Poodles: everything you need to know

Thinking about welcoming a curly-coated cutie into your home or just want to know more about your favourite fluffy breed? Well Poodles are the number one pooches when it comes to impressive hair game, but these dogs are more than their hair! 

Far from their fashionista reputation, these cuties have a rich history, an energetic personality and an incomparable love for their two-legged companions. From their popularity with King Louis XVI to their waterfowl retrieval skills, there’s a lot to learn when it comes to these circus performers. So, let’s dive in and find out more about our friends of the (very) fluffy persuasion…

Poodle dog breed characteristics 

• Origin: Germany.
• Size: The standard Poodle grows up to 24 inches and can weigh between 61 and 100 pounds, while the Miniature is nearly 14 inches and 13 pounds, and the Toy Poodle is 10 inches tall and weighs between 6 and 10 pounds.
• Character: These curly pooches are energetic, friendly and the complete opposite of territorial. 
• Health needs and grooming: Poodles need to be groomed daily and trimmed regularly to avoid knotting and matting. Take a look below for a debrief on the health conditions to be aware of.
• Training: These cuties are one of the easiest dog breeds to train - they respond well to commands and are more than capable of learning impressive tricks.
• Energy levels: They’re energetic balls of fluff that need daily physical and mental stimulation.
• Intelligence: As one of the clever(er) canines, these cuties need mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy.
• Lifespan: 10-18 years.
• Barking/howling: Poodles will bark if they’ve been left without the play, attention, stimulation or exercise they need for too long. They do know how to howl, but aren’t particularly prone to it.

Poodle dog breed appearance

Fluff, fluff, and more fluff.

Poodles are famous for their curly coats - it’s hypoallergenic and grows more like hair than fur (which is why Poodle mixes are so popular). These locks grow rather than malt, meaning you’ll spend more time grooming than sweeping with a Poodle in your home. These cuties can be found with a variety of coat colours including apricot, brown, black, sable and blue. 

Standard Poodles are considered large dogs, but their Miniature and Toy cousins are pretty popular in domestic and (historically) working settings. Despite their petite bone structure, these cuties aren’t afraid of exercise or the water. Their thoughtful, slightly rounded eyes are ever-so endearing to the world of dog lovers, and their narrow snouts are reminiscent of their truffle-hunting past.

Poodle dog breed personality

Despite their reputation as the fashionistas of the canine world, these Pooches couldn’t be further from the Poodles of pop culture. They’re energetic, friendly, and full of love for their two-legged companions, making perfect therapy dogs. And it’s not just their sapien sidekicks that they’re happy to spend all day with - these easy going cuties also do well in households welcome to friends of the feline persuasion too. They’re far from territorial (so make awful guard dogs), but are calm, alert and playful for the most part. As much as these cuties love a good time, they can be prone to over stimulation, so love having the option of a room for rest, away from the chaos is a great idea.

Types of Poodles

Standard Poodle

The Standard Poodle is the oldest of these three Poodle types and the largest. They can grow up to 24 inches and weigh between 61 and 100 pounds. They’re energetic, loving dogs with a zest for life, who were once water dogs bred to retrieve waterfowl.

Miniature Poodle

Despite their CUTE appearance, Miniature Poodles were once working dogs, just like their Standard cousins. They were bred to sniff out truffles, and were also popular circus dogs due to their ability to learn new tricks. Despite their name and growing to nearly 14 inches and weighing up to 13 pounds, Miniature Poodles aren’t the smallest type of this fluffy breed.

Toy Poodle

Growing to a very cute size of 10 inches and weighing between 6 and 10 pounds, it’s no wonder why Toy Poodles were all the rage in the French court, and the special companions of King Louis XVI. Like their Miniature cousins, Toy Poodles were also a popular breed for  circus roles due to their intelligence and swift trick-learning abilities.

What’s the ideal home for the Poodle dog breed?

Poodles are fab with other dogs, love their two-legged pals, and can even get along with cats! These pooches can get over-stimulated if there are lots of people around making lots of noise. So to give your Poodle the space they need, make sure you’ve got a room in your living area where your buddy can totter off to, should they need some time out. Whether it’s their ‘bedroom’ or a room away from the noise with a cosy crate, they’ll be happy away from any hectic days when the hustle and bustle gets a little too much.

Like most of our canine companions, Poodles enjoy an outdoor space to exercise, but equally won’t be unhappy if you welcome them into an apartment. As long as they have the movement, stimulation and love they need, they’ll be satisfied in your home. And if you don’t have a garden, make the most of your local dog park at least twice a day, take the odd hike and explore any lakes nearby.

What’s the ideal human for a Poodle?

If welcoming a furry pal into your life is all about cuddles, walkes and fetch in the park, then you’ll be the ideal pet parent to a Poodle. They’re an energetic breed with a need for mental and physical stimulation, so be sure to have enough time (and energy) to give your new fluff ball all they need. Poodles love their two-legged companions, so prefer to be by their side as much as humanly (dogly?) possible. So, if you work part time or (even better) from home, your Poodle will be happy. And if you plan on going away for a business trip or a week in the sun, find a pet sitter to keep your pooch company in the comfort of home while you’re away.

These cuties need daily walkies and are even partial to the odd outdoor swim, so if you love being outside or you’re partial to a game of fetch yourself, you and a Poodle could be well suited. And if you’ve got other dogs, Poodles are happy to mingle if socialised from a young age. They’ll even be welcoming to any feline friends - they might play, tolerate, or ignore them, but the most important thing to remember is to introduce your two pet pals slowly with lots of supervision.

Tips for training Poodles 

Einstein? Your Poodle? What’s the difference? Jokes aside, dog lovers agree that Poodles are up there with some of the smartest dogs around. And with that comes a relatively easy training journey - they get used to commands pretty quickly which means teaching advanced tricks can be on the cards with a Poodle.

And while Poodles are incredibly friendly pooches, any behaviour that flouts your rules will often stem from a lack of mental or physical stimulation. So, when it comes to making sure your new pooch follows your house rules, it’ll take more than barking orders and expecting compliance. So, between training sessions, make sure your pooch is getting enough exercise, play time and cuddles so that they’re ready to go next time you command ‘sit’!.

When it comes to the training itself, stick to positive reinforcement so that your new pooch can be primed for the behaviours you’re after. These fluffballs are intelligent, so make sure your training sessions are fun, stimulating and short. And while training at home can be great, it can be hard to know where to start. So to give yourself and your family an idea on the sorts of training your Poodle does well with, check out your local puppy training classes. 

Grooming and caring for the Poodle dog breed

As all of us dog lovers know, Poodle coats are pretty special. They’re highly sought after in the dog world because they’re hypoallergenic, meaning they’re very unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction from any two-legged friends (hence why so many Poodle mixes like Irish Doodles are emerging!). And unlike most of our other canine companions, Poodles only have one single coat layer which is popular for its ability to stay attached (i.e. it doesn’t shed very much)! 

While Poodles are popular for show rings and all manner of elaborate hairstyles, you don’t need to be an expert in dog grooming to keep your pooch looking tidy, but you will need to be attentive. Because of their intensely curly coat, these cuties need much more grooming than most other dogs. A poodle coat is more hair than fur, as it grows continuously rather than malting, like many of our other four-legged friends.

Those tight curls are prone to collecting dirt and matting, so regular grooming, clipping and trimming is needed to avoid any unwanted matting. And while matting is avoidable with regular coat care, a build up can mean that your pooch could need sheering to remove mats and stubborn tangles to avoid damaging their sensitive skin.

If you plan on taking your Poodle to the groomers every now and then, it’s important to get your new pal prepared beforehand. It can be a bit of an unsettling experience for your pup, so get them used to having their ears, eyes, nails, teeth and tail touched beforehand. You could also settle your pup by paying a visit to the groomers before any grooming happens, just to get them used to the sights, sounds and smells. Reward your pooch with their favourite treat so they can associate grooming with something they love.

Poodle dog breed history

According to the American Kennel Club, Poodles originated in Germany, not France - it’s an ongoing debate in the Poodle world! The word ‘Poodle’ stems from the German word ‘pudel’ or ‘pudelin’, which means ‘to splash about in water’. And funny that, because the ancestry of ‘Poodle’ chimes perfectly with the breed’s history. They might be adorable domestic fluffballs now, but from the 17th century onwards, Poodles were water retriever working dogs. Their roles were to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl, which explains why they love the water! In fact, their French name ‘Caniche’ means ‘duck dog’. Despite the general agreement that Poodles originated from Germany, they were very popular in France, especially with King Louis XVI who adored toy poodles - a keen eye that he shared with the rest of the French court.

Over the years, Poodles have also been adopted into circus-based roles, as well as truffle hunting. Plus, some waterfowl hunters still work with the help of these cuties today. And even though Poodles are often associated with France, even going by ‘French Poodle’ to some, this association was merely for the clip, not the origins of this unique breed.

And wondering where the flamboyant poofs of fluff we all associate with fashion come from? Well it turns out that this cut wasn’t made with looks in mind, at least not for the most part. As these cuties were once bred as working dogs (like many of the breeds we know and love today), the poofs of fluff were left behind to keep their joints and torso warm in the cold water while they retrieved water fowl for their two-legged companions.

Poodle breed health

Like any other pooch you’re thinking about welcoming home, Poodles are prone to a few health problems. It’s always worth getting pet insurance, should you need to pay a vet bill. When it comes to looking after your dog, make sure they enjoy high quality food and get regular exercise, keeping their hair unmatted and ears clean. According to PDSA, these are the health conditions to look out for in Poodles.

• Addison’s disease: symptoms include lethargy, diarrhoea, vomiting, increased thirst, increased urination and unplanned weight loss.
• Epilepsy: One of the most common neurological disorders in dogs which can lead to seizures.
• Hip dysplasia: an inherited condition that can be spotted by a lack of mobility and reluctance to run or climb in an upward direction.
• Legg-Perthes disease: a condition where the head of the femur begins to degenerate.
• Luxating patellas: the temporary displacement of the kneecaps.
• Progressive retinal atrophy: a condition starting with night blindness which can progress to full blindness caused by the deterioration of the eye’s retina.
• Gastric Dilation Volvulus: otherwise known as ‘bloat’, it’s a condition (and emergency) where the stomach twists which traps its contents and gases.
• Entropion: a condition causing inward-turning eyelids.
• Cataracts: can be spotted by a cloudy appearance of the eyes.
• Dry eye: caused when the eyes don’t produce enough of or the right amount of tears.
• Von Willebrand’s disease: a deficiency in blood platelet functioning, making those suffering bleed more easily than normal.
• Cardiomyopathy: a disease that causes the heart muscles to become thin, weak and floppy. 
• Distichiasis: a condition where tiny eyelashes grow on the edge or the inner surface of the eye, which can cause irritation.
• Intervertebral disc disease: a common disease in older dogs resulting in the reduced shock absorption capacity of the discs between the spinal vertebrae.
• Hypothyroidism: an underactive thyroid condition. 
• Cushing’s syndrome: a disorder which results in the production of too much cortisol.
• Sebaceous Adenitis: a hereditary skin disease that can cause hair loss.

Getting a Poodle

While welcoming a bundle of fluff home will be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do, it’s not a decision that any dog lover should take lightly. And it’s not easy to know whether a pooch will suit you, no matter how many breed guides you’ve read! That’s why we’d always advise pet sitting in your local area (or abroad!) to get a feel for what it’s like to have a four-legged friend in a shared living space with you.

Once you’re ready to take the leap and bring home a fluffball to call your newest family member, consider whether adoption or buying a puppy is right for you. While approaching a reputable breeder has its benefits, there are many four-legged friends waiting for a forever home in shelters all over the world. So, take a look around your local shelter first to find out if you can offer a pup a loving home.

Need grooming tips?

Poodles are famous for their curly coats, so find out how to keep it in ship shape with this handy grooming guide for beginners.