Is a Poodle Right for My Family?
Poodles are a versatile breed that serves many purposes and is found to be an excellent choice for many families:
For all their positive attributes, however, it is important to understand the responsibilities of a poodle owner:
Fun Fact: Poodles can develop the learning capacity and verbal understanding of a 2-year-old child!
What Size Should I Get?
This is one of the most popular questions we get. There are 3 AKC register-able sizes:
This is where we branch into the sub-sizes of poodles. These include:
What Gender Should I Get?
This is also one of the most popular questions we hear. The answer varies from family to family. Poodles are what you make them. You can choose either gender, but ultimately it is up to you as a poodle parent to make sure that they are well-matriculated into your lifestyle.
If you were to ask me personally, my answer is complicated. I usually say that if your poodle will be your only dog, I recommend a male. If you already have a male dog, I recommend a female to add diversity to your life. All that being said, these are just my personal preferences. In the end, you can't go wrong either way if you dedicate yourself to performing your poodle-parent duties.
The History of Poodles
Think a poodle can't hunt? Think again. The Poodle originated in France and was bred for water retrieval (ducks and geese). They were later introduced to upland hunting and were discovered to hold an exceptional bird-sense about them. Four sizes of Poodle subsequently developed for varying purposes: the Toy, the Miniature, the Moyen or Klein, and the Standard. Each of these variations range in sizes from 9 inches (the Toy) to 28 inches (the Standard) and boast an array of personalities. Interestingly, each size classification of Poodle shares the same genetic makeup, therefore an undersized Standard can be registered as a Miniature while an oversized Miniature can be registered as a Standard and so on. Each size can also be mixed with each other to create diverse bloodlines and varying size ranges. The dog will then be placed in a size classification after it is full grown in height.
When AKC adopted the German and French Poodle into their registry, they decided to split the Moyen between the Standard and the Miniature, thus leaving only three size classifications. Due to the show circuit, many bloodlines have lost the natural hunting instinct. We have gone to the farthest ends of the continent to uncover the strong hunting physique and prowess that was once so prevalent in the Standard Poodle. We believe that the hunting instinct makes for a better pet, service animal, agility competitor and more. Why's that? The hunting poodle thinks for himself. They exhibit the ability to use reason and common sense, thus giving them a higher capacity for learning retention. Poodles truly are the ultimate versatile family dog.
Poodles are a versatile breed that serves many purposes and is found to be an excellent choice for many families:
- They have hair, not fur, and are therefor hypoallergenic and non-shedding.
- They are great with children and other pets.
- They are protective and loyal to their humans.
- They are athletic and excel in various sports and activities.
- They adapt well to a variety of living situations, including apartments, townhouses, farms, and suburbs.
- They fare well in both cold and warm climates.
- They are very smart and easy to train.
- They aim to please and enjoy lounging around the house just as much as they enjoy playing fetch or hunting.
- Poodles have an average lifespan of 9 to 14 years... environmental factors playing a large role.
For all their positive attributes, however, it is important to understand the responsibilities of a poodle owner:
- They require frequent brushing, baths and will need a haircut every 4 to 8 weeks.
- They can be prone to skin and digestive allergies, so a good food and clean environment is a must.
- They are a dog, and therefor may bark, growl or whine when they need something, although we have noted that poodles are less vocal than other comparable breeds.
- They LOVE food... including people food!!!
- Puppies will likely use your tennis shoes for a teething toy and may take several weeks to potty train.
Fun Fact: Poodles can develop the learning capacity and verbal understanding of a 2-year-old child!
What Size Should I Get?
This is one of the most popular questions we get. There are 3 AKC register-able sizes:
- Toy (6-9 pounds)
- Miniature (11-17 pounds)
- Standard (45-70 pounds)
This is where we branch into the sub-sizes of poodles. These include:
- Klein (20-30 pounds)
- Moyen (35-45 pounds)
- Royal (80+ pounds)
What Gender Should I Get?
This is also one of the most popular questions we hear. The answer varies from family to family. Poodles are what you make them. You can choose either gender, but ultimately it is up to you as a poodle parent to make sure that they are well-matriculated into your lifestyle.
If you were to ask me personally, my answer is complicated. I usually say that if your poodle will be your only dog, I recommend a male. If you already have a male dog, I recommend a female to add diversity to your life. All that being said, these are just my personal preferences. In the end, you can't go wrong either way if you dedicate yourself to performing your poodle-parent duties.
The History of Poodles
Think a poodle can't hunt? Think again. The Poodle originated in France and was bred for water retrieval (ducks and geese). They were later introduced to upland hunting and were discovered to hold an exceptional bird-sense about them. Four sizes of Poodle subsequently developed for varying purposes: the Toy, the Miniature, the Moyen or Klein, and the Standard. Each of these variations range in sizes from 9 inches (the Toy) to 28 inches (the Standard) and boast an array of personalities. Interestingly, each size classification of Poodle shares the same genetic makeup, therefore an undersized Standard can be registered as a Miniature while an oversized Miniature can be registered as a Standard and so on. Each size can also be mixed with each other to create diverse bloodlines and varying size ranges. The dog will then be placed in a size classification after it is full grown in height.
When AKC adopted the German and French Poodle into their registry, they decided to split the Moyen between the Standard and the Miniature, thus leaving only three size classifications. Due to the show circuit, many bloodlines have lost the natural hunting instinct. We have gone to the farthest ends of the continent to uncover the strong hunting physique and prowess that was once so prevalent in the Standard Poodle. We believe that the hunting instinct makes for a better pet, service animal, agility competitor and more. Why's that? The hunting poodle thinks for himself. They exhibit the ability to use reason and common sense, thus giving them a higher capacity for learning retention. Poodles truly are the ultimate versatile family dog.