Miriam Fields-Babineau - Doodle Dogs For Dummies

Dogs never stop learning. Even senior Doodles love to participate in training sessions. They may not be able to do flips, but they’re very happy to heel, sit, stay and perform other behaviors that are rewarding to them. Dogs enjoy the stimulation of learning, so you should never stop teaching them!

Chapter 2

IN THIS CHAPTER

Getting to know the Poodle

Seeing why Poodles make great parents

Exploring the personality of the Poodle

Recognizing common health issues with Poodles

Poodles have ranked in the top ten most highly desired dog breeds for decades. As perfect as they are as purebred dogs, they’re also the most popular breed of dog to mix with numerous other breeds, creating so-called “designer dogs,” which can cost thousands of dollars. What is it about Poodles that makes them the ideal breed for this purpose?

While Poodles are currently a popular breed to mix with other dogs to create Doodles, this concept isn’t a new one. Throughout history, Poodles have been the foundation of many purebred dogs who are registered in worldwide kennel clubs today. From Portuguese Water Dogs to the Curly-Coated Retriever, you can instantly recognize many of the Poodle’s influences just by appearance — the curly coat.

Appearance, however, has played only a minor role in the creation of these breeds. Poodles were chosen as foundation dogs for their intelligence and versatility, too. Poodles are ranked as one of the most intelligent breeds in the American Kennel Club (AKC).

This chapter tells you more about the Poodle and why they’re such good parents.

Poodles (like the one in Figure 2-1) have high intelligence, versatility, and hypoallergenic, non-shedding coats. They’re easy to train, and they fit into most family environments. Plus, they come in three different sizes (Standard, Miniature, and Toy) to please a large array of preferences. Poodles also have a longer life span than most other breeds, especially Toy-size breeds.

Photograph by Anton Maltsev / 123 RF

FIGURE 2-1:The Poodle.

There are three Poodle attributes that really stand out when considering them as a foundation for a hybrid Doodle:

Size: Poodles come in three AKC-recognized sizes: Standard: Standard Poodles typically measure more than 15 inches at the shoulder. Males weigh 60 to 70 pounds, and females weigh 40 to 50 pounds. Miniature: Miniature Poodles typically measure 10 to 15 inches at the shoulder and weigh 10 to 15 pounds. Toy: Toy Poodles typically measure 10 inches or less at the shoulder and weigh 4 to 6 pounds. There is a fourth Poodle size, the Teacup Poodle, but it isn’t officially recognized by the AKC. They’re small enough to fit into a pocket! Because their offspring are not consistent in size or conformation, they have yet to be nationally recognized and registered. It can take five generations of consistent appearance to create a recognized dog breed.

Color: Poodles come in a wide variety of coat colors, from black to white and everything in between, including parti-colored (multiple colors).

Shedding: The Poodle is one of the few dog breeds that sheds very little. Poodles don’t have an undercoat or a long, course overcoat. In fact, their coats are considered “hair,” not typical dog fur. As with hair, a few strands may come out here and there, but not in the large amounts seen in most dogs. Because their hair is very tightly woven, much of the hair that is shed doesn’t leave the dog. (This trait is also why they require regular professional grooming and brushing.)

Besides appearance, personality and instinctual tendencies make Poodles an ideal foundation parent for a Doodle. They’re great with people of all ages, other dogs, other pets, and most environmental situations. In a cold climate, you can allow their coat to grow long. In a warm environment, you can trim them shorter. Compared to many other purebred dogs, Poodles have relatively few genetic health concerns, enhancing the vitality of their offspring. And they’re highly trainable, making them perfect for a wide variety of jobs.

Poodle-type dogs were depicted in Ancient Egyptian and Roman art hundreds of years before the Common Era. In the Middle Ages, a Poodle-type dog came to Europe with the Goths and Ostrogoths (via what is now Russia), who used it for herding their livestock. It was in 1400, however, that Poodles became a recognized breed in Germany, used for retrieving waterfowl. They were called pudelhund (“dog that splashes about”). Poodles are often still used as hunting companions for waterfowl sport hunting, retrieving ducks and geese from lakes and other waterways.

In France, Poodles were called caniche, from the French word for female duck. The larger Poodles were used in France for waterfowl retrieval. The French then created the size varieties we currently enjoy, with the Standard Poodle remaining the working dogs and the smaller varieties becoming circus performers, farmers’ helpers, truffle hunters, and, in royal courts, lap dogs. In fact, Toy Poodles were favorites of the Louis IV to Louis XVI regimes.

Over the centuries, Poodles were mixed with water spaniels, terriers, and other breeds to enhance their capabilities for specific jobs. For example, the truffle-hunting Poodle was mixed with terriers to make them more tenacious in their hunt. And they were further specialized into what are now purebred dogs, such as Portuguese Water Dogs (the ultimate water dog and retriever), Curly-Coated Retrievers, and many more. Whenever a breed was created to aid in the hunt, from ducks to truffles, Poodles were often the foundation parent.

Poodles were not only great hunting companions, but also great performers. With their high intelligence and ease of training, as well as agility, they quickly became a favorite of traveling circuses and royal performers throughout Europe. Few other dog breeds had a penchant for doing flips, walking on their hind legs, jumping through hoops, or jumping from tall platforms like the Poodle. As their popularity grew, the smaller Poodle varieties were favored more than the Standard, because they were easier to care for and transport.

In 1874, Poodles entered England, where they were recognized as a breed, with specific standards, within the Kennel Club of England. In 1887, The American Kennel Club recognized Poodles as a breed, using the English standards as a cornerstone of its own requirements. Even though recognized as a breed, however, Poodles were not highly popular until they caught the fancy of wealthy families.

When the Poodle Club of America was formed and Poodles were viewed in both conformation and performance competitions, they gained in popularity. In fact, Poodles have been one of the most frequent Best in Show winners at Westminster and Crufts since 1907.