Poodles are a fairly well recognized and popular breed.
Although mostly noted for their distinct looks and hair cuts, poodles are
actually quite smart and take to training very well. They were originally bred
to help huntsman retrieve water game. With this background it could explain why
they were bred for their intelligence!
Much of their popularity is attributed to the coat that has
little to no shedding. This makes them a great option for people that suffer
from certain allergies. Although they do not shed a lot, they require regular
grooming. This needs to be factored into a budget when planning on adding a
poodle to the family. The cut typically seen in the show ring was thought to
help keep the organs warm when jumping into icy water after game. While flashy,
most companion poodles do not need that specific hair cut unless your family
really likes that!
The three main sizes that poodles come in are toy, miniature
and standard. Each of these sizes can have their own health concerns that need
to be monitored. As with any pure bred dog obtaining a puppy from a breeder
that has health checked both parents will decrease the risk of certain
conditions. However, if you are rescuing a pet a full history may not be
available so here are a few conditions to be conscious of when considering a
poodle. The standard poodles with their deep chest can be prone to developing a
gastric bloat. Many times ensuring that they are not eating too quickly or
elevating the food dish can help prevent this from occurring. The toy and
miniature can have issues with their knees where the patella can pop in and out
of place. Another joint issue seen in the toy poodle is call
Legg-Calve-Perthes. Which is a condition where the blood supply to the hip
bones is not adequate and may require surgery. For more information on this
condition please click here. Although there are many conditions they are prone to one that can be found
in all sizes is called Addison’s disease. This is a condition that shows a
waxing and waning of generic symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. There are
blood tests can help determine if Addison’s disease is the cause of these
symptoms. (click here for more information) Again any purebred
dog can have a variety of conditions they are more prone to having, researching
the breed thoroughly can help identify many of these conditions sooner.
Poodles overall have great personalities, are fun loving and
intelligent. Their various sizes can make them a good option for most living
situations. If you are up for the extra grooming, they could be an excellent
addition to your family.
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