Poodles 101

Name: Poodle

Personality: Thanks to their stylish appearance, poodles get a bum rap for being vain and self-centered. In fact, Poodles -- whether toy, miniature or standard -- are one of the people-friendliest of all breeds. They love to please their owners and they are great with children. Originally bred as hunting dogs, they enjoy vigorous play and making mischief. Believe it or not, scientific studies have posited that the poodle is the smartest of all breeds!

Grooming: One look at the poodle's striking, full coat, and you assume that this pooch requires extensive grooming, right? Well, not entirely. A poodle's coat is made up of a single layer of hair-like fur that doesn't shed too badly. Because of this, poodles are considered a relatively hypoallergenic breed of dog. Though poodles that are kept for showing may require hours of maintenance per week, a pet poodle only needs to be groomed every six to eight weeks. Either way, poodles do customarily require a "clip" (basically, a haircut) to prevent matting and clumps of unsanitary hair. Clips can be administered by a professional groomer, although with practice, any pet owner can master the basics.

Common Health Issues: Unfortunately, there are several diseases and ailments that occur more frequently in poodles than other breeds. One of the most common poodle problems is Addison's Disease, an endocrine disorder that can often be successfully treated with medication. Standard poodles are particularly susceptible to gastric bloating that leads to a twisting of the stomach, known as gastric dilatation volvulus, an acute condition that requires immediate medical care. Statistics have shown that standard poodles have a higher rate of cancer deaths than toy or miniature poodles, both of which enjoy longer lifespans and a greater likelihood of death due to old age.

Training Tips: Good news! Poodles are considered one of the easiest pups to potty train. In fact, a poodle should enjoy all types of training, including learning obedience and being taught tricks, as it allows them to make use of their sharp intelligence. Sometimes poodles do not take well to leash training, but otherwise, you should have an eager student on your hands, always willing to learn more. (Still, it's important not to overtax the dog by trying to teach it numerous commands in one training session. Slow and steady!)

Best For: People with allergies, who are likely to fare better with a poodle's single, low-shedding coat. A poodle is considered one of the best dogs for families. It also loves keeping active, and would prove an especially fun companion to those who enjoy hunting and swimming.

What Poodle Owners Say: One of our Facebook friends tells us, "Having a poodle keeps your day interesting!... [My poodle] loves to be near me no matter what I'm doing." The downsides? The dog can be "very demanding and very particular."

Tags: Choosing a Dog breed, ChoosingADogBreed, Dog Breed 101, DogBreed101, Dogs 101, Dogs101, Pet Adoption, PetAdoption, poodle, poodle adoption, poodle rescue, poodles, standard poodle