POODLE Dog Breed
Poodles come in a variety of sizes from the toy poodle to the giant poodle, but here we are going to look at the average, better known as the normal poodle. They are classed as a small to medium dog with a height of approximately 16 inches with the male dog weighing in at 66-77 pounds and the female bitch weighing in a little less at 46-70 pounds. They have a single coat that is curly in appearance and they do not shed much of their dense hair, which does require quite regular grooming. They are most commonly single coloured and it is very rare to find a multi-coloured poodle.
History. The Poodle breed was, believe it or not, bred as retrievers or gun dogs. They originally came from Germany, although they are still used as water retrievers in France. They have in the past also been used as truffle hunters. Due to the length of their hair, they were seen as somewhat cumbersome in the water, and the curly nature, although waterproof, tended to retain moisture in their outer coat. It is for this reason that the dogs were originally shaved in a variety of areas, thereby giving birth to some of the shaving patterns used today, although some people may consider they have taken this tradition a little too far.
Temperament. The Poodle is an intelligent and instinctive breed. Training is quite easy as a result of these instincts, which is probably why they were used in circuses some years ago. They are highly energetic and can become bored quite easily, which can then lead to them finding very creative ways in which to get into mischief. Exercise and mental stimulation are important to this breed, with which they will be eager to please, which of course will assist in their training. They are a sociable friendly dog and are quite people orientated, this makes integration into the home very simple at and they are normally very good with children. As bred retrievers they love games such as throwing a ball or stick, and other similar games.
Health issues. Poodles are prone to ear infections, so need to have these checked during grooming. More seriously the puppy's can suffer from renal problems, and as adults their main issues are predispositions to Addison's disease, airway problems, thyroid problems and hip dysplasia. More minor ailments consist of cataracts, Progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, and bloat.
Grooming. Although Poodles are classed as non-shedders their coats do require a great deal of care. They need to be combed or brushed very regularly, and will most likely require regular trips to the salon for professional care. Brushing their teeth preferably daily is also required to reduce the incidence of gingivitis.
Living conditions. As a retriever, these dogs were bred to work, and as such will require a reasonable amount of exercise. Whilst smaller ones may be suited to life in an apartment, larger ones may not be quite so settled, unless taken out regularly and often. They are generally quite a passive dog, and acclimatize well to family life; they are also people lovers and like to be in the thick of any action within the household. They will play well with small children but supervision may be necessary to ensure the dog is not being bullied, or being played with too roughly by particularly small children.
If you can't find a local breeder in your area don't worry, many breeders are using the major airlines like American, Delta, Continental and Northwest airlines for shipping their puppies.
At this time the airlines will ship puppies to the following States: Alabama AL - Alaska AK - Arizona AZ - Arkansas AR - California CA - Colorado CO - Connecticut CT - Delaware DE - Florida FL - Georgia GA - Hawaii HI - Idaho ID - Illinois IL - Indiana IN - Iowa IA - Kansas KS - Kentucky KY - Louisiana LA - Maine ME - Maryland MD - Massachusetts MA - Michigan MI - Minnesota MN - Mississippi MS - Missouri MO - Montana MT - Nebraska NE - Nevada NV - New Hampshire NH - New Jersey NJ - New Mexico NM - New York NY - North Carolina NC - North Dakota ND - Ohio OH - Oklahoma OK - Oregon OR - Pennsylvania PA - Rhode Island RI - South Carolina SC - South Dakota SD - Tennessee TN - Texas TX - Utah UT - Vermont VT - Virginia VA - Washington WA - Washington, D.C. - West Virginia WV - Wisconsin WI - Wyoming WY - Hawaii HI.
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