By Heidi Clayton
Whenever I am asked to recommend a good family dog, I always recommend the poodle. No, I am not talking about a doodle! I mean the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed known as the poodle.
Let me clear something else up: No breed is hypoallergenic! There are breeds such as the poodle that are non-shedding and have predictable coats because they are purebred.
Mixing anything doodle with a poodle of any size does not mean you will get the non-shedding coat. There is no way to tell what coat your doodle mix will get (as well as temperament). The poodle breed, however, not only has a reliable coat but an amazing temperament to match.
The poodle is the National Dog of France. In France, they aren’t referred to as the “French poodle”. Instead, they are known as the Caniche Dog or the Duck Dog. The poodle originated in Germany more than 400 years ago. These dogs were bred to be excellent swimmers and duck retrievers with incredible agility and supreme intelligence. Poodles were also known to transition from avid swimmers to relaxing like royalty in the manor after a hard day of hunting, which made them popular among the nobles of France.
Poodles’ most common style of grooming reflects their history as strong swimmers. The continental clip seen in the show ring served the purpose of protecting vital organs and joints when swimming in cold water. Reducing the amount of hair allows poodles to swim more freely.
The AKC describes the poodle as “carrying himself, proudly, very active, intelligent, and has about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself.” When moving, the poodle carries their heads and tails up, which can appear snooty. Being a swimming breed, they look as if they are swimming effortlessly through the water even when moving on land.
Poodles excel at agility and obedience. Many show poodles also have AKC Hunting and Retrieving titles. The poodle is extremely intelligent and is quick to please you if you are consistent with what you ask of them.
In my opinion, poodles are great for first-time dog owners and for dog owners who have family obligations. Poodles do not need to be the focus of life every minute of every day. I find their temperament to be easy to live with and to train.
Before anyone panics about the coat of a poodle, I promise it is easier than that of any doodle or poo mix because the poodle coat is predictable.
Poodles have hair that, much like our own, never stops growing. At about 9 to 16 months, it will change in texture. When that happens, you may want to keep the coat clipped shorter if you are not up to frequent brushing to keep matting to a minimum. Watching a poodle breeder clip and groom a poodle before a show is like watching an artist in action, but most poodle owners prefer to keep them clipped short while keeping “pompons” (which is the correct phrase in the poodle world) on the tail and ears. Since poodles grow hair, not fur, they have a reduced level of dander flying around the house. However, again, no breed is hypoallergenic.
Whether you want a standard poodle that stands from about 22 to 27 inches, a miniature that is about 13 to 15 inches, or a toy that is 10 inches or less at the shoulder, the poodle is my breed of choice for being a great family pet. Go to the Poodle Club of America to find a reputable breeder who will produce a reliable and predictable coat and temperament.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
