Have read a chunk (but not the entire thread).
I have a mini poodle. In Melbourne, in an area absolutely full of caboodles.
My parents have 2 toy poodles.
I got my girl when my youngest was nearly 2. So my children were 2,4,5,7.
9 years on and she's still one of the best things to happen for me. She's gentle with children. Can go on seriously long walks and rambles. Can keep up with bike riding around the lake. Is small enough to fit on a bike and on a lap.
During lock down I learnt how to groom her enough that I'm not paying ridiculous amounts for that.
The breeder we bought from was very good, and we visited with the entire family before making any commitment. We got her at 4 months and she had been given enough socialising with both children and other dogs for it to not feel impossible to manage.
There aren't that many mini breeders in Australia. Which is partly why my parents have toys. The boy, who is bigger, would be fine in a family home as well, though my mother's little girl is tiny. No toy breeders local to me would talk to me when they found out how many young children I had at the time we got the dog. I'm glad now that we have a mini.
Mini poodles can be great family dogs. They will usually choose one person, and you do need to know that the toddler/teen period lasts until about 2.5. But after that they calm down, in my experience, a lot.
My sister is allergic to dogs. When we were kids we had a Maltese Shitzu cross who was mostly non shedding and who was also good with young children. She used to walk the toddlers down the road and let them think they were being big and walking her. I would get a Maltese instead of a poodle if no mini poodles were around and I wanted a less intelligent dog.
My experience with poodles has been that the hardest training hurdle is barking at the doorbell. We have also had some trouble with separation anxiety that started after the lockdowns finally ended.
My girl is super friendly, is safe off lead (which has been a bonus when a wheelchair has been involved) reliably comes when calls, never jumps up on children, loves to snuggle up on the couch or bed for as long as you want, but also loves going out and wants to go with me everywhere. She likes to sit at the table and join in any meetings. She doesn't much like swimming ( I think because she fell into a lake not long after joining our family) but my parents dogs adore swimming and all 3 love the beach.
I'd consider a toy poodle if someone has one that seems likely to be on the bigger size that they feel is suited to a family home. But really, let me sell you on a mini poodle.
I would consider joining some breed specific Facebook groups and read up on what characteristics to look for.