Please tell me all about poodles?

[catwrangler]

Obviously they need plenty of exercise (used to that with current DDog!) and grooming, but aside from those aspects I'd really love to know what they're like to live with in the long term as pets. Is there any real difference behaviour and/or temperament wise between the three size categories?

Also (and apologies for being horribly practical) what impact do the various potential health issues that I've seen listed have on the cost of pet insurance, and what are those health issues like to deal with as an owner? And how much is the initial financial outlay for a well bred but pet quality pup from a good breeder (not a puppy farmer/commercial breeder) likely to be?

Disclaimer: I'm not ready to make enquiries about acquiring a puppy yet, so I didn't think it would be fair to contact the breed society for information

The only one I know belongs to a friend. She's a toy poodle and is the quirkiest, funniest, most intelligent, gorgeous little dog you could ever wish for.

My mum has a Standard. He is lovely, but as mad as a box of frogs! he is intelligent, loyal, friendly. He is a very fussy eater! (but i have spaniels that'll eat anything).

“what impact do the various potential health issues that I've seen listed have on the cost of pet insurance,”

As far as I know poodles are fairly healthy... as in as a breed I think they’re in ok shape and not one of the ones with ludicrous insurance.

“and what are those health issues like to deal with as an owner?”

You shouldn’t have to deal with them if you get a well bred one, some of the issues are directly inherited so if their parents are DNA tested as clear they can’t get them, the others although not quite as clear cut as that, you’re very very unlikely to have a dog with them if they’re from a long line of tested (with good results) healthy dogs.

“And how much is the initial financial outlay for a well bred but pet quality pup from a good breeder (not a puppy farmer/commercial breeder) likely to be?“

No clue as it’s not a breed I have, but, in general bad breeders aren’t actually cheaper than good ones, so that should give you a ballpark figure.

Our dog is 3/4 standard poodle, but acts very much like her full poodle friends at the park.

Fun, affectionate, loyal.

Yes needs exercise in good amounts, shouldn't carry extra weight, as they are quite fine boned.
Can be fussy eaters/allergy issues, but once you find the food that works for them, you're set.
Easily trained, not too "devious", happy to laze at home with the family but can go bit mental at park/visitors (for first 5 minutes!).

Standards seem less "yappy" than the miniture/toy, generally they are actually quiet - my nephew stayed for a week and never heard her bark at all.

We’ve got a standard bitch, she is mad as a hatter. But she is a lovely dog, friendly, loyal and very intelligent. She loves being the centre of attention but has coped brilliantly with the addition of our DD after being my baby for 11 years. She is 14 this year and touch wood we’ve had no health issues at all.

As a wider family we’ve had standards and miniatures for lots of years. Never had major health issues with any of them and they’ve all been amazing family dogs.

As long as you introduce them to grooming from a very young age then they should be fine with that. Find a good groomer.

We have a miniature boy, just coming up to 2 in May and also as mad as a box of frogs - must be the breed! Ours is red though and I gather that the black ones of any size are the most laid back, red are the most bonkers!! We got ours from a breeder in Lincolnshire and paid £800 for him; £800 - £950 seems to be the norm, depending on breeder. We checked our breeder out very thoroughly and both our boy's parents had all relevant health test done. Poodles are generally not prone to health issues and are a long-lived breed, who remain quite energetic and lively well into their teens. They're very clever and quick to learn new things (not always a bonus ) and will take as much walking as you can give them. Our boy gets an hour in the mornings and at least 30 mins in the evening most days but if the weather is bad, he's happy with a 20 minute run in the park and lots of playtime at home. They are water dogs but no-one has told our boy that and he hates swimming, although will go for a genteel paddle! They are a fab breed, I'd have a second one tomorrow if I could afford to!!

Forgot to add - they need clipping every 6-8 weeks as otherwise they start to resemble mobile mops! We brush ours 2-3 times a week and you just need to get them used to being handled and brushed when they're puppies, doing bits at a time with lots of treats. We don't tend to bath ours between grooms - apart from rinsing mud off his feet - unless he's been in something revolting, as they don't have that 'doggy' smell that the shedding breeds tend to have.

Thanks all, it looks as if poodles especially red ones have the sort of attitude that I prefer in my dogs! I feel a lot happier about writing to the breed society now. I think I'll go for a standard

It's been the better part of ten years since I last bought a puppy (current DDog), and he isn't a poodle, so I wasn't sure what to expect as normal there, hence asking. But it looks as if I was guessing correctly anyhow, so that's good to know. I'll be sure to ask potential breeders to provide proof of all health testing for parents and grandparents. Would it be reasonable to ask if I could contact the owners of previous litters before committing to going on anyone's waiting list?

I was thinking that I could take future poodle to the groomer on a monthly basis for a proper tidy up, and then just do a twice daily combing/brushing session at home to stay on top of things. I'm actually really looking forwards to that aspect We live next to a beach, so there's going to be lots of exposure to sand and salt water as well as all the rest of the revolting beach related stuff to roll in, lol. Current DDog gets about an hour running and retrieving in and out of the water there every day, plus three or four twenty minute walks on the lead, and occasional days out to country parks etc. for a change of scenery. Plus I work from home, so no concerns about separation issues or housetraining.

I've got a red toy one, and she's very sweet but crackers, although she is settling down a bit now at 15 months. I have never seen so many zoomies! Very quick to learn and eager to please. Also seems to understand a bit too much of what I am saying. Both her parents had the relevant dna tests for heritable diseases. I trim and groom her myself and the coat grows at an amazing speed. She may not be poodle palour standard, but I want my dog to look like a dog, not a powder puff, so I just keep it short all over. She loves company, and if she was human she would be one of those children who follows you around asking what you are doing all the time.

Lucisky haha, another bonkers red poodle! I know exactly what you mean about understanding too much of what you are saying - DD,14: 'Mum, can I have snack?'
Poodle (whips head round at lightning speed): 'snack, snack, they live in the kitchen' (dashes off to kitchen)

@foxes our poodle is from a breeder in Lincolnshire, he used to breed reds as well!

I have a miniature poodle and a poodle cross. I would recommend them to anyone. Mine aren't mad though (neither is red though, one apricot, one black), they are very bright and very well behaved, always walk to heel without a lead, sit, stay, lie on command and great with other dogs and people.

I would say they are easy to live with. They enjoy a long walk but don't have to have a long walk every day. I have them clipped all over about every 8 weeks and give the odd brush in-between.

Both of mine are from stock which has been gene tested for eye problems - you need a decent breeder for this because the tests are quite expensive. Worth it though.

I don't have insurance and to be honest, apart from one bout of gastroenteritis which could happen to any dog, they have cost me nothing at the vets apart from annual immunisations and a biannual tooth clean.

Poodles are famous for bad teeth and mine are getting on a bit so although I do clean their teeth, they do need a vet clean every couple of years. I'd suggest you start yours on daily tooth cleaning straight away so they just expect it as part of their daily routine, there are videos on Youtube how to do it (it is not the same as a human method).