Popular Dog Breeds
- 1. Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs
- 2. Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Australian Kelpies
- 3. Bearded Collies and Old English Sheepdogs
- 4. Retrievers
- 5. German Shepherds
Poodles
Jacque Lynn Schultz, C.P.D.T., Companion Animal Programs Adviser. National Outreach
Only one breed of dog offers three distinct sizes, an attractive palette of color choices (apricot, brown, black, white, silver, gray, and cream) and a skills package that includes water retrieving, performing tricks, truffle-sniffing, alarm barking and offering companionship. Versatility, thy name is poodle!
As with many of the very old breeds, the poodle’s history is a murky one. Dogs with coats similar to the poodle’s were depicted on early Roman coins and Mediterranean bas reliefs dating back to the first century AD. Breed historians concur that the large standard poodle came first – performing water retrieves even before the invention of the gun. The smaller varieties followed quickly thereafter. By the late 1700s, the toy poodle was a favorite in Spanish and French royal courts, depicted in paintings by Goya and other court painters. During the 19th century, troupes of performing dogs appeared on variety stages throughout Europe. Poodles performed such feats as steeple chases with monkeys on their backs, chariot races, recreated ballroom scenes dressed as ladies and gentlemen while dancing on their hind feet, and opera recitals. A standard poodle named Munito played dominos, cards and chess and was reputed to count, read and write.
The name poodle is derived from the German pudel “to splash in the water.” In France, the breed is known as the caniche from chien canard or duck dog. The thick curly coat was first trimmed to give water retrievers more buoyancy by relieving them of some of the weight from their water-logged coats. Thicker fur was left around organs and joints to provide enough warmth and protection to get the job done. Today’s fancy trims still echo those early utilitarian cuts, although many pet owners prefer to keep their poodles in puppy or sporting clips where only the feet, face and base of the tail are shaved. This breed demands professional clipping every couple of months and a thorough brushing two to three times a week. Without proper care, the fur mats and causes the dog discomfort. Some standard poodle guardians choose to cord their dogs’ coats.
All three sizes of poodle are considered to be the same breed and should be identical in appearance. The standard poodle is over fifteen inches tall at the withers, averaging twenty-two to twenty-seven inches tall and weighing forty-five to seventy-five pounds. The miniature poodle stands ten to fifteen inches tall and weighs fourteen to sixteen pounds. And the toy poodle is less than ten inches tall and weighs five to seven pounds. Some breeders have further bred down the toys, creating a diminutive “teacup” variety. However, considerable health and temperament problems plague these tiny fluff balls, so let the buyer beware.
Today’s poodle is a squarely built, well-proportioned dog. The skull is moderately rounded with a slight but definite stop. The muzzle is long and straight. The long, wide ears hang close to the head and are thickly feathered. The chest is deep and moderately wide, while the topline is level. The tail is carried up and is still usually docked with a furry pom-pom on the end.
This popular breed is highly intelligent, playful and sensitive. Don’t let his regal appearance fool you. The poodle is an active athlete and needs considerable exercise. The breed shines in many dog activities – competition obedience, agility, flyball, therapy dog work and canine freestyle. Due to the flashiness of the poodle’s looks and movement, they are often seen competing in the Best in Show finals at dog shows. Shyness and sharpness (snappishness) are considered major faults in the breed; however, this trainer has seen quite a bit of the former over the last decade – even in well-bred poodles. This is a shame because an even-tempered poodle makes a terrific family companion.
The breed is plagued with skin allergies, ear infections, and a host of eye disorders including excessive tearing, cataracts, entropion, distichiasis (abnormal second row of eye lashes) and nasolacrimal puncta atresia (no opening in the lacrimal canal). Poodles also have trouble with urinary calculi. While males are affected twice as often as females, affected females will have more urinary tract infections. Standards are more at risk for bloat, hip dysplasia, sebaceous adenitis, hypothyroidism and epilepsy. The toy and miniature varieties are at risk for patellar luxation. The lifespan for the poodle is ten to fourteen years.
The versatility, personality and non-shedding coat are so desirable that no other breed has been purposefully bred to so many other breeds as the poodle. Consider the pudel pointer, Labradoodle, cockapoo, Pekeapoo and so on. But with so many choices already available in the three varieties of poodle, why mess with perfection?
© 2004 ASPCA
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