and being rounded at the tips. Poodle ears are effectively decorated by thick long hair.
Neck
It has strong, slightly curved at the back of the skull. It is of medium length, shorter than or equal to the height of the head.
limbs
The forelegs must be perfectly straight, parallel to each other, graceful, but also muscular. Pasterns should be strong but not massive. Well-developed muscles should be visible on the hindquarters, especially on the thighs. From the back, the hind legs look parallel to each other, just like the front legs. But when you look at the dog from the sides, you’ll notice that the stifle (thigh) and hock (knee) joints are bent. Metatarsal bones are located vertically.
Poodle paws are oval-shaped but small. They’re not big, but they’re strong. The toes are connected by a swimming skin, they are compactly folded, folded to the ground, their soles are dense and thick. Black and grey poodles’ claws should be black. Brown is brown or black. For white, black or pink, natural is the best choice. Black-and-brown dogs often have apricot-colored nails.
Tail
That poodle
A thick, long tail is set low, pointing up. It can be either natural length or shortened by half or one third. If the dog is in a relaxed state, it stays down. During movement, the tail is pointed upward in an oblique manner.
Motion
The movements of the poodle show elegance, lightness, and at the same time, energy. His walk is reminiscent of a dance. Turning to a trot, he moves springily, showing primarily the strength and muscularity in his hind legs.
Wool
The poodle is a dignified dog because of its thick and lush coat. The breed is characterized both by its curly and corded wool.
Curly wool has an almost rune-like structure. It is curly, very lush, volumized, dense, and has elasticity. Wool is also thick. It has a knock-down texture, which consists of countless thin cords that cover its entire body. Cords must not be shorter than 20 centimetres. The longer the cords are, the greater the show potential of the dog. To make a dog look elegant, he needs to be combed so that his hair hangs evenly on both sides. The hair that grows at the top of your head can be gathered together into an elegant “tail,” and then adorned with a spectacular bow.
Color
Who’s out there?
The FCI standards state that the color of the poodles can be black, white (or cream), brown, grey, aprilcockerel, red. Other international organizations recognize red, green, yellow, blue, and orange as well. The main requirement is for the color to be uniform, without any marks.
There are restrictions for some colors. So, brown should be quite a deep, warm tone. Dark chestnut color, which fades from black, is not allowed, and beige and lighter shades are not desirable.
The intensity of the gray color shouldn’t be weakened, nor should its shades approach either white or black; otherwise, the gray color won’t look natural.
The apricot-colored coat of the poodle should remain even and not turn into beige, cream or dark chestnut, red.
Red color should not resemble apricots.
Haircuts
Three main grooming standards apply to both straight and curly dogs. A classic hairstyle for men is the lion style Dogs with a similar hairstyle, but not as ornate, can be seen in ancient images of this animal.## Inputs The dog is cut at the base of the tail from the ribs. It also affects the upper part of your muzzle, down to the lower eyelids and the lower part of your muzzle, and cheeks. The hind and lower legs are shortened, except for cuffs, or bracelets. It is permissible to shave the hair off the forelimbs. Woolen decorations may be present on the back. A round or oval pom-pom is left on the tail. Mustaches of dogs aren’t trimmed.
Variety of haircut “Lion”
“English haircut” sounds similar to “Lion.” This option involves modelling puffier cuffs or bracelets onto the hind limbs, when hooves are trimmed between them. On the head – the top note (for example, wool gathered in a bun, stuck with a bow on an elasticated band). Mustaches must be trimmed.
The hairstyle “Modern” implies the preservation of wool on the front and hind limbs. There are such options:
Poodle haircut “Modern”
- the hair is shaved off the front paws from the claw on the paw to the claw on the fifth toe. The lower part of their hind legs is cut to a height matching the clipping on the front of the leg. The muzzle and tail of the lion are cut by the “lion” variant.
- the wool is shortened to a length that should be no shorter than 1cm, to create a textural moiré effect. The length of the coat should progressively increase from the back to ribs and upper limbs.
- in the variant with level hair, a cap is worn, but not too high and the hair is kept on the back of the head. It should smoothly descend from the shoulders to the withers and then to the shoulder blades. On the back, the coat should form an uninterrupted line from the tail to the perfectly trimmed tip of the paws. The hair remains on both sides of the ears. It grows downward, ending with an aligned fringed edge. You can shave or shorten the hair on the top of your ears.
Types of poodle haircuts
Disadvantages of the breed
- Arched or slumped back.
- Tail set too low.
- The nose is partially depigmented.
- The muzzle is pointed, spots on the muzzle.
- The hump on the back of the nose.
- Excessively large, frankly deep-set eyes, their color is not dark enough.
- Too short ears.
- The slope of the croup.
- Long, gliding step, smooth movement.
- Sparse, weak or excessively hard coat.
- Excessive nervousness.
Photo of a poodle
Poodle character
Poodles, who are distinguished by their sophistication and elegance, are usually referred to as female dogs. This is completely unfair. Don’t forget that these ancestors of this dog with an adorable appearance were hunting dogs. From him, the poodle got energy, love for an activity, and mobility. He loves sports with balls, jogging with owners, and swimming gives him greatest pleasure. However, the dog won’t mind lying on the couch next to its owner and watching TV shows either.
The Poodle is distinguished by its exceptional intelligence and quick wit. He says about himself: “I am not yet a person, and I am certainly not a dog. But I am no longer a poodle either.” It is the intelligence of the poodle which determines his behavior, showing unrivaled obedience. He may even appear to be a good dog, but in reality, he worships his master and acknowledges him as an unquestionable authority, as he knows that he is smarter than him. The dog follows the leader in all his actions, but he doesn’t think it’s necessary to argue with him when he disagrees. If the owner is working in the garden, his dog will immediately join him and start digging the ground nearby. And if he decides to sit back and relax, he will certainly settle next to him and watch him without any objection.
Natural observation, intelligence and memory help the poodle to understand human behavior and anticipate their intentions. The dog tries to be obedient, so as not to annoy the owner, therefore, it strives to fulfil its instructions exactly, and sometimes succeeds in doing this even before it expresses its wishes. If a dog makes a mistake, by its behavior it will show that it realizes everything, and will not repeat that mistake in the future.
Poodles’ abilities to perceive human speech are superbly developed. He is thought to know more than 70 words. However, fans of this breed of dogs are convinced that such a figure is excessively underestimated. Poodles understand many words when they follow the movements of a person’s lips, even if they don’t speak. This gift allows them an excellent companion for deaf and dumb people
The poodle is very sociable. He needs communication not just from the owner, but also from all family members. At the same time, the innate sense of pride doesn’t allow the poodle to intrude. Owners of this dog should understand its need for signs of attention and displays of affection. Otherwise, the poodles might get depressed and even sick.
Dogs love kids. They are ready to become both friends and guardians at once. By the way, a poodle’s ability to guardian can manifest itself in relations between all family members, regardless if they’re young or old.
The poodle is friendly and non-aggressive. It’s completely harmless. Attitude towards strangers varies depending on whether or not you liked the person. But in extreme cases, he can even bite the offender. Poodles are useless, but if a poodle feels danger, it will certainly alert its owner with a loud bark.
Poodles get on well with dogs living with them in the family, including cats. However, representatives of cats, not familiar with dogs, may suffer if the instinct to hunt comes in.
The main characteristics of toy poodles of different size categories are almost identical, except for one thing: the toy poodle may be a bit cowardly, manifested in its fear of loud noises and sudden movements. This shortcoming is fixed with the help of proper training. Toy Poodles are less energetic than their counterparts.
Education and training
Such innate character traits of the poodle as a quick wit, obedience and imitation, as well as its inherent sense of shame, make the process of training and training almost hassle-free. These dogs memorize commands very quickly, it is enough for them to explain or show a couple of times what and how to do, and they will remember the lesson forever. Poodle puppies are playful, like children, so training should take place in the form of a game, where the owner acts as a partner and comrade. The dog begins to perceive human life as a game, and tries to imitate people: he puts his toys in a box, brings the right things. Growing up, the poodle literally becomes human, begins to take an active part in family household affairs, shares the hobbies of its owners.
Yelling at a poodle and punishing him is not allowed. Actually, he himself rarely gives a reason for this. If, nevertheless, the dog “mistakes”, the explanation of his mistake should not take place in a too edifying and tedious form. Shaming your pet should be brief and convincing at the right time and in the right place so that he understands what is at stake.
A poodle is a thinking dog, and this quality needs to be developed and encouraged: communicate with him a lot, talk, explain his actions, talk about what you expect from him.
A poorly bred dog who does not know what subordination is is likely to imagine himself as the head of the family and will demonstrate defiance. This is especially true for miniature and toy poodles.
Care and maintenance
In order for the poodle to always look healthy, well-groomed and neat, regular care is needed for his magnificent thick coat. It is desirable to comb the dog daily, in any case, at least three times a week, since his growing hair does not fall out. To do this, you should purchase a special comb for combing a poodle and a massage brush.
You need to comb the dog, alternating movements along with the coat and against it. First, comb the hair on the body, then on the paws. If you do not follow this rule, the dog’s hair will fall off, get tangled, tangles will form, which are very difficult to get rid of.
The poodle loves water very much, so bathing, which he needs quite often, does not cause him any inconvenience. The dog should be washed at least once or twice a month, using a special shampoo for long-haired dogs. Before the water procedure, the poodle must be carefully combed. If tangles have formed, they must be disassembled or carefully cut with sharp miniature scissors. Lather the dog and thoroughly rinse off the foam should be at least two times. Carelessly washed wool will certainly quickly fall off again.
Another important element in the care of a poodle is a systematic haircut. The elastic and springy coat of this dog is the basis of its decorative effect. When pressing on the wool with the palm of your hand, resistance is felt, and it almost instantly restores its original shape. This feature allows you to model a variety of hairstyles, the number of which cannot be compared with a poodle by any dog. In addition to standardized haircuts, there are a lot of fantasy ones, among which the most popular is “sporty” and “sheep”. They represent simple contouring of the body.
Haircut of the body and limbs should be carried out every three months, and it is advisable to entrust it to an experienced groomer. In order to learn how to cut a poodle on your own, reading the manual will not be enough, it is better to take practical lessons from the master, ideally, take specialized courses. But to carry out a hygienic haircut is within the power of everyone. The overgrown hair on the muzzle, under the tail, in the genital area is cut off with special scissors every month. Abundantly growing hair between the fingers, crumbs and on the fingers themselves, it is advisable to cut it once every two weeks.
An energetic poodle needs exercise. If he stays too long within four walls, he will certainly get in the way, inviting his masters to the game. You need to walk it at least three times a day, it is desirable that at least one walk is long, and the dog has the opportunity to run without a leash.
Poodles can be fed both natural food and prepared food. Meat products should make up about a third of the diet. Give preference to beef (preferably not frozen), chicken and beef liver, a tripe is very useful. Some of the meat may be boiled. At the base of cereals, use oatmeal, rice, buckwheat, millet. You need to cook porridge in water, and not in meat broth. It is permissible to treat the pet with pasta but in minimal quantities. Eggs can be given no more than twice a week. Feed the dog with cottage cheese at the same frequency. If he does not want to eat a raw product, offer him cheesecakes. Periodically add vegetables to the diet, it can be in the form of a salad seasoned with vegetable oil or sour cream.
Buy dry food, canned food, supplements for natural food in specialized stores, giving preference to premium products.
Two-month-old poodles are fed 3-4 times a day, six-month-olds – no more than three. After the dog is 8 months old, it is transferred to two meals a day.
Health and disease of the poodle
The poodle is a fairly hardy and healthy dog, however, there are a number of diseases inherent in this breed:
- Addison’s disease (limited production of hormones by the adrenal gland), often expressed in gastric “disturbances” and lethargy;
- bloating, requiring immediate veterinary attention;
- optic nerve hypoplasia, which is dangerous because it can cause blindness or distorted perception of the environment by the eye;
- PRA – retinal atrophy, is a genetic disease;
- Cushing is a tumor, often malignant, the disease is typical mainly for older dogs;
- chronic active hepatitis – with this liver disease, it is not possible to cure the dog, but the development of the disease can be stopped;
- hypothyroidism – a disease of the thyroid gland;
- deafness.
How to choose a puppy
The choice of poodle puppies is quite wide, due to differences in their color and size. It should be borne in mind that in a family where there is a baby, you should not take a miniature (dwarf) or toy poodle, since dogs from this category often suffer from childish awkwardness. The choice of color depends on subjective preferences. In one litter there can be poodles of different colors.
During a visit to a breeder, whose reputation you must certainly be sure of, do not rush to immediately acquire the first puppy you like, but observe his behavior. Healthy poodle puppies are always active, playful, among them you need to choose the most active and curious. Note that females tend to be calmer.
If you decide to opt for a miniature or toy poodle puppy, do not get the smallest of them: he may be the weakest.
Check the poodle’s eyes – they should be clean, without accumulation of secretions in the corners. It is also necessary to examine the tummy for a rash, redness. Do not hesitate to check the condition of the coat under the tail: if it sticks together, the dog likely has digestive problems. The dog should not itch and limp.
Even in purebred poodles of white color, cream or apricot patches of hair may be present on the chest, ears, and lower parts of the limbs – this is not a fault of the breed; with age, the coat will become white. It happens that puppies are born with pink noses, paw pads, but over time these areas darken.
It is preferable to purchase poodle puppies when they are already 2 months old. If you want you choose one to take part in exhibitions in the future, he must be at least four months old.
The breeder must give you a puppy card, which can then be exchanged for a pedigree, and a veterinary passport with vaccination marks.
Photo of poodle puppies
How much price of poodle
The cost of a poodle puppy depends on its size, color, age and location of the kennel.
Show class puppies with exhibition prospects are sold for 90,000 rubles. Brid-class babies who can take part in breeding are estimated at 70,000 rubles. Poodles belonging to the pet class, having slight deviations from the standard, but completely healthy and beautiful, cost about 50,000 rubles. Poodles with a rough, horsehair-like coat are always rated lower.