Poodle

A poodle is a breed of dog. Poodles are known for their intelligence and trainability. The original form of the breed is the Standard Poodle. Miniature and Toy Poodles were developed from Standard Poodles by selective breeding for smaller size and are the same breed.

Poodles were originally bred as water retrievers and hunting dogs. Today, they are commonly kept as companion animals and are also shown in dog shows.

Poodles have a curly coat that sheds less visibly than many other dog breeds. Because of this, some people with dog allergies may tolerate poodles better than other breeds, although no dog is completely hypoallergenic.

Common coat colors include white, black, gray, brown, and apricot.

Sizes

Poodles are breed in many different sizes. The four main sizes from largest to smallest are Standard, Miniature, Medium and Toy. There are also other sizes, like the very small Teacup, that are not official. This means that these other sizes cannot be part of professional dog shows.

• Standard - This is the original size. This height is from 35 to 45 cm, weight is from 15 to 19 kg.
• Miniature - This size was downsized from standard size for circus dogs. This height is from 28 to 35 cm,weight is from 8 to 15 kg.
• Medium - This size is not accepted in some countries. This height is from 35 to 45 cm, weight is from 8 to 15 kg.
• Toy - This size was downsized from miniature size for breeding as pets. This height is from 26 to 28 cm, weight is also 3 kg.

Military working dogs

Poodles have been used as working dogs in the military for several centuries. During World War II, it was thought that this breed of dog could become helpers during the war. So, poodles went through training by the United States Army for special tasks. In 1942, the poodle was one of 32 breeds officially ranked as war dogs by the Army.

Cuts

Historically, poodles were groomed retaining the fur on the chest and ankles while trimming the rest. This was to further the dog's water retrieval work. Clipping most of the fur reduces the dog's water resistance, but leaving the fur of the chest and ankles protects the heart and the joints from cold water. Now, poodles hair styles have more variations. In Japan, the "teddy bear cut" is most popular. This style lets the whole body have roundness like a teddy bear.

References

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