All About Poodles

Poodles are a loving, intelligent breed that is usually allergy friendly because they have hair, not fur. They have a continuously growing coat, so they do not shed, but do require regular brushing and grooming. They are wonderful with children and love to just be with you. Poodles come in three different sizes, Toy, 10 inches and under, Miniature, over 10 inches but less than 15 inches, and Standard, 15 inches and over.

Poodles were originally bred in Europe as a hunting dog. They have webbed feet and are excellent retrievers. People ask me why they are shown in such a goofy hairstyle. Actually, it was a very functional reason. The long hair was too heavy for the dog to swim so the dogs were trimmed so that the hair would keep the joints warm and protected from the cold water. The head and the tail puffs were kept on the dogs so they could be seen in the water. Since then, the “practical” clip has stayed with the poodle and they are shown in the same clip…the Continental clip.

 Poodles come in an array of colors. They can be solid or parti-colored (two colors). According to AKC, all poodle colors can be registered, but only solid color poodles may be shown in AKC confirmation classes. All poodle colors my participate in any other AKC event. Color is strictly a preference of the owner. However, UKC does allow parti colored poodles to participate in confirmation events.

Whether you are looking for a companion or a sporting dog, a poodle of any size is a wonderful choice.