Poodles are believed to have originated in Germany, though they have been known as French dogs for many years. Their name is derived from the German word pudel, meaning “to splash in water.”
Standard poodles are considered the oldest form of this breed. Their history of use as retrievers and water dogs led to the well-known poodle haircut, which was designed to protect joints from cold water temperatures.
The breed share a square outline, with a long, elegant neck and a straight back. The tail is docked, but not short, so it can wave gaily.
Poodles tend to have a leggy appearance and a long muzzle combined with dropped ears. They move with a springy, lively gait.
The coat of the poodle is its crowning glory. Dogs competing in the breed ring must have a specific clip, with areas of extravagant hair coupled with skin tight clipping, these clips actually developed for a reason: they provided thick coat over the joints and chest to keep the dog warm while working in cold water.
Intelligent, loving, loyal, and mischievous are four words Poodle enthusiasts commonly use to describe the breed’s personality.
Poodles are among the smartest of breeds, but that intelligence can translate into stubbornness. Even so, they can make wonderful therapy dogs. Their empathetic nature and joy in engaging with people make them naturals for visiting with people in nursing homes, hospitals, and schools .
Poodles are active dogs, but the smaller dogs need less room and less exercise. Toy and Miniature Poodles are often the companions of people who are less active and can be extremely happy as lap dogs and TV-watching buddies. Just be sure their busy minds have enough to keep them out of mischief. Poodles love to learn and want to please. Trick-training suits their heritage as circus dogs quite well. Teach them to pick up the newspaper, carry a bottle to the recycling bin, and bring your slippers .
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease, Poodles are generally considered to be a very sturdy breed with few health issues.
Addison’s Disease : Also known as hypoadrenocorticism, this extremely serious condition is caused by an insufficient production of adrenal hormones by the adrenal gland. Most dogs with Addison’s disease vomit, have a poor appetite, and lethargy. Because these signs are vague and can be mistaken for other conditions, it’s easy to miss this disease as a diagnosis until it reaches more advanced stages.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus : Commonly called bloat, which occurs when gas gets trapped inside a dog’s stomach. The stomach twists as much as 180 degrees, stopping the flow of digestion and causing the gas to build up pressure. It’s an incredibly painful disorder with a 20% mortality rate even with surgical intervention. Deep-chested breeds like the standard Poodle or Great Dane are especially prone to experiencing bloat.
Hip Dysplasia : A dog’s hip operates on a ball-and-socket joint. When the socket is over- or under-developed, or when the ligaments holding the two together are weak, the ball can become dislodged. This constant dislocation and relocation will wear down the joint’s integrity and cause hip dysplasia.
Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is caused by an under active thyroid gland. It’s thought to be responsible for conditions such as epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, lethargy, hyperpigmentation, pyoderma and other skin conditions.
Epileptic : Epileptic seizures in dogs are as shocking for canines as they are for humans. Dogs will often seem confused or panicked about what’s happening, and the sight of your dog seizing can be terrifying to watch. When this happens, you need to remain calm and focus on helping your dog.
