Everything you need to know before adopting a poodle puppy or adult dog.
The size of the parents do not automatically guarantee the size the pup will grow to. Although the size of the parents is an indicator, it can happen that puppies grow up to be slightly bigger or smaller than both their parents.
How big do poodles grow? Well they come in three different sizes, Toy, Mini and Standard. Toy poodle – less than 28cms. To the withers ( shoulder )
Mini Poodle – 28cms to 38cms. To the withers
Standard – 38 cms plus. To the withers
Standard poodles can really vary in size as they can range from 38cms at the withers to well over 60. For this reason the Moyan Poodle was introduced measuring from 38 to 50cms. This size is well known but not yet recognized by the ANKC.
Poodles will have reached most of their height by 12 months with the majority of growth occurring in the first 7 months. Toys and Minis will fill out after that however Standard poodles will continue growing reaching their full height by 18 to 24 months.
No matter what size poodle you’re interested in, you’ll notice they come in a lot of different colours and colour variations. What colour or colour combination a poodle has depends on the genetics inherited. These are the most common solid colours in poodle coats and can appear in all sorts of colour combinations: Black, Blue, silver, grey, White, Cream, Apricot, Tan, Red/Ruby and Brown.
The main reason why the pure bred poodle as well as poodle cross breeds are so popular, is the poodles hypoallergenic coat. The gorgeous curly coat barely sheds which is why the poodle is one of the best dogs for people sensitive or allergic to dog hair.
As with all non shedding dog breeds it is important to make sure the poodles coat is groomed regularly. Overall, poodles require to be fully groomed every 3-6 weeks and brushed 2-3 times a week to make sure their hair doesn’t become matted. Although a little rasta dog might sound cool, the forming of dreads and matted hair can cause uncomfortable pulling sensations as well as skin and bacterial infections.
Occasionally Poodles has a stereotype of being snooty and film stars handbag dog but they are in fact one of the most intelligent breeds of dog. Many tests and studies have been done on dog intelligence and poodles are right up the top, achieving very high scores. As well as being smart and thus easier to train they are known for having a high emotional intelligence making the poodle a great support and therapy dog.
The poodle is also an incredibly loveable and loyal companion. Being intelligent makes him so easy to train, he is great with kids and makes for an amazing family dog.
You pup will be used to being fed three times a day, and this can be changed when they are about 6 months old. ( If 3 feeds is difficult to manage then you can leave dry food out for 2 of the feeds) ) Poodles can be picky eaters so it is sometimes hard to find something they will enjoy. They also need to realise that the world does not revolve around them! They will not starve so don't let them trick you into roast chicken every day!
A good quality dry food has all the nutrition that they will need and chicken necks are excellent for their teeth. Frozen necks in the hot summer days are a special treat.
Please don't let your dog get fat. Show your love with exercise, structure, boundaries and affection but not food. Dogs overeating is not usually a problem with
Most dogs don’t overeat on dry food, but as with humans every dog is different and depending on their character it might not be possible for you to keep out dry food all day. If that’s the case, you might want to regulate his portions and feed your poodle 2-3 times a day to make sure your dog doesn’t become overweight.
Poodles are very energetic and need 30-60 minutes of moderate-high intensity exercise per day depending on the poodles size. Poodle puppies need less exercise than adults with around 5 mins per month in age. So a 3 month old puppy needs around 15 mins and a 6 month old puppy 30 mins of exercise per day, but puppies often get that from running around the house and garden.
Sadly there are some bad apples in the dog breeding industry! So if you are planning to buy a puppy from a breeder, please make sure to check if they are reputable and registered with the local council or other organisations that check up on their breeding practices.
