The Poodle has one of the most varied appearance of any breed – coming in three sizes, a multitude of colors, and a number of different clips in which they can wear their coat. Poodle owners can choose short pet clips, a corded style, or the extravagant “lion clip” often seen in the show ring. Many people believe (because of the fancy haircuts and the tendency for Poodles to look like fashion accessories) that this breed is dainty, hypersensitive and prissy. However, nothing could be further from the truth! In all actuality, Poodles are highly intelligent working dogs that will do almost any job that you ask him to do. The breed is very adaptable – they can be trained to the highest levels of competitive obedience and dog sports but can also live quite happily with families and novice dog owners.
This breed is active and actually requires a job to do to keep from getting bored. He also needs plenty of exercise – especially the standard size. Poodles love to jog, hike… and especially swim (one of the breed’s original purpose was water dog work). While a standard would do best living in a home with a yard, the smaller varieties are quite adaptable to living in an apartment as long as they are still given enough exercise. It is also imperative that owners provide their Poodles with chances to play, either inside or outside. Playtime is often the pinnacle of many a Poodle’s day, and they all need at least a little time to zip around and be silly!
The Poodle’s coat is fairly unique in that it is hypoallergenic, which makes him a good choice for someone who would otherwise not be able to have a dog because of allergies. This said, some people are allergic to dog saliva and not to dog hair, so that distinction would need to be made before getting a Poodle. Whether allergic or not, however, anyone who decides to buy a Poodle must be able to commit to taking care of the coat on a regular basis! The upkeep can be fairly intense, especially if one is planning on keeping the coat at full-length. 
The Poodle is a sociable creature, both with humans as well as animals. They might be a little wary of strangers at first, but will often warm up quickly. With children, standards are generally the best choice as they can hold up more easily with play. Some toys and minis might be a little too delicate for very young children who don’t understand how to interact with animals. Standards, on the other hand, love to play and will gladly romp through the mud with a group of kids! Lovable and loyal, these dogs are true people-lovers and usually want to be involved in every aspect of their owner’s lives! The downside of this is that many Poodles dislike being left alone… even if they are merely locked out of their owner’s room. Separation anxiety is subsequently common in the breed.
As might be expected from such an intelligent dog, Poodles are highly trainable. This is good news because untrained Poodles can be mischievous and occasionally might try to claim the status of pack leader (particularly minis and toys). Eager to please, this breed was built upon doing a job and needs one in order to be happy. Obedience can fill that need, as can other canine sports and activities such as rally, field events, conformation, agility and tracking.
Poodles aren’t generally considered to be exceptionally “barky” and loud, although this can vary with each individual. Some are so quiet, you might never know they were there. Others can be more than a little annoying with their voices. Toys are generally louder than the other two varieties, on average. Most Poodles, however, will bark when someone comes to the door. Furthermore, people who live where there is more “action”, such as a city or very busy suburb, might find that their dog barks more often. This has to do with Poodles having a territorial streak, and many will sound an alarm to alert that someone is on their property. Here at The Academic Hound, we have experience with Poodles. If you live in Travis or Hays county, TX and are looking for a dog trainer, give us a call!
