Overview
The Poodle comes in Standard, Miniature and Toy sizes in the UK, and all three are the same dog scaled up or down. The breed began as a water retriever in Germany and France, and the curly coat and the odd clips were practical: protect the joints and chest, free the legs for swimming. The Kennel Club puts all three in the utility group.
Underneath the grooming is a quick, athletic, slightly vain dog that learns fast, bores quickly and prefers people to anything else. Standards are proper gundogs. Miniatures and Toys are lively, barky companions. All of them notice everything.
Exercise and walking needs
A Standard wants about an hour and a half a day with some retrieving or swimming. Miniatures are happy with an hour and Toys with forty minutes or so, though all three cope with more. The point is quality: a Poodle on a dull pavement loop is a Poodle looking for mischief.
Training games on a walk work well. This is one of the most trainable breeds in existence and it enjoys being asked.
On the walk
- Recall: Usually very good. Poodles like being with you and come back readily. Standards may pursue a bird or water; Toys may ignore you for a dropped crust.
- Other dogs: Sociable and playful. Smaller Poodles can be snappy if a big dog is rude, so manage introductions by size.
- Coat: Curly coats collect debris and mat when wet. Towel off well, avoid brambles, and never let the dog go home soaked.
- Water: Most love it. Check the owner's rules; a dog due at the groomer tomorrow should stay dry.
Tips for professional walkers
- Teach a trick or two on the walk. Spins, weaves between legs and carries keep the brain busy and look good in the walk report.
- Check feet and ears after walks. Hair grows in the ear canal and traps moisture.
- Match group walks by size: Toys with small dogs, Standards with the active crowd.
- Carry a soft toy for a few retrieves; it is still a gundog at heart.
What to ask the owner
- Which size is the dog, and how fit is it for its age?
- When is the next grooming appointment, and should the dog stay out of water and mud until then?
- Any history with knees in the small sizes, or hips and stomach trouble in the Standard?