Poodles

Poodles are fascinating dogs. They are lively, active, and trainable with a good sense of humor. They thrive on attention and are extremely intelligent. Poodles are even one of the worlds smartest dogs, second only to the Border Collie. They are exceptional jumpers and have thick curly coats that come in a variety of solid colors. You can find white, brown, black, blue, silver, and even apricot poodles. Poodles are known for their long faces, lanky legs, and sharp features. They come in three main sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. For a poodle to be considered a standard poodle it must be over 15 inches and roughly 45 to 70 pounds. Standard male poodles range from 55 to 70 pounds, whereas female standard poodles are usually 45 to 50 pounds. Miniature poodles are 10 or 11 inches tall and 12 to 20 pounds. Toy poodles are less than 10 inches and generally 5 to 7 pounds. Poodles are very energetic and generally require at least 40 minutes of exercise daily. 

Poodles fluffy, non shedding coats make them hypoallergenic and great companions for people with dog allergies. They do require frequent grooming due to their tendency to get mats. Poodles originated in Germany. The word poodle comes from the German "pudel" which means puddle or splash. Before their show days poodles were hunting dogs, and excellent duck hunters and retrievers. 

The Poodles many outstanding qualities made the breed become very popular. Standard and miniature poodles were soon found favorable by many nobles in France, and eventually, all over Europe. In France poodles are still known today as Caniche or "duck dog."  Believe it or not, the poodles ostentatious show coats once served a very practical purpose. Poodles legs, neck, and tails were shaved to give them free range and movement in the water. Their legs, hips, and leg joints were kept coated to protect those vital areas from the cold. While the standard and miniature poodles became very popular in Europe, the first toy poodle wasn't bred until the 20th century, here, in America. 

Poodles high intelligence, loyalty, and hypoallergenic coats make them a top candidate when creating a cross breed. There are over thirty different breeds that have been made by crossing a poodle an another pure bred. A few of the most common ones are Cockapoos, Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, Schnoodles, Maltipoos, Yorkipoos, Cavapoos, and Sheepadoodles.

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If you are looking for a trusty, intelligent, loving, and loyal companion I highly recommend the poodle for you!