Miniature Poodle

The Poodle has a character full of fun. It is intelligent, obedient and has even proved a useful competitor in obedience competitions. It has a fondness for water, if the owner permits, but is much favoured for the show ring where, exhibited in the traditional lion clip, it is a beauty to behold.

Origin and history

The Poodle was originally a shaggy guard, a retriever and protector of sheep. Its origins are similar to the Irish Water Spaniel and, no doubt, they have a common ancestor in the French Barbet and Hungarian Water Hound. The Poodle may not be, as many suppose, solely of French origin. It originated in Germany as a water retriever; even the word poodle comes from the German 'pudelnass' or 'puddle', and from this fairly large sturdy dog, the Standard Poodle, the Miniature and the Toy have evolved.

The breed has been known in England since Prince Rupertofthe Rhine, in company with his Poodle, came to the aid of Charles I in battle. The breed was favoured also by Marie Antoinette who, rumour has it, invented the lion clip by devising a style that would match the uniform of her courtiers.

Miniature Poodler Puppies

Good points

• Affectionate
• Dainty and appealing
• Excellent retriever
• Good sense of fun
• Intelligent
• Long-lived
• Useful in obedience competitions

Take heed

• Noisy if unchecked
• Perhaps not the best choice of child's pet
• Sensitive

Size

Height at shoulder should be under 15in (38cm) but not under 11in (28cm), (United States 10in).

Exercise

The Poodle will enjoy a ball game in the garden, practising obedience exercises or trotting beside you in the park. The miniature variety is a good choice for the apartment dweller.

Miniature Poodler Information

General appearance
A very active, intelligent, well-balanced and elega'nt-Iooking dog with good temperament, carrying itself very proudly.

Colour
All solid colours. White and cream Poodles to have black nose, lips and eye-rims; black toenails desirable. Brown Poodles to have dark amber eyes, dark liver nose, lips, eye-rims and toenails. Apricot Poodles to have dark eyes with black points or deep amber eyes with liver points. Black, silver and blue Poodles to have black nose, lips, eye-rims and toenails. Cream apricot, brown, silver and blue Poodles may show varying shades of the same colour up to 18 months. Clear colours preferred.

Head and skull
Long and fine with slight peak at the back. The skull not broad and with a moderate stop. Foreface strong and well chiselled, not falling away under the eyes; bones and muscle flat. Lips tight fitting. Chin well defined, but not protruding. The whole head must be in proportion to the size of the dog.

Body
The distance from the breast bone to the rump should approximate the distance from the highest point of the shoulders to the ground. The chest is deep and moderately wide with well-sprung ribs. The topline is level but for a slight hollow just behind the shoulder.

Tail
Set on rather high, well carried at a slight angle away from the body; never curled or carried over the back; thick at the root.

Feet
Pasterns strong; tight feet proportionately small, oval in shape, turning neither in nor out; toes arched; pads thick.

Health care

Fanciers will confirm that the Standard Poodle is the soundest of the varieties. It is possible to acquire healthy Toy and Miniature stock, but care should be taken to purchase from a breeder who puts quality ahead of daintiness. Watch out for signs of ear trouble, nervousness or joint malformations. Teeth need regular scaling. Nonetheless, a 16-year-old Poodle is not a rarity.

Miniature Poodler Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

Use a wire-pin pneumatic brush and a wire-toothed metal comb for regular grooming. The lion clip is an essential for the show ring, but pet owners generally resort to the more natural Iamb clip with the hair a short, uniform length. It is possible to clip your own dog with a pair of hairdresser's scissors. However, if despite the help which usually is available from the breeder you find the task tedious, there are numerous pet and poodle parlours to which you should take your dog every six weeks. Bath regularly.

Feeding

Recommended would be 9-130z (255-369g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 1112 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to '/2 cup of hot or cold water.

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