Poodles are ranked as the second most intelligent dog breed after Border Collie. They are developed as a water retriever. The Poodle is grouped under companion dogs, and they are known for superior intelligence and exceptional learning ability. Loyal, loving, and mischievous are used to describe the personality of Poodles.
Many people think poodles are prissy dogs with fancy haircuts, but they are smart and capable dogs who love having a task to complete. The Poodle is an all-around excellent dog breed, and thanks to their gentle temperament and learning ability. They are famous for their hypoallergenic coat and are easy to train. Poodles are a lifesaver for people who need a service dog. They are cheerful to help out anybody with mobility issues, and they can also warn their owners about emergencies before they happen. This dog breed helps its owner, who is in a wheelchair, and has prosthetic limbs, or is unsteady on their feet.
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Appearances of Poodle
Poodles tend to have a leggy appearance. Their eyes are oval-shaped, either black or brown. Its gait is effortless, springy, and light. They have long, flat ears falling along the cheekbones, developed nose having wide open nostrils, and the tail is carried high. The head of Poodle is exquisite, rectilinear, and well-chiseled. Poodles have healthy teeth, as the bite is entirely like scissors. Its height ranges from 15 inches to 22 inches, and they weigh about 45 to 80 pounds. The length of the body is slightly larger than the height of the dog. Poodles are single-coat breed, which may be curly or corded, and they come in varieties of colors and combinations.
Types of Poodle
The Poodle is a formal dog breed that usually comes in three varieties: Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle, and Toy Poodle. Standard Poodle is the oldest one among three, and Miniature and Toy Poodle are bred later. The other two varieties Klein Poodle and Teacup Poodle, are also available but not found commonly.
1. Standard Poodle
Standard Poodle is the largest one of the Poodle breed. They stand 15 to 22 inches and weigh 45 to 80 pounds. This variety is alert, brave, and protective toward owners, and they make a good guard dog. It is one of the smartest dogs, and they are good with children and shy with strangers.
2. Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodle is the mid-sized dog breed. They stand 11 to 25 inches and weigh 15 to 17 pounds. Even they are small in size, and they have so much personality like other breeds. So, they are a great family pet. It is a sensitive dog and is dedicated to a single person.
3. Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle is the smallest among the top three variants of Poodle, and they stand up to 10 inches and weigh 5 to 9 pounds. It was developed in England in the 18th century.
Height
Poodles reach their maximum height at 6-7 months. The average height of Poodle is 15 inches to 22 inches. Male Standard Poodles have a withers height between 18 inches to 24 inches, and the female Standard Poodles have a withers height between 18 inches to 24 inches. The Miniature Poodle stands 11 inches to 15 inches tall, and the Toy Poodle stands up to 10 inches tall.
Weight
Poodles have a high growth rate. The average weight of the Poodle is 45 to 80 pounds. The male Poodle weighs about 45 to 70 pounds, and the female ones weigh 45 to 60 pounds. Miniature Poodle weighs 15 to 17 pounds, and Toy Poodle weighs about 6 to 9 pounds.
The lifespan of Poodle
A poodle is a healthy, smart, and robust breed with an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
The coat color of Poodle
The Poodle has a single coat, and no undercoat is present. The coat should be reliable, not variegated. The Poodle posse swimming ability, and their fur are adapted to water. The hair is wiry, dense, and curly, which can be clipped, trimmed, groomed, and shaved. They shed minimally. Poodles come in a diverse array of colors and combinations. The most common coat colors are white, brown, black, gray, cream, and apricot. Some other coat colors of Poodles are silver, blue, sable, and café-au-lait.
Cost of Poodle Puppies.
The cost of Poodle varies depending on coat color, age, and gender, place of origin, breeder’s location, litter size, and more. The average cost of a Poodle puppy is $1000. Purebred Poodle cost anywhere from $830 to $1330 and lesser quality puppies cost up to $500.
How to groom Poodle Dog?
Poodle dogs are easy-going breed, and their coats are easy to care for. You should groom your pet regularly, and grooming a Poodle is an enjoyable bonding time among family. A good quality wire slicker brush, sharp pair of scissors, nail clippers, a steel or metal comb, and spray are some of the essential grooming suppliers of Poodle dog. All of these grooming suppliers are readily available in dog stores or some supermarkets.
Some of the steps to groom your Poodle dogs are:
1. Set Up Your Poodle Grooming Station
The first step in starting the grooming process is choosing a comfortable place to groom your Poodle dog. Some people select the place where they can sit to watch television and groom their dog while watching TV. Other people prefer to groom their pets in a bathroom, balcony, laundry room, or additional space to clean the floor afterward easily. Just select a place where you can clean the area quickly.
2. Inspecting
Begin each grooming session of your Poodle with a head to toe massage. Massaging a dog helps to loosen dead hair and skin. Pick up each foot, wiggle each toe, and gently rub each ear to make your feel pleased.
3. Prepare your Poodle dog’s coat for grooming.
This step involves two processes, brushing and bathing Poodle. Spend some extra time for the Poodle’s body where the fur is thick. Brush the coat from head to toe once a week with proper care. Remove matted hair with the help of a sharp pair of scissors. The brushing action simulates the natural oil in the skin and keeps their coat glistening.
If your Poodle is dirty and smelly then, bath it before grooming. Bath your Poodle with a quality shampoo and warm water, once in every two months. All bathing suppliers are available in pet stores and supermarkets. Frequent bathing can dry out their skin. After bathing, comb, or brush your Poodle again to straighten out the coat.
4. Trim your Poodle’s coat
The Poodle is a single-coated breed, which helps to keep the dog at a comfortable temperature. So, avoid trimming your Poodle’s entire skin and use a pair of thinning shears for fur trimming. Trim the coat of your pet from feet, leg, body, chest, neck, ears up to its tail. Do not trim the fur too short. Trim the length by tapering the coat from base to its tip.
5. Complete the grooming of Poodle dog
The grooming of the Poodle is not complete without paying attention to its ears, eyes, and nails. If your pet’s ears look dirty, clean the visible parts with a cotton ball. Check your pet’s eyes daily for discharge or irritation. Use mineral oil and cotton ball to clean your dog’s eyes, but do not apply directly in the eyes. Take your time and cut your pet’s toenails. Use a good pair of dog nail trimmers for nail clipping. If you don’t want to bath your pet, then apply dry shampoo. To complete the grooming rituals, remember to use flea and tick preventive.
Infections in Standard Poodle
Poodles are cheerful breeds, but they are still susceptible to viral and bacterial diseases like rabies, distemper, and parvo. These infections can be found in other dog breeds also. They are preventable through vaccines, which are recommended based on their age. If the disease is increasing day by day, visit the vet immediately.
Health illness of Poodle Dog
The Poodle is a healthy breed, but it has some particular health conditions. Not all Poodle will suffer any or all of these diseases, but it’s essential to be aware of these health illnesses if you’re considering getting this breed. Some of the conditions are genetically acquired, like Hip Dysplasia, Von Willebrand’s Disease, Epilepsy, Cancer, etc.
Some of the health-illness of Poodle are described below:
1. Diabetes
Another common disease in the Poodle is diabetes. It is a severe problem, which needs to be diagnosed and treated in the early stage. Poodles are unable to regulate the metabolisms of sugar and require daily insulin injection. The symptoms of this disease include weight loss, along with excessive eating, drinking, and urination.
2. Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is one of the severe health conditions in dogs. It is an abnormal formation of the hip socket, which eventually causes arthritis and lameness of the hip joints. The word dysplasia refers to the faulty development of bones. Difficulty in jumping and running, lameness in the hind end, narrow stance, and loss in thigh muscles are symptoms of hip dysplasia. This health issue can be diagnosed with radiographs of the pelvis. There is no complete cure for this problem, but it can be controlled with medications, routine exercises, and physical home therapy. If the problem is not cured through medication, then surgery is considered.
3. Patellar Luxation
Patellar Luxation is a central health problem commonly seen in small toy dog breeds like Poodle dog. The word patella refers to the kneecap, and Luxation means dislocation of the bone. Simply patellar Luxation means dislocation of the kneecap. This problem arises when the knee joint slides in and out of place, causing pain. The problem is diagnosed through palpation of the knee, and it can be treated through medications. If the problem is excessive, then surgery can be helped to cure this health problem.
4. Dental diseases
Dental disease is one of the common problems in Poodle. It starts with the tartar build-up on the teeth that leads to infections of the teeth’ roots and gums. If you don’t treat this disease, then your pet may lose their teeth and damage their kidneys, heart, liver, and joints—this further results in shortening the life cycle of Poodle Dog by one to three years. So, keep those pearly white teeth clean.
5. Von Willebrand’s Disease
Von Willebrand’s disease is a blood clotting disorder. Those dogs affected by this disease lack one of the clotting factors, which is necessary to stop bleeding. This health issue is commonly seen in Poodle. Even a small cut or injury can cause uncontrollable bleeding to dogs, which could be life-threatening, and there is no cure for Willebrand’s Disease. Blood transfusion can be life-saving when sought promptly.
6. Obesity
Obesity is a significant disease in Poodle. This severe problem causes joint problems, back pain, metabolic and digestive disorders, and heart disease. This problem can be treated by giving affection and doggie treats, playing with your pet, taking for a walk, or brushing fur and teeth.
7. Epilepsy
The Poodle is mostly affected by epilepsy. There are three different types of seizures: reactive, primary, and secondary. Reactive seizures are caused by the brain’s reaction to problems like organ failure or low blood sugar. Secondary seizures are the result of stroke, trauma, or brain tumor. And primary seizures result in no other cause. If your pet has a seizure, prevent it from injuring himself, and they may bite you accidentally. Long medication helps to keep these seizures under control.
8. Cancer
Poodles are prone to cancer. It is one of the leading causes of death in older dogs. Some types of cancer are treated through chemotherapy, while many diseases are cured by surgical removal. Hemangiosarcoma is a type of bleeding tumor, commonly form in the spleen. Lymphosarcoma is another type of cancer that makes the body form abnormal lymphocytes, and its symptoms include weight loss, swollen gland, and labored breathing. This type of cancer is treated through chemotherapy. Most tumors are surgically removed, and they look similar to skin lumps and lesions.
How to care for Poodle Dog?
You should take special care if you are raising this beautiful breed, Poodle. Make a schedule to care and help your Poodle dog to stay healthy and live longer. Proper diet and exercise routine are also crucial for their health.
- Poodle dogs have a thick, single coat so, trimming should be done every two months.
- Their fur needs to be brushed regularly.
- Poodles have good teeth. You can keep them perfect by brushing them two to three times a week.
- Trim your pet’s nail regularly.
- Feed them a high-quality diet appropriate according to the age.
- Poodles are an active breed, and they need regular exercise and consistent training to curb unwanted behaviors.
- They have a medium-high energy level, so routine practice is highly recommended, but do not overdo it.
- They are smart dogs with lots of energy, so keep them active.
- Do not let your Poodle puppy play on the harsh substances until the joins are fully formed.
- Poodles are mouthy, and they love having something to carry in their mouth. Try giving them a ball, newspaper, or a soft toy but not hard ones.
- Provide clean and freshwater.
- If your pet shows any kind of pain, then visit the vet as soon as possible.
- Keep your Poodle dog in good shape.
Can the Poodle dog be mixed with other breeds?
The answer to this question is yes. Poodles can be mixed with other dog breeds too. The purebred Poodle is cheerful, and its mixes are amazing also. This versatile breed can be combined with many different adorable kinds to make some pretty cross-breeds.
Some of the Poodle mixes are:
- Cockapoo = Poodle x Cocker Spaniel
- Maltipoo = Poodle x Maltese
- Labradoodle = Poodle x Labrador Retriever
- Goldendoodle = Poodle x Golden Retriever
- Schnoodle = Poodle x Schnauzer
- Yorkipoo = Poodle x Yorkshire Terrier
- Pomapoo = Poodle x Pomeranian
- Shihpoo = Poodle x Shih Tzu
- Poochon = Poodle x Bichon Frise
- Bernnedoodle = Poodle x Bernese Mountain Dog
- Bordoodle = Poodle x Border Collie
- Bassetoodle = Poodle x Bassey Hound
- Cavapoo = Poodle x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Sheepadoodle = Poodle x Old English Sheepdog
- Saint Berdoodle = Poodle x Saint Bernard
- Newfypoo = Poodle x Newfoundland
The preferred food for Poodle Dog
Before getting a pet, every owner should research, “What should I feed my new pet?” And, the answer to this question is explained here.
The Poodle dogs are prone to some of the health as mentioned above issues, and choosing high-quality food may reduce the risk of health problems. They need a high-quality diet, which is rich in nutrients and calories. Poodle needs a protein-rich diet with moderate fat and calorie content. The food of Poodle should be made from natural ingredients, and nutritionally balanced. Feed your dog two times a day in a proper amount. 1.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food is recommended for Standard Poodle, ¾ to 1 cup of dry food for Miniatures, and ¼ to ½ bowl of dry food is recommended for Toy Poodle. It is crucial to avoid free-feeding, which means leaving food out at all times. It can cause weight gain in Poodle, which results in joint problems. The dog foods are available in Pet shops, online stores, or in some grocery stores.
Some of the best dog foods for Poodle Dogs are listed below:
- Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Carnivora Woodland Blend Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food
- Nutro Hearty Stew Tender Chicken, Carrot & Pea Stew Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
- Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food
- NomNomNow
- American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- American Natural Premium Triple Protein Recipe with Ancestral Grains Legume-Free Premium Dry Dog Food
- Instinct by Nature’s Variety Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Grain-Free Turkey Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Royal Canin Poodle Puppy Dry Dog Food
- Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Small Breed Formula Dry Dog Food
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- The Farmer’s Dog