Pet Poodle Facts
Poodles make great pets, and are one of the smartest dog breeds that are kept as pets. Poodles are one of the most interesting breeds, due to their colorful history and the fact that there are three different sizes. Below are some poodle facts that might help you decide if this breed is for you:
Three sizes of poodle are recognized by the American Kennel Club. These are the Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle, and Toy Poodle. The biggest, standing over 15 inches at the top of the shoulder, is the Standard Poodle. Next, standing ten inches high at the top of the shoulder, is the Miniature Poodle. The smallest is the Toy Poodle, who weighs between six and eight pounds, and is shorter than ten inches at the top of the shoulder.
But there are even smaller than Toy Poodles, the Tiny Toy and Teacup Poodles. These two varieties are becoming popular pets although their size variation is not recognized by the AKC. The Tiny Toy only weighs about 4 to 6 pounds while the Teacup is the lightest that only weighs 2 to 4 pounds.
One Poodle fact that many are not aware of is that they are hypoallergenic and do not usually shed their furs, thus they make the best pets for people with allergies. Aside from that, poodles do not have that doggy odor, so they are very huggable.
Poodles are one of the oldest breeds and have been the m ost popular in America since the 1960′s. They were part of ancient history as illustrated by the Greek and Roman coins carved with dogs that resemble Poodles. This breed was recognized by the AKC in 1890.
Poodles were popular in France, Russia and Germany since the 1500′s – the French like the so much that they made the Poodle their national dog! They are well known for their excellent hunting skills, especially in water retreiving, in fact the name Poodle comes from the German Pudel which is short for Pudelhund meaning “splashing dog”. Of the three different types of poodles, the standard is the oldest.
Poodles have hair which can range from coarse to soft, and because of this you can give your Poodle a variety of clips or cuts. While the show cut is the most recognizable, Poodles can also sport a continental clip, a puppy clip, an English Saddle Clip or a pet clip. Their hair can also be corded like a Puli or Komondor.
Poodles are very intelligent dogs. They are a versatile breed that can be trained easily to many activities such as hunting, as well as being easy to house break. Poodles love people and are a very active breed that needs lots of stimulation and exercise.
Fortunately for poodle lovers, the breed tends to have a lengthy lifespan. According to some of the Poodle facts available, the Standard Poodles average an 11.5 year lifespan, Miniature Poodles often live to 14 and Toy Poodles can live for as long as 17 years! Of course, these averages assume that the dog is of normal weight and has an active, healthy lifestyle.