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Did you know?

A poodle in politics is an insult used to describe a politician that obediently or passively follows the lead of others.
Usage of the term is thought to relate to the obedient nature of the dog.

Poodle (toy)

Even the tiniest poodle is lionhearted, ready to do anything to defend home, master, and mistress. – Louis Sabin

The Toy Poodle is the smallest of the three poodles.

He is a water dog and was originally bred as a retriever of waterfowl for hunters. Although he is an excellent swimmer and gundog, the Poodle is a very versatile dog being the world’s oldest water retriever, circus performer, and truffle hunter. He has also been the pampered pet of royal households in France.

Although his exact origins are shrouded in mystery, Germany, Russia, and France have all claimed to be the Poodle’s country of origin.

The Poodle’s name comes from the German word “puddeln” meaning “to splash in water”.

The first Poodles were the Standards but their intelligence and cheery disposition led to breeding down to Miniature and Toy sizes for companion dogs for the ladies of the Court.

Photos displayed courtesy of Annie Adams-Fox, Adoreannies, Ontario

Toy Poodle Canada

Adoreannies puppy

Toy Poodle Canada

“Angel”

The Toy Poodle stands just 10 inches (25.4 cm) high at the shoulder. 

His coat is dense and harsh and frizzy or curly. Alternatively, his coat may be corded, having tight, even cords of varying length all over his body. His coat comes in a variety of solid colours including: white, silver, blue, grey, brown, apricot, cafe-au-lait, cream, and black. 

The poodle’s unusual clip seen in the show ring today, and here at left, is a highly stylized version of a functional coat trim that hearkens back to the breed’s original purpose as a water retriever. To help and protect the animal, 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.

The English Saddle Clip and the Continental Clip are two of the most recognizable poodle clips involving sections of shorn skin, patches of fur, pompoms, and topknots.  

Due to the high maintenance required to achieve most of the poodle clips, the majority of pet owners prefer to simply keep the fur shaved evenly all over the dog’s body without any bare patches. Whether or not your poodle has one of these cuts or is left in a more natural state, his coat 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.

Toy Poodles are bright, amusing, good-natured, and clever. In fact, they’re rated Number 2 in intelligence, after the Border Collie.

This is a “thinking” dog who pays keen attention to his owner, learns quickly, and responds enthusiastically to positive training. He’s good at figuring out patterns and may seem to know what you’re going to do next before you do! As you might expect, he needs mental stimulation in the form of games like hide ‘n seek or retrieving specific toys to keep happy. This is not the dog to be left alone for long periods of time.

Their small size make them ideal companions for seniors, less active people, and those with limited space available for a pet.

These little dogs are sensitive with a strong startle reflex. They prefer a peaceful environment and are not suitable physically or temperamentally for the roughhousing of small children. Toy Poodles make good pets for children over 10 years old.

The Toy Poodle is protective of his home and makes a good watchdog.

Toy Poodle Adult Canada

Adoreannies Toy Poodle adult

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