The
Poodle's coat may be groomed into three
basic styles: the "pet clip" (or puppy
clip), with relatively short hair all
over the body, the "English saddle" clip,
and the "Continental" clip with the rear
half of the body shaved, bracelets left
around the ankles and pom-poms left on
the tails and hips. All other clips are
not admissible in shows. The coat is either
curly or corded. All solid colors are
permissible. Examples: black, blue, silver,
gray, cream, apricot, red, white, brown,
or cafe-au-lait. The tail is set high
and docked to half its length or slightly
less. Dewclaws are generally removed.
The feet are small, oval and webbed, with
arched toes. The ears are long, flat,
and wide, laying close to the head. The
eyes are black or brown, with a lively
expression. The head is long and the neck
is solid and slightly arched. A good Poodle
has a square silhouette, with approximately
the same length as the height at the withers.
Temperament
The
Miniature Poodle is a cheerful, super smart,
sensitive and highly trainable companion
dog. The breed is great at learning tricks,
and a favorite in the circus ring. The Poodle
will feel slighted if it is left out of
family activities. He is very amusing and
clever. Many owners feel this dog understands
speech in an uncanny way. Some love to play
with children, but some are sensitive and
nervous. They can be somewhat high-strung.
Be careful where you buy your puppy. Purchase
from parents you have met and liked, and
even ask to see the grandparents if possible.
They tend to be quite reserved with strangers
and should be socialized as a puppy. Any
effort the owner puts into training and
socializing will be well rewarded. This
is a very good watchdog for its size, seldom
becoming aggressive. They do tend to bark
a lot. Poodles are friendly with other dogs
and non-canine pets.
A
long-lived breed, Poodles are, nevertheless,
subject to many genetic diseases. Cataracts
and progressive retinal atrophy may cause
blindness. Allergies and skin conditions
are common - possibly due to unskilled use
of clippers or allergies to shampoo and/or
color reinforcer. Runny eyes and ear infections
are also common. They are also prone to
PRA, diabetes, epilepsy and heart disease.
Brown Poodles tend to become prematurely
gray. Also IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic
Anemia)
Living
Conditions
The
Miniature Poodle is good for apartment life.
They are very active indoors and will do
okay without a yard.
Exercise
Miniature
Poodles need a daily walk. Play will
take care of a lot of their exercise needs,
however, as with all breeds, play will not
fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs
who do not get to go on daily walks are
more likely to display behavior problems.
They will also enjoy a good romp in a safe
open area off lead, such as a large fenced
in yard. They adore water and love sessions
of play.
Life
Expectancy
About
12-15 years.
Grooming
Extensive
grooming is needed. They must be bathed
regularly and clipped every six to eight
weeks. The ears should be checked regularly
for mites and the ear hair should be pulled
out if necessary. The traditional clips
were developed to lighten the weight of
the coat for swimming and protection to
the joints and major organs from cold, but
many owners opt for the plain lamb clip
- the same length all over, because it is
easier and more economical to maintain.
The teeth need regular scaling. Poodles
shed little to no hair and are good for
allergy sufferers. (See description for
different styles of clips.)
Origin
Although
the Poodle has been known throughout Western
Europe for at least 400 years, its origin
is controversial. Whether it was developed
in France, Germany, Denmark, or the ancient
Piedmont is uncertain. Despite the claims
of several other countries, France has now
been officially recognized as its country
of origin, and the breed occupies a special
place in the affections of the French. It
is certain that the Poodle is descended
from a now nearly extinct French water dog,
the Barbet and possibly the Hungarian Water
Hound. The name "Poodle" probably derives
from the German word "Pudel," which
means one who plays in water. The Poodle
was used as a gun dog and originally was
used in Germany and France as a retriever
of waterfowl. Hunters clipped the dog's
thick coat to help him swim, leaving hair
on the leg joints to protect them from extreme
cold and sharp reeds. The French capitalized
on the breed's high intelligence, trainability,
and innate showmanship, and made the Poodle
into a circus performer. His great popularity
in that country led to the breed's common
name "French Poodle." In France, however,
the Poodle was called the "Caniche," or
duck dog. The Poodle has been used to sniff
out truffles lying underground in the woods.
Poodles are depicted in 15th century paintings
and in bas-reliefs from the 1st century.
Toy Poodles became royal favorites, particularly
in the 18th century. The Toy and Miniature Poodle varieties were bred
down from larger dogs, today known as Standard
Poodles. The three sizes are considered
one breed and are judged by the same standard.
Today, the Poodle is primarily a companion
and show dog, though he can learn almost
anything. Some of the Miniature Poodle's
talents include: retrieving, agility, watchdogging,
competitive obedience, and performing tricks.
