Elegance was never this fabulous. Yes, we’re talking about the Poodle – a simply charming dog from ear to tail with a fantastic curly hairdo. They’ll win your heart with their fluffy floppy ears, dark eyes and calm demeanor. The name Poodle derives from the German word ‘pudel’ which means ‘splash in the water’. No surprise there – these dogs are like ducks to water when it comes to taking a dip. Poodles are known to be very chilled house dogs who are great with children and other pets. Let’s dive in and get to know this curly haired dog better.
History
Poodles have been around since the 1500’s and they aren’t originally French, which is sometimes assumed to be the case. Germany can take credit for introducing this breed to the world, but Poodles have since found popularity across Europe as hunting and water retrieval dogs. (Did we mention they love water?) It’s likely that their ancestors were hunting dogs from Asia mixed with the curly-coated Barbet from Hungary, France, and Russia. The result is a fantastic water resistant curls, although it’s their clever minds that made them equally popular at dog shows and at home as pets.
Health
Poodles can live between 10-13 years.
They commonly suffer from ear infections due to hair growing excessively around the ears, but good grooming will help keep this at bay. Poodles can also suffer from gastric issues, epilepsy, cataracts, and hip problems.
Characteristics
Beauty Queens
A Poodle’s trademark curls will need almost as much attention as yours. The tight ringlets are, thankfully, excellent for preventing shedding, so they’re a very easy dog to have in the house. A daily groom with a hairbrush will keep them looking and feeling great.
Water babies
As their ancestry suggests, Poodles are true water babies and love to play. Their hair is naturally water repellent, too, so they’re less likely to soak you after their swim.
Happy housemates
As long as they get a good walk everyday, a Poodle is an amazing dog to have indoors and can be very relaxed. They’re clever dogs – second only to Border Collies in dog intelligence rankings. Poodles are highly adaptable so they’re great with children, other pets, and make excellent first dogs.
Training
Known for their obedience, poodles are attentive, clever and easily teachable so can be trained quickly.
Housebreaking
Poodles are easy going and very intelligent and so they are relatively easy to housebreak.
Where to find Poodles
Poodle Groups
Keen to compare ears and swap comedy tales with other Poodle pundits? Find a Poodle breed group below.
Standard Poodle Club
Miniature Poodle Club
Poodle Council
Adopt a Poodle
Want to adopt a Poodle in need of a loving home? Find a rescue centre below.
Poodles in Need
Poodle Network UK
Breeders
Pondered enough and ready to make a Poodle all yours? Find an approved Poodle breeder below.
Kennel Club Assured Breeders
Do you own a Poodle?
If you own a Poodle let us know in the comments below and upload your picture to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram tagging @DogBuddyCo. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #dogbuddybreed so we can filter your images!