The Poodle

Zus, the Miniature Poodle

The Poodle come in three breed recognised sizes, these sizes are determined by their height and not weight.

The Toy Poodle is 10 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders.

The Miniature Poodle must be over 10 inches and 15 inches or less at the highest point of the shoulders.

The Standard Poodle is over 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulders

The Poodle breed has been very popular and dates back to Western Europe over 400 years ago. It appears the exact origin of the breed is unknown and a bit of a controversial subject depending on who you ask. Known by a lot of people as the ‘French Poodle’, France has taken claim as the originating country for the breed although the American Kennel Club recognises Germany as the country of Origin for the Poodle. It is believed this is also how their name originated, as Poodle in German means ‘one who plays in water.’
The famous ‘Poodle Clip’ that we all know is not just for show, originally their coats were clipped in this way to assist the dogs when moving through water, leaving hair on their leg joints to keep them warm and protected.
They were used as working dogs to retrieve waterfowl and are great for sniffing out truffles for farmers. The Poodle is a very intelligent which made them perfect to be used as performers in the circus.
With their high intelligence and keen ability to impress make the Poodle a perfect family pet today. With their varying sizes they are suitable for apartment living as well as loving the space of a larger property. They thrive on having rules and boundaries and learn very quickly. Being so smart though means they need plenty of mental stimulation, to avoid any bad behaviours developing.
The Poodle is a number one pick for any allergy sufferers, as they shed little to no hair and have a woollen coat. Extensive grooming is needed for this breed, with a full body clip being needed every 6 to 8 weeks. When in full coat, daily brushing is required, especially after spending time in the garden or long grass. There is a range of ‘Poodle Clips’ they help to keep their temperature regulated all year round.