BREED INFO

The Poodle is well known as an intelligent, amusing, good natured   and eager to please dog that makes a wonderful companion. Throughout the   Poodle's history, they has worked in several capacities, from cart  pulling to  circus dog, from sled-dog to therapy dog, from truffle dog  to hand-warmer, from  water retriever to gun dog, the Poodle can excel  at just about any task given  to them. Today, the Poodle is often seen  competing in the show ring, in  obedience, agility and in field trials.
 

         The Miniature and Toy varieties of Poodle were bred down from  the  larger Standard Poodles and all three exhibit the same general  characteristics.  In temperament, the Poodle is calm and steady and  should never appear shy or  sharp. They carry their self proudly with an  air of distinction and nobility.  The Toy variety is a dainty and  sensitive little dog that makes the perfect  companion for a less active  person. A Poodle is loyal, sociable, good natured  and easy to train.  The Toy gets along well with children although for those  with very  young children, the Miniature or Standard may be a better choice.
 

         The Poodle's coat is non-shedding, dense and of a harsh  texture.  Two distinct coat types exist — the Corded and Curly. The coat  of a corded  Poodle will normally start to cord between the ages of 9  to 18 months. Coat  colour is any solid colour: black, brown, gray,  apricot, cream or white.
 

Note: According to breed standards, all  poodles 10  inches and smaller are the Toy breed. The very tiny poodles  are also referred  to as "Teacup Poodles" — these are not a separate  breed.
         If you are considering the adoption of a Toy Poodle puppy, or  any  breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a  responsible and  reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's  parents have all health  clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be  done until after they have been  proven to be free of evidence of  significant hereditary diseases.

Is  this the Right Breed for You?
         The Poodle is a wonderful family companion. He  is very  intelligent, adaptable, versatile, and has a great sense of humour.   There are three sizes to choose from — Standard, Miniature or Toy. The  Poodle's  coat comes in various colours and does not shed thus making  him a good  candidate for many allergy sufferers. It's no wonder that  the Poodle is one of  the most popular breeds of dog. However, as with  all breeds, before you  consider bringing any dog into your life, there  are many things you should  know. Once you bring a dog into your home,  they become a family member and  deserves to be treated as such. This is  a lifetime commitment and you must be  prepared to care for them for  thier entire life. Here are just a few things  that you must consider:

1. While every breed is different and each  individual dog is  unique, generally a particular breed shares certain traits.  Other than  size, the three variations of Poodle are very similar in character.   The Standard was primarily bred as a working water retriever while the   Miniature and Toy were bred as companions.
2. Poodles come in three size variations: 

Standard: Measures  over 38.1 cm (15 inches) at the highest point of the shoulder.
 

Miniature: Measures  38.1 cm (15 inches) or under at the highest point of the shoulder, but no less  than over 25.4 cm (10 inches).
 

Toy: Measures  25.4 cm (10 inches) or under at the highest point of the shoulder.
 

Note: The  Fédération Cynologique  Internationale Breed Standard includes a fourth  variation in size and  these are broken down as follows: 

• Large Poodles: Above 45 cm up to 60  cm with a tolerance of 2 cm.
• Medium Poodles: More than 35 cm up to  45 cm.
• Miniature Poodles: More than 28 cm up to  35 cm.
• Toy Poodles: Below 28 cm  (desirable ideal type, size of 25 cm).

The Toy Poodle, being  the smallest, is a popular choice for  apartment dwellers and the elderly. The  Miniature is also small enough  to adapt well to apartment living but is more  suitable as a child's  companion than the Toy. The Standard is the largest of the  three  varieties and is well suited for those seeking a larger dog.

Poodles are well known for their high  intelligence, ease of  training, devotion and sense of humor. A Poodle can  master virtually  any task asked of him and is often seen working as a Therapy  Dog,  Assistance Dog, Guide Dog as well as in Search and Rescue. All three   varieties of Poodle enjoy such sports as Agility, competitive Obedience,  the  Show Ring and other activities. The Standard Poodle is the  sporting type of the  three and enjoys field trials, hunting, retrieving  and tracking to name a few.

The Poodle is generally very good with  children when raised  with them. However, the smaller Toy Poodle is better  suited to homes  with older children. 

The Poodle is a people dog. In fact, most  Poodles think they  are people and absolutely insist on being a part of the  family. This  is not a dog to be left alone for hours on end. 

Although it is not necessary to keep your  Poodle clipped in a  fancy show style, the Poodle must be groomed on a regular  basis to  maintain the coat in good condition and free of mats. 

If you are not familiar with the Poodle breed,  research is a  must — with the Internet today, there is an abundance of  information  available at your fingertips. The Poodle is a very popular dog and there   are several good websites devoted to the breed. Keep in mind, however,  that  every breed has its negative aspects. Whether it is health  problems,  temperament or behavioral issues, too large, too small, too  loud, or too quiet.  They are all different and you need to be sure that  your choice of a Poodle is  the right one, before you make the purchase.

Grooming Information
         To keep the coat free of mats, frequent brushing and regular   clipping is a must. Special care should be taken to keep the Poodle's  long,  thickly feathered ears clean and free from infection. Ears should  be cleaned  weekly and the long hairs in the ear canal should also be  gently pulled out  regularly. The ear canal should also be swabbed with  your finger wrapped in  cotton moistened with Groomer or Veterinarian  recommended ear cleaner on a  regular basis. 

Finding  a Breeder:
         As we are proud and confident with all MRF  Poodles has to  offer we encourage all our potential customers to read the  following  information. Once you've made your decision that this is indeed the   breed for you, the next step is to find a responsible and reputable  Breeder.  This is not a task that should be taken lightly and again,  research is  necessary. The Poodle is considered to be one of the most  popular breeds and  there are several breeders available. Visit as many  as possible and don't be  afraid to ask questions. A Breeder should  always be more than willing to  provide you with all the answers to your  questions and then some. You should expect to be questioned  (or  rather, grilled) as well — A responsible Breeder is always very  particular  about who he/she sells his/her dogs to. If you visit a  Breeder and you feel that you have revealed very little about yourself  and yet the Breeder is ready  and willing to sell you a pup with  virtually no questions asked — Walk away!  This is not a responsible  Breeder. Whether you are looking for a family  companion; a show dog; a  dog to be trained in therapy or search and rescue; a  dog to have fun  with in competitions such as obedience, or agility; the most  important  aspects are the dog's physical and mental health.

A responsible and ethical Breeder's main goal  is to produce  only the highest quality Poodles that will better the gene pool.  The  responsible Breeder studies the pedigrees for quality, health,  longevity,  temperament and working ability, sometimes travelling great  distances to find  the best male to match the female. Most responsible  Breeders are involved in  some aspect of competition, whether it is the  show ring for Conformation titles  or competitive sports such as  Obedience, Agility, or Field Trials. While this may  not be something  you are interested in pursuing with your new dog, it is still  an  important point in that it helps prove the Breeder's real interest in  the  betterment of the breed itself. Ask for references from previous  puppy buyers  as well as information on any clubs that the Breeder may  be a member of. Verify  these references and check that the Breeder is  in good standing with the  club(s).

The importance of finding a reputable breeder  cannot be  stressed enough. It doesn't matter if you simply want a great  companion  dog and have no intentions of showing, competing or otherwise working   with your dog — you still need to find a healthy and mentally sound  puppy. The  only place to find this is through a responsible breeder.
         Feel free to contact MRF Poodles to set up  your puppy viewing.