Toy Poodle Information
Poodles are intelligent, active dogs and come in varieties distinguished by size, color, and coat. Toy, miniature, and standard poodles are distinguished by adult shoulder height. Poodles come in many colors including black, white, red, apricot, silver, and brown. They also appear in parti-color, or multi-colors. While the multi-color poodles can not be shown in the American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) or any Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) conformation ring, they can be shown in the United Kennel Club (UKC) show ring and in all performance rings.
The FCI lists the country of origin as France. Poodles were originally gun dogs and may be seen occasionally in that role. The show clips evolved from working clips which were originally to provide warmth for major joints during duck hunts in cold water. The rest of the body is shaved for less drag in the water. Poodles have been popular all through Europe for several hundred years. They also are skilled at most other dog events including herding, agility, obedience and tracking.
They are elegant in the show ring, having taken top honors in many shows. The poodle coat is dense and generally does not shed. As a result the coats in showing condition require extensive care and grooming. Most pet Poodle owners keep their Poodles in much simpler cuts that are easier to care for and require less grooming.
The name poodle comes from the German word Pudel, which is short for Pudelhund, which means splashing dog. This reflects the breed's former use as a retriever of water (the word Pudel is related to the English word puddle).
General Appearance
According to the AKC standard, a Poodle should be of moderate build, neither heavy or insubstantial. It should have an elegant, balanced appearance, and should carry itself in a "proud" or "dignified" manner.
Most Poodles are proportionally long-legged dogs. They have dense, curly, non-shedding fur that grows year-round and requires regular grooming. Most are solid-colored, and many registries only allow solid colors in conformation shows. "Parti" (short for parti-colored) Poodles have large patches of colors. "Phantom" Poodles have the color pattern of a black-and-tan dog, although not necessarily black and tan. Solid colored Poodles may either "hold" their color (i.e., stay more or less the same color throughout their lives) or "fade" or "clear" to a lighter shade. Usually, the ears and the thicker guard hairs hold more of the original color than other fur.
The tail is usually docked in the US, less often in Europe. These days, tails, when docked, are left much longer than in times past. "Bunny tails" (very short-docked tails) are now rarely seen except among puppy millers.
Coat
Poodle show clips require many hours of brushing and care per week, about 10 hours/week for a standard Poodle. Poodles are usually clipped down as soon as their show career is over and put into a lower-maintenance cut. Pet clips are much less elaborate than show clips and require much less maintenance.
Show clips
Many breed registries allow only certain clips for Poodles shown in conformation. In American Kennel Club (AKC) shows, adults must be shown in the "continental" or "English saddle" clips. Dogs under 12 months old may be shown with a "puppy clip". A handful of registries, such as the United Kennel Club, allow simpler clips.
Puppy Clip
In the puppy clip, the face, throat, base of the tail and feet are shaved. The coat may be shaped with scissors for neatness. Although this clip appears simpler than the other clips, the length of the hair makes it at as difficult (maybe more so) to maintain as the adult clips.
Continental Clip
In the continental clip the face, throat, feet and part of the tail are shaved. The upper half of the front legs is shaved, leaving "pompoms" around the ankles. The hindquarters are shaved except for pompoms on the lower leg (from the hock to the base of the foot) and optional round areas (sometimes called "rosettes") over the hips. The continental clip is the most popular show clip today.
The English saddle clip is similar to the continental, except for the hindquarters. The hindquarters are not shaved except a small curved area on each flank (just behind the body), the feet, and bands just below the stifle (knee) and above the hock, leaving three pompoms. This clip is now rarely seen in Standard Poodles.
Pet Clips
Pet clips can be as simple or elaborate as the owner wants. The hair under the tail should always be kept short to keep feces from getting matted in the fur. Most owners also keep the feet and face clipped short to keep dirt from matting between toes and food from matting around the dog's muzzle. Beyond the sanitary requirements, the desired clip depends on the owner's preference. Some owners maintain a longer clip in winter than summer. Longer hair should be brushed daily to remove any tangles.
Corded coat
In most cases, whether a poodle is in a pet or show clip, long fur is completely brushed out. Poodle fur can also be "corded" with rope-like mats similar to those of a Komondor. Though once as common as the curly Poodle, corded Poodles are now very rare. Corded coats are difficult to keep clean and take a long time to dry after a bath. Any Poodle with a normal coat can be corded when their adult coat is in. Corded Poodles may be shown in AKC, FCI, CKC and UKC shows.
Temperament
Poodles are intelligent, alert, and active. Arguably one of the most intelligent breeds, [1], their aptitude has made them ideal for performing in circuses across the globe for centuries. Because they are so intelligent, they can become bored easily and can get quite creative about finding mischief. Poodles are extremely people-oriented dogs and, therefore, are eager to please. They are excellent watchdogs, but unlike some working breeds, don't usually become "one-person" dogs when they are part of a family. Standard Poodles in particular tend to be good with children. When they are from good bloodlines, all three varieties are fairly mellow dogs. Poodles are adaptable and easy to train. Being agile and athletic, they appreciate lots of exercise.
Health and Exercise
As with any purebred dog, there are many health concerns for the Poodle owner to be aware of. Though the Poodle is usually a healthy, long-lived canine (it is not unheard of to see a 15-year-old Toy or Miniature Poodle or a 12-year-old Standard Poodle), owners should be aware of the health problems that this breed is predisposed to.
The Poodle has certain health problems it is prone to:
* Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism)
* Cataracts
* Congenital heart disease
* Chronic active hepatitis
* Cushing's syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism)
* Distichiasis
* Entropion
* Epilepsy[7]
* Glaucoma[6]
* Intervertebral disc degeneration
* Lacrimal duct atresia
* Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome
* Progressive retinal atrophy
* Patellar luxation (Toy and Miniature)
* Trichiasis
* Urolithiasis.
* Hip dysplasia
* Hypothyroidism
* Gastric torsion
* Osteosarcoma
* Patent ductus arteriosus
* Sebaceous adenitis
* Von Willebrand's disease
All three breeds are predisposed towards certain types of mammary tumors, so if the Poodle owner does not plan on breeding their female, then they should consider spaying her before her first heat cycle. This dramatically cuts down the Poodle's chances of developing quite a few different types of mammary tumors later in life.
Hybrids
Many hybrids have been created by crossing a Poodle with another breed, such as Labradoodles and Cockapoos. These "hybrids" or "designer dogs" are not, however, recognized breeds by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Poodle hybrids are popular both for the desirability of their temperament and their coats, which are lower shedding and more easily tolerated by owners with allergies. Many breeders promote Poodle hybrids as actual breeds and charge more for them than is usually charged for a mixed-breed dog.