Poodle Facts

AKA:  Barbone, Caniche

Size:   Small/Medium/Large

Ease of training: High

Grooming:     High

Shedding:      Low

Exercise needed: Daily walks and runs

Energy level:  Medium

Protection:  High, barking alarm

Good with children:Yes, best with older children

Temperament

The Poodle is one of the most intelligent and trainable of all breeds. This is a proud looking and intelligent dog, that is very quick to learn and is easy to train. The Poodle is a dog that will suit both inexperienced and experienced dog owners. He is a good natured, sociable dog, and although lively and energetic is also calm when indoors. The Poodle enjoys interaction and companionship from his owners, and is not suited to those with little time to dedicate to their pets. They are eager to please their owners, and make excellent family pets. The Poodle does have a fair amount of energy and does need regular exercise, so this is not the right choice for a couch potato - mental and physical stimulation are important to this intelligent breed.

The Poodle is loyal and protective of his loved ones, and makes a relatively effective watchdog. He gets along well with children, but his size means that he is best suited to older children. These dogs are normally welcoming and polite with strangers, and tend to get along well with other pets. The steady temperament coupled with his sociability makes him ideal for active families who will welcome him as a member of the family. You should socialize your Poodle early on to promote a steady temperament, as some can be timid or nervous. If you tend to be away a lot it is best not to consider this breed, as they do need plenty of attention.

Appearance

The poodle comes in three sizes, which are Toy, Miniature, and Standard.  The standard Poodle is medium to large in size, and has a graceful yet sturdy build.  The height of the standard Poodle is around 22-25 inches for females and around 24-27 inches for males. These dogs weigh in at 40-65 pounds for females, and around 55-80 pounds for males.

Miniature Poodles are around 10-14 inches in height, and weigh in at around 15-20 pounds.

The Toy Poodle is just 4-7 pounds in weight, and reaches around 5-10 inches in height.

These dogs are known for their abundant, tight curls, with a coat that is profuse and harsh in texture. The coloring of the Poodle can vary and includes brown, red, silver, cream, black, white, and apricot. They have long, tapering muzzles, and a wise, thoughtful expression. The ears are long and hang to the side of the face.

Grooming

Pet Poodles can simply be clipped every 6 weeks or so, and will need to be brushed and combed on a daily basis.  The ears should be checked for cleanliness and dryness regularly in order to reduce the chances of infection. Nails will need to be kept trimmed too, and every four to six weeks clipping and scissoring will be necessary. Professional grooming is a good idea for this breed if you can afford it. The good news is that the Poodle is ideal for allergy sufferers as he hardly sheds at all.

Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of the Poodle is around 10-13 years for Standard Poodles, 13-16 years for Miniature Poodles and up to 16 years for Toy Poodles. There are a number of health problems to look out for with this breed, and this includes Addison's Disease, HD, PRA, bloat, SA, epilepsy, entropion, cataracts, renal disease, and allergies. The parents of the Poodle puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates, and you should also ask about clearance relating to vWD and SA (sebaceous adenitis).

Adapted from:  http://www.justdogbreeds.com/poodle.html