Did you know?
Victorian merchants often had advertisements cut into the coat of a Poodle and hired someone to walk around with the dog, creating a living billboard.
Poodle (miniature)
Pomeranians speak only to Poodles and Poodles speak only to God. – Charles Kuralt
“Colby” and “Charlotte”
The Miniature Poodle is the middle-sized dog of the three Poodles and is the most popular.
Poodles as a breed date back to the late Roman period with the Standard Poodle being popular across Europe by the 16th Century. Over the following two hundred years the dog’s intelligence and cheery disposition led to breeding down to the Miniature and Toy sizes as companion dogs for the ladies of the French Court.
The breed’s name comes from the German word “puddeln” meaning “to splash in water”. Appropriate, as this dog is the world’s oldest water retriever, circus performer, and truffle hunter.
Poodles are ranked the second most intelligent of the dog breeds, right behind Border Collies.
Photos displayed courtesy of Julia Dickinson, Balladair Reg’d, Saskatchewan
The Mini stands more than 10 inches (25.4 cm) but no more than 15 inches (38.1 cm) tall at the shoulder. His coat is dense and harsh, and frizzy or curly. Poodles may also appear corded. The coat comes in a variety of solid colours including: white, silver, blue, grey, brown, café-au-lait, apricot, cream, and black. It needs regular brushing and professional grooming to keep it in shape and tangle-free.
A godsend for people with allergies, this breed does not shed and has no body odor.
The Mini’s unusual clip seen in the show ring today is a highly stylized version of a functional coat trim. Originally, the coat was trimmed down to reduce the weight of the dog when he was swimming and retrieving waterfowl. Patches of heavier coat were left to protect the joints and vital organs from the cold water.
Miniature Poodles are clever, good-natured, lively, and a quick study. Amusing, mischievous and eager to please, they will try just about anything to please their masters.
Their small size make them good companions for those with limited space available for a pet. However, they are energetic little dogs and require some form of daily exercise. They are also a people-oriented breed that refuses to be ignored. This is great if you work from home or otherwise spend most of your time at home as poodles need a lot of attention and companionship. Left on their own for long periods of time they will become very unhappy.
Mini Poodles were bred to be companions so they rely on the presence and company of their humans. If they don’t get enough of you, they can resort to barking, chewing, and other unwelcome and destructive behaviour.
“Paisley”
“Paisley”
Miniature Poodles are known for their intelligence. This is a “thinking” dog with a laser focus who learns quickly and responds well to training. To keep these dogs on an even keel they require some sort of mental stimulation. This makes them a natural for many of the dog sports such as agility, obedience, and tracking. They enjoy showing just how athletic they are on the obstacle course!
Miniature Poodles are naturally playful and enjoy a variety of backyard games as well such as fetch, tag, and hide ‘n seek. But remember, you just can’t leave him in the yard and expect him to entertain himself.
Early socialization is extremely important to avoid the Mini developing into a timid and fearful dog. They are sensitive and will respond negatively to excessive roughhousing, noise and action in their home. Though active and playful, they do prefer a steady, calm, and structured routine.
Minis can be very sensitive to loud noises or sudden movements and are not suitable for very young children but make good pets for children over 10 years old. They are good watchdogs who will alert you to strangers.
CKC Breed Standard
