Poodles are recognized as one of the highly intelligent breeds worldwide. They can be easily trained and excel at any task you put them to. Besides, you must assign them tasks to accomplish as bored poodles can become quite destructive if they are not mentally and physically stimulated. If you are unsure if a poodle is right for your family, continue reading to get detailed information on the five types of poodles.
Standard Poodles
Height for the Standard poodle is 18 to 24 inches, with a bodyweight of 45 – 60 pounds for females and 45 – 70 pounds for the male and a life expectancy is twelve years. These dogs are the biggest in the poodle family, despite their pampered dog looks and they are quite agile, elegant looking, and energetic with exceptional jumping skills. In dog show competitions, standard poodles are known for their efficiency in jumping, obstacle courses, and retrieving games; no doubt, the standard poodle still holds on to their ancestors’ prowess.
When it comes to socializing, this is a typical watchdog, protective of its adopters without exhibiting aggression. They have a friendly and polite manner towards people, which can be honed with socialization. Additionally, they exhibit no issues with other house pets, but due to the fact that they are sensitive, and can be easily startled, they are not good with little children.
As for their personality, standard poodles are trainable, smart, and can be kept happy with little mental stimulation. The breed is never idle, which calls for agility classes, challenging games, as well as advanced obedience classes for the purpose of mental stimulation. Physical exercise is also good, and although the breed suffers from several health issues, they are relatively healthy. Grooming with this breed is also easy they are hypoallergenic and shed very little. However, clipping is needed every four to six weeks.
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Toy Poodles
For the Toy poodle, the males can weigh from 45 to 70 pounds while the females can take up to 45 to 60 pounds. Life expectancy is fifteen years, and the pup can stand between 9.4 to 11 inches in height. The coat of the toy poodle is similar to that of the standard poodle, but they are different in the sense that the toy poodles are shaped like a square which means that their height is commensurate to their legs in length. However, even with all these differences, they are athletic as well as active.
Toy poodles are also quite active in dog competitions like running, jumping, and retrieving. Distinct from their standard poodle kin, they are perfect to be a pet companion, and cannot be used for water games and hunting. However, just like most other poodles, they suffer from various health issues, the most notable among them is chondrodysplasia – a health condition that ails breed of dogs that are built closer to the ground. Due to their body size, the toy should be handled with care as they can be easily injured by a drop from a certain height.
Talking about temperament, the toy is intelligent like their cousins with the ability to anticipate their adopter’s routine. But then, they tend to become acclimatized to their routine, that they can be easily affected by any change. Nevertheless, they are gentle and thrive in a harmonious household, and their minds can be easily upset by any conflict, roughhousing, or accelerated activity. At times, the dog can be skittish, timid, nervous, and overly high-strung; these traits can get worse from lack of socialization. As for shedding – this is minimal and their non-shedding coat comes in several beautiful colors.
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Miniature Poodles
The Miniature poodle has a life expectancy that spans over fifteen years and can grow up to eleven inches in height, but we have seen some that are up to fourteen inches. Body mass for males range from 45 to 70 pounds while the females come with a lesser weight of 45 to 60 pounds. This type of poodle comes smaller relative to the standard poodles but a whole lot bigger than the toy poodle and are best suited for pet parents who want their poodle to be neither too small nor too big. What’s more, this adorable pup is densely coated with curly hair, which is quite easy to groom, trimmed, or styled.
As for their personality, miniature poodles are very sensitive and likes to associate with a single owner, but with time, they will become receptive to other house pets and kids. Nevertheless, the breed gained massive popularity as a result of their lively nature, obedience, playful dispositions, smartness, and eagerness to please their human family.
When it comes to physical health, they are generally no different from the other members of the canine population as they require both mental and physical exercise and are also susceptible to general health conditions that affect other canines like trichiasis, patellar luxation, glaucoma, cataract, and duct atresia. However, all these health issues are treatable; you can also militate against them.
Furthermore, if you acquired your miniature poodle as a family pet, and not for dog show, grooming will only entail daily brushing if it is a long coat or weekly brushing for the short coat. However, if the dog is for show you need to constantly trim as well as style his coat to maintain his hairstyle. Recommendations are that your miniature poodle should be groomed once a month or six weeks.
Klein Poodles
Klein poodles can live from 12 to 15 years, growing to a height of 14 to 18 inches with a bodyweight that ranges from 20 to 35 pounds. They originated from Europe, but the French refer to it as moyen or medium and their size strikes a balance between the standard poodle and the miniature. However, this breed of poodles cannot participate in a number of dog shows since they are yet to be recognized by the AKC. Additionally, they are not up to the standard their bigger poodle cousins in strength and size, and don’t have eligibility as a dog breed; though the Klein can still take part in unofficial dog shows.
The Klein is widespread in the United States, but because they are small-sized, you can only adopt them as household pets. Physical characteristics for the Klein poodle consists of a fairly round skull with a slight stop and an extended straight muzzle. The dog’s eyes can be realized in black or brown color, oval-shaped, and wide apart. Both ears are flat and long and hang very close to the face. The limbs are proportionate to the pup’s size, with arched toes and oval-shaped feet. As for the coat, it can either be curly or corded and is realized in many colors such as blue, black, brown, café-au-lait, white, silver, red, gray, apricot, cream and particolor.
Klein poodles are similar to all other poodle breeds in the sense that they are the perfect companion and comes across as clever, intelligent, with a comical attitude as well as their natural eagerness to please their human family members. What’s more, they are not difficult to train but when left untrained, they can develop what is referred to as “Small Dog Syndrome’’ – this means a situation where your canine companion thinks he is in charge.
Furthermore, although they are eligible for active competitions, they still have exercise requirements. Walks can be undertaken on a daily basis, but make sure to leash them. It is best to have the dog either walking behind you or by your side, further nipping the “Small Dog” syndrome in the bud.
Teacup Poodles
Weighing two, six, or twelve pounds, the Teacup poodle can stand at the height of nine inches or lower and is known to live between fifteen to twenty years. Like their poodle cousins, they are yet to be recognized by the AKC. Out of all the breeds of poodle, the teacup is the smallest in size, as indicated by the name. Though no universal standard exists for the breed, the teacup is everywhere in the United States. At best, they count any small-sized poodle as a Teacup breed.
For a small-sized dog, the life expectancy in the teacup is quite high. However, the breed is still ailed by the same diseases that are evident in the poodle breed. However, when it comes to health conditions, they do not have that many and if anything comes up, it can easily be handled with the right veterinary care.
As for homekeeping, the size of teacup poodles makes them a perfect pet for homes, and they are pretty comfortable in small apartments. As an indoor-only pet, they are quite active, and will still do well without a yard. However, pet parents that have a yard should have it fenced to stop the poodle from wandering away from home, especially when you are not at home. Even better, you can carry your teacup poodle with you while going on your daily walks or put him on a dog leash.
Sources:
- How to Groom a Poodle at Home, HowStuffWorks
- Jane Meggitt, The Health of Poodles, The Nest
- 5 Fun Facts About Poodles, PetMD
- Toy Poodle, VetStreet
- Miniature Poodle, VCA Hospitals
