Poodle

Poodle
Poodle
	Black Standard Poodle, working cut.
Other names	Pudle (Old English); Caniche (French; Spanish; Portuguese); Barbet (Old French); Barbone (Italian); Pudel (German; Danish; Swedish); Pudelhund (German); Budel (Old German); Puddel (Norwegian; Danish; Old German); Pudell (Old Swedish); Poedel (Dutch); Пудел / Pudel (Russian); Pudli (Hungarian); Villakoira (Finnish)
Origin	France and Germany
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Kennel club standards
Fédération Cynologique Internationale	standard
	Dog (domestic dog)

The Poodle is a breed of dog. Poodles are highly intelligent, active dogs and come in varieties distinguished by size, color, and coat. Toy, miniature, and standard poodles are distinquished by adult shoulder height. Poodles come in many colors including black, white, red apricot and brown. They also appear in parti-color, or multi-colors. While the multi-color poodles can not be shown in the AKC, CKC or any FCI conformation ring, they can be shown in the UKC show ring and in all performance rings.

Poodles are an ancient breed whose origin is unknown. Most texts suggest an origin in what is now Germany, however they are most associated with France and they have been popular all through Europe for several hundred years. Poodles were originally hunting dogs and still can be seen in that role. 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 require extensive care and grooming. The traditional cuts are offshoots of the requirements hunters had for poodles who were in and out of water.

Potential owners should be aware that there is no designation of a "royal standard" or a "tiny teacup" poodle, and that no particular rarity or premium should be assumed for dogs so labeled.

Appearance

General appearance

The 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.

Coat

A Standard Poodle in a continenetal clip

The Poodle's coat is long, curly, harsh and very thick. It does not shed. For show purposes, Poodle's coats are typically shaped into several different clips, the most common of which are the "continental", "English saddle" clips. Dogs under 12 months old may be shown with a "puppy clip". Although used mostly for show today, these clips originated from the French hunting dogs. As the hair is so thick on a full coated poodle, they are apt to drown under the weight of a full coat. To aid in swimming "unnecessary" hair was shaved away, and the remaining hair was left to keep the poodle's joints and vital organs warm while retrieving fowl from icy waters.

The puppy clip (or kennel clip for older dogs) is the simplest of the three. The face, throat, base of the tail and feet are shaved. The coat may be shaped with scissors for neatness.

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 (zoology) to the base of the foot) and optional round areas (sometimes called "rosettes") over the hips.

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.

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 concerns

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's 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.

Always consult with a veterinarian that you feel comfortable with before diagnosing or treating any disease on your own.

The health concerns that people owning Toy Poodles must be aware of include: cataracts, entropion, epilepsy, intervertebral disc degeneration[2], lacrimal duct atresia (deformed or absent tear ducts that cause tears to run down the face), Legg-Perthes, patellar luxation, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy)[3] [4], trichiasis, and urolithiasis.

For the Miniature Poodle, owners must watch for: cataracts, congenital heart disease, distichiasis, entropion, epilepsy, glaucoma, intervertebral disc degeneration, lacrimal duct atresia, Legg-Perthes, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), patellar luxation, trichiasis, and urolithiasis.

For the Standard Poodle, owners must watch for: Addison's Disease, cataracts, CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia), distichiasis, entropion, epilepsy, gastric torsion, PDA (patent ductus arteriosus), sebaceous adenitis[5], vWD (Von Willebrand's disease) and chronic active hepatitis.

All three breeds are predisposed towards certain types of mammary tumors, so if the Poodle owner doesn't 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). Many breeders promote Poodle hybrids as actual breeds and charge more for them than is usually charged for a mixed-breed dog.

Famous poodles

Stephanie Schneider's Argyle Blanket.
Algonquin from Elvira, Mistress of the DarkBasket, Basket II, and Basket III, successive pets of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas
Boy, pet of Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619-1682)and killed at the battle of Marston Moor.
Charley, pet of Nobel Prize author John Steinbeck, a black (referred to as "blue" in the novel) Standard Poodle played Charley in the TV miniseries "Travels with Charley: In Search of America", based on Steinbeck's 1961 book.
Cleo, from Clifford the Big Red Dog
Daphne, from the third Look Who's Talking movie
Fifi, on circus Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion
Fifi, pet of the Finsters on Rugrats
Fifi, pet of WWE Superstar Rene Dupree
Foo-Foo, Miss Piggy's pet on The Muppet Show
Georgette from Oliver and Company
Josephine, prized pet of author Jacqueline Susann; inspiration for her 1963 novel, "Every Night, Josephine".
Misiu & Cricket, pets of The artist Buza source: [6]
Mocha, pet of Taiwanese American business woman Nikki Hsu
Rhapsody in White, or 'Butch', of the movie Best in Show
Roly, the poodle owned by Sharon Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders
Rufus, pet of Winston Churchill source: [7] retrieved July 31, 2005
Rufus Lucas, a Brindle turned Silver, renowned for high intelligence.
Teddy, famous dog of radio talk show host Michael Savage (commentator)Pictures of Teddy
Yankee Poodle from Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew
Presley
Lerue