My Dog Training Secrets 

The Poodle is often mistaken for being a beautiful dog without any intelligence, but poodles are actually very intelligent, in line after the border collie for intelligence. This breed has three sizes, which may be one reason why the poodle is one of the most popular breeds of dog in the U.S. This type of dog can be a variety of solid colors like white, black, apricot and gray, but never multi-colored. The standard poodle is over 15 inches tall at the shoulder. The miniature breed is over 10 inches, but less than 15 inches at the shoulder, and the toy poodle is less than 10 inches at the shoulder. There is also a group called Klein poodles, which means medium in German. The tea cup poodle is a small dog usually less than 9 inches and weighing around 6 pounds. The Klein and tea cup are not recognized by the AKC standards in the original three types of poodles.

The standard poodle is typically confident, elegant, and friendly. This dog is one of the most easily trained dog breeds. The standard breed usually has less energy and more calm than the other poodle types, but can become more hyper if not given an outlet for exercise. When it comes time for training your dog, There temperament is such that if they feel they are more dominant than the owner, they will not respond, but will also not respond well to strict or harsh tones. So, an owner must be confident, but not harsh. This type needs to live in the home with the family, as they do not like to be alone. Usually standards are good with kids and accepting towards strangers. They are generally friendly toward strangers, and are excellent with children.

The miniature poodle is a great companion dog, which is very smart and active. This breed can be trained relatively easily and love to perform, even seen many times in circuses. Because they are smart, they will need to be kept busy and entertained at times. Daily exercise is very important to allow the pet to get out any built up energy. The miniature poodle loves to be a part of the family and cannot be kept in a kennel outside away from their owners. Socialization is important so the dog will not become too sensitive and nervous which may develop into behavioral issues. If well socialized, these dogs are good with children.

Toy poodles are extremely intelligent and highly trainable. Typically they are fun, happy, and active. They love to be with their owners and others. This breed tends to be high strung if not given a proper amount of activity and exercise. The toy can be a bit edgy if surprised or teased, but they are typically good with older kids and other pets. Barking can be an issue if not trained well from the start. Toys are easily trained and enjoy performing for praise and rewards.

All breeds of poodles need to be groomed on a regular basis, including professional grooming of the hair every six to eight weeks, to keep the coat in good shape and free of tangles. The coat is hypo-allergenic, so is very good for someone with allergies. There is very little to no shedding from this dog. Between groomings, the dog will need to be bathed. Different cuts are given to poodles, and if the dog will not be shown, then the owner can choose the cut best for their dog.

The poodle is susceptible to a variety of illnesses, including cataracts, ear infections and allergy issues of the skin mostly. The teeth need to be attended to with brushing and sometimes scaling from the veterinarian. This breed can be expected to live between 12-15 years.

All types of poodles are well behaved, easily trained and intelligent dogs who love to be with their owners and put on a show. They do well in a variety of home settings, including apartments, if there is a place for them to exercise and walk. They make great family dogs and companions.