Health Care, History and Interesting Issue of Poodle Dogs

Poodles make good companions and are extremely loyal, sometimes to the point of being possessive. The owner should be a competent trainer, as poodles can be willful if trained poorly. Well-trained Poodles are eager to please and love putting on a show for family and friends. Poodles do not shed and are considered a hypoallergenic breed. (See list of Hypoallergenic dog breeds)

Some Poodles have hyperactive tear ducts that do not drain very well. It is quite common to see Poodles with streaks of gooey brownish-red secretions in the corners of their eyes. If lots of drainage needs to occur, the tear duct may clog and a small ball of yellowish mucous may form near the tear duct. It is advisable to gently remove this accumulation with a lint-free and soft towel wrapped around the index finger. Many products exist in pet stores designed to help remove this drainage from Poodles' faces, as it can be unattractive. Often these clear solutions are applied to a cotton ball which is then firmly wiped over the stained fur.

Poodles' coats require plenty of grooming to keep the constantly growing hair at a manageable length and to prevent it from matting. Matted fur can be very difficult to untangle, and often the clumps must be cut out with scissors. There a number of short pet clips that make a very easily maintained family pet.
 

[ This young red Standard Poodle is in Continental clip, one of the three acceptable show clips. ]

Health concerns

As with any purebred dog, there are many health concerns for the poodle owner to be aware of. Though the poodle is usually a healthy, long-lived canine (it's not unheard of to see a 15-year-old toy or miniature poodle or a 12-year-old standard poodle), owners should be aware of the health problems that this breed is predisposed to.

Always consult with a veterinarian that you feel comfortable with before diagnosing or treating any disease on your own.

The health concerns that people owning toy poodles must be aware of include: cataracts, entropion, epilepsy, intervertebral disc degeneration, lacrimal duct atresia (deformed or absent tear ducts that cause tears to run down the face), Legg-Perthes, patellar luxation, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), trichiasis, and urolithiasis.
 

[ This older Toy Poodle's coat has been allowed to grow out somewhat. ]

For the miniature poodle, owners must watch for: cataracts, distichiasis, entropion, epilepsy, glaucoma, intervertebral disc degeneration, lacrimal duct atresia, Legg-Perthes, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), patellar luxation, trichiasis, and urolithiasis.

For the standard poodle, owners must watch for: Addison's Disease, cataracts, CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia), distichiasis, entropion, epilepsy, gastric torsion, PDA (patent ductus arteriosus), sebaceous adenitis, and vWD (Von Willebrand's disease).

All three breeds are predisposed towards certain types of mammary tumors, so if the poodle owner doesn't plan on breeding their female, then they should consider spaying her before her first heat cycle. This dramatically cuts down the poodle's chances of developing quite a few different types of mammary tumors later in life.
 

History

The poodle is often thought of as a typically French breed (it is frequently referred to as the "French Poodle"). However, it is an old breed and its region of origin is a matter of contention. Most experts believe the poodle originated in Germany or Russia, but it may have come from Iberia. Related breeds are the Portuguese Water Dog and Irish Water Spaniel.

[ With proper care and nutrition, many enjoy life well into their teens. This toy poodle just turned 16, and with arthritis medication still has a very active life. ]

Use of Poodle Dog

Today, Poodles are generally kept as pets. However, they are a versatile breed capable of hunting, tracking, protection, or entertainment. French customs, for instance, uses Poodles to search for illegal substances. Because of their small size, they are more unobtrusive, when searching cars and train compartments, than bigger breeds such as the German Shepherd.

Their intelligence and athletic build has made them popular as trick dogs or circus performers. They can compete well in some dog sports, such as dog agility, although their independent or playful nature can sometimes distract them from the focus and drive needed for these sports.

 

Famous Poodles

Algonquin from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Foo-Foo, Miss Piggy's pet on The Muppet Show
Charley, pet of John Steinbeck; a champion black Standard Poodle played Charley in a TV miniseries.
Georgette from Oliver and Company
Vicki, pet of Richard Nixon
Boye, pet of Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Rufus, pet of Winston Churchill source: retrieved July 31, 2005
Fifi, pet of the Finsters on Rugrats
Ooh La La, pet of Nanette Manoir on Angela Anaconda
Daphne, from the third Look Who's Talking movie

Poodle Dog Breed Information and Pictures

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Boxer".