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Original poster

Poodle appreciation

81 replies

dontdoodlewithapoodle · 20/04/2021 14:18

Just wanting to see if there are any other poodle lovers out there who feel like sharing my enthusiasm for this breed?!

I bought a mini poodle 3 years ago knowing that they were an intelligent dog and wanting something fairly easy to train never having had a dog before.

Well she didn't disappoint in the intelligence part but I never expected her to be so funny, so athletic or so loving!

She's such a little clown, loves showing off, literally dances around! Can run so fast and keeps up with us even on long walks over any terrain, loves every second. People are always so surprised when they ask her breed (I don't have her clipped like a traditional poodle) and say they never expected her to run like she does or to be such good fun.

Anyone else got a plain old poodle not a doodle?! Would love to hear about yours! Smile🐾

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MissShapesMissStakes · 20/04/2021 15:32

We have a mini poodle. I agree with you. GREAT dogs.

He's our first and he's almost three. He's just so lovely. Really affectionate and a little bit bonkers. He loves to play with a sweeping brush, adores chasing his squeaky balls (but has to be a particular type, he does not like to be taken out for a walk in the rain at all, and for a water dog, he's not happy if the water goes up to his belly.

He loves all his people being together, and because he'd rather be with us than anywhere else his recall is really good.

We are currently on holiday though and he's decided he can only eat treats on holiday and wants to sleep on everyone's' bed at a time in the night so he's managing to wake us all up at some point every night. He is definitely happier at home.

CheerfulBunny · 20/04/2021 16:14

When I was a child, our family dog was an apricot toy poodle. He was wonderful, full of energy and fun but so gentle and loving with children. I'm so glad they're finally getting the recognition they deserve as lovely family dogs instead of being dismissed as silly poofy pom pom dogs.

MissShapesMissStakes · 20/04/2021 16:42

@CheerfulBunny ours is an apricot. He started quite dark but is now basically cream.
He is fantastic with my kids too. My youngest can have meltdowns and be quite loud with it. But he is always straight over to her to lick her feet or snuffle her face. He really helps.

Poodle appreciation
XelaM · 20/04/2021 16:56

Growing up we had an apricot poodle. He was beautiful!! Really majestic-looking (when groomed). He was incredibly high energy and too intelligent for us (he knew from the beginning he was boss of the house). He couldn't be left alone at all and was living with my grandparents nearby who were home all day. He slept on the bed, on a pillow under a blanket and snored very (!) loudly, but couldn't be moved Grin He also always took up the best spot in front of the TV and growled if anyone tried to move him. He was incredibly intelligent and knew exactly what was going on in the house even before anyone said anything (incredible intuition).

We have a pug now and I must say pugs are a much calmer breed than poodles, but also a lot less intelligent Blush

CheerfulBunny · 20/04/2021 17:03

@MissShapesMissStakes oh he's gorgeous - look at that nose! We kept our dog's ears shorter as well as they used to trail in everything, even though the groomer would leave them long with his lamb clip.

I've realised, BTW, that our dog was a miniature not a toy, despite us referring to him as a toy for 14 years!

minsmum · 20/04/2021 17:06

My friend got a standard poodle about 18 months ago. I love hearing about him as you say intelligent athletic and kind

2catsand2kids · 20/04/2021 17:17

We have a six month old miniature poodle and I adore him, I am so glad we went for that breed. We don’t have him in a traditional poodle cut and no one can believe it when I say he’s a pure poodle!

Poodle appreciation
lurker101 · 20/04/2021 17:29

My parents replaced me with a toy poodle, and finally got the daughter they deserved 😂 She’s amazing, so intelligent, loving and my mum’s shadow. If I get a dog it would be a poodle

Original poster
dontdoodlewithapoodle · 20/04/2021 17:32

@MissShapesMissStakes sounds very similar to my girl. Loves us all to be together and will round any stragglers up! A sock stealer but not water thank goodness! Mine loves water though

Poodle appreciation
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Original poster
dontdoodlewithapoodle · 20/04/2021 17:32

That was meant to say not eater!

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Original poster
dontdoodlewithapoodle · 20/04/2021 17:34

Also second the shadow thing, especially at treat times! She will always wait until the last minute of the day until she eats her food incase anything better comes along Grin

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MargosKaftan · 20/04/2021 17:37

Ooh, I am looking at a poodle ! How much walking do minis like? I'm not sure if a standard or mini would suit us.

(Then I need to track down a breeder)

stillkauri · 20/04/2021 17:47

Here’s our miniature poodle - he’s nearly a year old. He’s amazing! We’re first time dog owners and I’m loving how cuddly and affectionate he is - he paws you so you don’t stop petting him!

DH who had allergies and asthma is fine with him - we did check his reaction with an adult poodle before we went for it though.

margo our mini usually gets a short walk of up to 30 minutes in the morning and then nearer an hour in the afternoon. Last weekend he was still bounding around at the end of a two hour walk. He would probably manage on an hour each day (plus garden time) but he does enjoy his walks so much.

Poodle appreciation
Original poster
dontdoodlewithapoodle · 20/04/2021 17:50

@MargosKaftan ours would need either one long (1hour) or two short (30mins) a day. 5/10 mins of chasing a ball or hunting squirrels per walk keeps her happy. Plus a bit of play at home. She can do more though and would just sleep more/plays less that day to get her energy back.

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dontdoodlewithapoodle · 20/04/2021 17:52

I also find swimming tires her out loads more but she would do it all day

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stillkauri · 20/04/2021 17:52

I love the fluffy face look but ours came to us with a shaved muzzle - the breeder is also a groomer and that’s his ‘look’ now. Here he is when we got him at 10 weeks.

Poodle appreciation
AgathaX · 20/04/2021 18:04

We have standards and have done for many years. Just brilliant dogs, so bright, engaging, energetic and cuddly.
Ours aren't cut in traditional poodle trims either so most people assume doodles rather than poodles. The non shedding is great, although not so great is fluffy wet feet in winter.

XelaM · 20/04/2021 18:07

@stillkauri awwwww poodle puppies are SO cute!! Ours was usually a little scruff, but when he returned from the groomer it was like a different dog - a real show stopper. His parents were show champions, but we were not experienced enough (and he was never well-trained enough) for us to show him Grin although we were encouraged by groomers to do so

MargosKaftan · 20/04/2021 18:07

Thanks! I was worried little feet would get tired too soon...

Agatha, how much walking does your standard want to be happy?

AgathaX · 21/04/2021 00:14

They get about an hour and a half a day and more at the weekend but we have a large garden so they have room to play. With poodles it's as much about mental stimulation as physical. We play with them a fair amount and do fun games and training on a daily basis. They're very adaptable dogs but do like to be íncluded in family stuff, pub visits etc and wouldn't cope being left alone for hours on end on a daily basis.

Cheeryblossom1 · 21/04/2021 06:58

It is very rare where I am am to come across full poodles of any size... Our local park is full of poochon, cockapoos or cavapoos but only one poodle... Everyday my cavachon & I meet Candy the standard poodle, she is fabulous, very gentle with my dog who loves her & always the first dog into the river... Great dogs & I would love one myself of any size!

Original poster
dontdoodlewithapoodle · 21/04/2021 07:34

So nice to see all the poodle appreciation Smile
Agree with pp that they do need plenty of mental stimulation and hate to be left out of anything. I think she'd sit at the table for dinner if she could Grin

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MissShapesMissStakes · 21/04/2021 10:06

Completely agree. They need to be part of the family. Over lockdown we missed our family cafe visits so bought our own little 'cafe table' and had afternoon home cafe time. My dd also would set a place for our mini and he would sit up on a chair with us and have a dog biscuit with us. He loved it.

OohMrDarcy · 21/04/2021 11:45

We have a nearly 10month miniature poodle - also non standard clip - I basically clipper him all over and trim his face / ears.
He is the absolute best decision I ever made and is amazing. He loves everyone that he sees as family - basically anyone he sees regularly, so includes friends I've been walking with through lockdown, he is super intelligent and keen to learn.

Exercise wise - we don't have a set routine as find he is happier without one - he can have anything from lots of games and a short 30 min blast up the field to hours of walking through woodland. I'm planning a walking holiday with him next year where he and I will walk 12 ish miles a day for 3 days and given his current level of fitness I'm confident that he will have no issues with this at all - I'll just plan ahead and he probably won't have a walk the day before or after to rest (games at home instead).

He loves to play and loves the kids, when anyone is having a bad day they have a cuddle or play with him and it is instantly better.

I work from home 95% of the time (and have for the last 7 years) and he just snoozes whilst I'm working anyway, fabulous boy

MargosKaftan · 21/04/2021 13:33

This is all helping us cement the idea a poodle is best for us, although still not sure if standard or miniature!

Now to try to find a breeder who's not dodgy, has puppies at some point this year...

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