Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Is The French Poodle Really French?

It is no wonder the Standard Poodle is such a popular dog. Poodles are full of energy and personality. They are popular among owners who want a lively, intelligent and dignified dog with a pleasant, happy disposition. In fact, Poodles are so popular that they have been included in the American Kennel Club's list of the ten most popular breeds for the last ten years.

Poodles come in a variety of sizes, from the diminutive Toy Poodle to the slightly larger Miniature Poodle to the tallest Poodle, the Standard Poodle. Toy Poodles cannot be taller than ten inches at the shoulder. Miniature Poodles measure ten to fifteen inches in height, and Standard Poodles include any Poodle taller than fifteen inches at the shoulder.

Standards for the Poodle coat are the same for all three sizes. The Poodle coat is dense, wiry and curly, and also rough to the touch. Standards of the breed allow a range of colors from black to white, with brown, apricot blue, gray and silver in between.
The origins of the Poodle breed are uncertain, although Germany, Denmark and France have all claimed credit for developing the breed. Over the years, France has come to be recognized as the Poodle's place of origin, and the French hold a special place in their hearts and in their culture for what they call the Caniche.

The Standard Poodle is thought to have descended from a mix between the Barbet, a French water dog and a Hungarian Water Hound. The Miniature and Toy varieties were bred down from the Standard Poodle. Once used as a sporting dog, Poodles retrieved waterfowl during gun hunts. The traditional Poodle cut, with extra hair at the joints, was meant to insulate the dogs' joints against the cold water. Poodles also worked as truffle hunters, and circus performers. In fact, they remain familiar icons in popular culture, and they continue to perform in the modern entertainment industry.
A Standard Poodle in the entertainment industry might become famous through their own talent or through the fame of their owners. Some Poodles are famous because of a combination of their own talent and the fame of their owner. Writer Gertrude Stein and her muse, Alice B. Toklas, had three Poodles whom they named Basket, Basket II and Basket III.

Entertainer "Weird Al" Yankovic posed his Poodle Bela on top of his head for a photograph used on the cover of his "Poodle Hat" album. When wrestling Superstar Rene Dupree, now known as Rene Bonaparte, gives interviews he often refers to his Poodle Fifi.

Poodles have made their mark in literature, film and television. The late author Jacqueline Susann wrote a best-selling novel, Every Night Josephine, about her Poodle, Josephine. The 2000 film Best In Show featured a Poodle named Rhapsody in White as "Butch". The animated TV family in the Rugrats series has a Poodle named Fifi. Most Standard Poodles will never be on the big screen, the small screen or the pages of a novel, but to the individuals and the families who own them, they are superstars.

The Standard Poodle is a popular breed because of its superior intelligence and pleasant personality. You can get more Poodle information from a Poodle breeder in your area.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Poodles: What To Expect

Everybody loves Poodles for their intelligence and despite being called yappy dogs that sometimes show signs of being nervous and which sport haircuts that are a bit out of this world, the Poodle is nevertheless a breed which will show its devotion to its master and it can even overcome its highly strung nature to make a great family pet dog. The Poodle has been around man for many centuries, though there is still not enough documentation to show where it originated. From what is known, it was once bred as a water dog that retrieved game from the water.

Poodles are also much loved and admired for their intelligent nature and also for their somewhat unusual appearance and they have at various times even been used as circus dogs because audiences really take to these dogs because they can perform many cute tricks. In addition to these antics the Poodle is also well loved for its sweet disposition and so it is well suited as a pet dog that will become greatly attached to its owner, and so are often considered one-man dogs.
Although Poodles are somewhat unusual in their appearance and do not look like most other dogs, they are still pleasing to look at and have square bodies. Of course there are various types of poodles as well including the standard, miniature and toy poodle. Also, Poodles have dark and oval eyes that are set apart and their ears generally hang down below the level of their eyes with muzzles that are long as well as straight.

A Poodle also possesses a long and muscular neck and it shows off an air of dignity not generally found in other breeds. However, the Poodle is set apart from other dogs by its fur and the color of their fur may range from black to white to gray to brown and a few other colors as well. The fur is generally curly or corded while it is normal to dock (cut) its tail to half of what its original length was. The Poodle also requires extensive grooming which may even warrant its coat to be professionally groomed.
If you do decide to own a Poodle, you must be prepared to bring home a creature having a unique and unusual appearance that is not what most other dogs look like, though that does not in any way mean that Poodles are not pleasing to look at because they are actually very cute animals. Their main characteristics include dark and oval eyes, drooping ears as well as long and straight shaped muzzles.

The Poodle has a neck that is both muscular as well as long and its air of dignity sets it apart from all other breed, though the most distinguishing feature of any Poodle is its coat and its curly or corded fur that could be of various colors including black, gray, white, brown and many more. The tail is usually docked (cut) to about half of its original length and Poodles are also creatures requiring extensive grooming.

A Poodle is an attention grabbers and though somewhat unusual looking, are intelligent though sometimes even stubborn to train. If you are looking for Poodles information, this article has some useful tips that will better acquaint you with the breed.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Poodles: Easy To Train

Poodles are very pleasing to the eye and this fact is buttressed even more when you take into account its extreme intelligence and its very endearing nature that makes every aspect of his personality truly work to its advantage. In terms of physique, the Poodle is small though tough and he may either have a corded coat or one that is curly and the colors will vary, though black and white are most common. Also, the corded coated Poodle is very rarely found in America though the three main varieties found in America and also in the rest of the world are the Standard, Toy and Miniature Poodle.

There is a lot to praise as far as the personality of the Poodle goes including his uncanny ability to grasp things easily and quickly, and Poodles are also very energetic and are often clownish because they are able to perform numerous cute tricks that will never fail to please everyone that comes into contact with them. The intelligence of the Poodle is truly remarkable and he is also very adaptable and versatile and has changed considerably from originally being a hunting dog to the great family pet that he is today.
Poodles love the company of humans and they are particularly good even in the company of children. And because they also instinctively have both the characteristics of a hunting dog as too very well developed retrieving instincts, they are well suited to acting as watchdogs, particularly in the case of the Standard Poodle. Nevertheless, even the Miniature as well as Toy versions are effective watchdogs and will readily warn you about the presence of strangers.

However, because they are small in size, they do not make good guard dogs, though their personality is one of boldness as well as confidence and they will also not easily back down from other animals or even from strangers. When it concerns letting the Poodle loose in the company of children, it is better to err on the side of safety and thus ensure that he is supervised because often children won’t know how to handle this small bundle of joy and thus may ill-treat him which would make the Poodle lose his trust in children and thus he won’t relish the company of small children and may soon become unpredictable around them.
It goes without saying that Poodles are excellent pet dogs that possess a good nature and are also very intelligent dogs that can adapt well to any surroundings. Poodles love human company and so require a lot of attention and love. And once they are showered with love and affection will soon develop a strong bond with their owners that will last throughout their lifetime. In addition, Poodles are not among those dog breeds that like to be left by them and will love it the most when they are the center of attraction.

Another trait commonly found in all Poodles is that they are very quick to learn tricks and will respond well to training and their willingness to obey is what sets them apart from other dog breeds. Poodles also love stability and routine and will not like it when their routine is changed and they should also not be kept in an environment that is chaotic because that will make them anxious, which is not desirable in this breed. Poodles are often thought of as being one-man and also one-family dogs and are generally shy when strangers approach him. However, once they have been allowed time to settle into their new homes, Poodles will become more relaxed and will turn out to be ideal pet dogs.

A Poodle loves to hog your attention and can also perform many cute tricks that ensure that they get plenty loads of affection. This article is meant to provide you with all the necessary Poodle information that will help you understand the Poodle personality.

Poodle Breeders