What You Should Know Before Adopting a Poodle

Adopting a dog is a huge responsibility, but it's also one of the most joyous occasions you can have. One of these lovable canine companions can be a core part of your life for a decade or more, with everything that involves.

The highs are very high, but the lows can be heartbreaking, especially if you aren't prepared for them. That's why I've been going through the list of top dog breeds and writing guides on everything you need to know before adopting each one. I've covered big names like French bulldogs, golden retrievers, and labs before, and now it's time to talk about another iconic breed: the poodle.

To have the best experience caring for your new poodle, let's go through everything you need to know, from the history of the breed to their primary characteristics, the health issues you should watch for, and any specific care tips that go beyond basic canine care.

What is the History of the Poodle?

In popular culture, poodles are an elegant breed, and their fluffy, curly coats make for excellent canine topiaries. In cartoons and movies, you often see them accompanying French characters, which leads many people to assume they're a French breed.

The truth is, there's a bit of contention here. Current evidence, genetic tracing, and historical research indicate the poodle is actually a German breed, though some organizations like the Federation Cynologique Internationale think a French origin might be more likely. A few others here and there peg the origin of the poodle as Russia, northwest Africa, or even the Piedmont region of Italy.

Throughout history, many different countries and regions have developed their own unique breed of water dog, a dog that loves water and is used for water-adjacent tasks like waterfowl hunting. In England, it was the English Water Spaniel. In the Netherlands, it was the Wetterhoun. France had the Barbet, and Germany developed the Pudel, later adapted to poodle.

The Poodle was recognized as an official breed in 1874 in the United Kingdom and in 1886 in America. While these might seem like recent dates for an old breed, it's actually simply because that's about when those kennel clubs were formed.

While poodles aren't frequently used as water dogs these days (largely due to the popularity of other retrievers and the relatively lower popularity of water hunting compared to the 1800s), they are excellent show dogs. They've been the most-registered breed for decades at Westminster, have won best-in-show more times than all but one breed (the wire fox terrier), and are a common participant every year.

While many dog breeds have a lineage that can be traced to the efforts of a specific person, usually a nobleman in the late 1700s or early 1800s looking to leave their mark on the species, poodles predate these kinds of efforts. They may have been intentionally bred, but no real records exist to indicate who may have done so, if indeed it was intentional at all. Poodles may simply have been a happy accident and have gone on to be one of the world's most popular dogs.

Primary Breed Characteristics of Poodles

While many poodles today are used as show dogs, they still have many of the traits, physically and mentally, that made them excellent companions for hunting and other sports.

The Physical Characteristics

Did you know that there are actually three types of poodle, not counting crossbreeds like labradoodles?

The original kind of poodle is called the Standard Poodle today. They're the largest of the poodles, and are the ones most commonly used in agility competitions, as sporting dogs, and as companion dogs. They average about 15 inches tall at the shoulder, though they sometimes get a little taller. This puts them shorter than many medium-sized dogs, like golden retrievers, which stand at 22 inches. Weight-wise, they average around 40-70 pounds, which is a frequent surprise for pet parents who expect their leaner-looking frame to not be quite so bulky.

One of the original purposes of the poodle in France was as a show dog for circuses. Since they're energetic and easy to train, they could go through elaborate routines and enjoy every minute of it. However, since a larger dog is harder to take from place to place in a traveling circus, people at the time attempted to breed smaller and smaller poodles.

This led to the second kind of poodle, the miniature poodle. Miniature poodles are smaller, standing only around 10-15 inches tall at the shoulder, and weighing much less, at around 12 pounds on average. They tend to be fluffier as well, with a less dense version of the poodle coat. Miniature poodles are sometimes known as medium poodles, though this middle breed isn't universally recognized the same way the standard poodle is.

The natural endpoint for this was an even smaller kind of poodle. The toy poodle is the smallest breed and is actually the one the circus owners settled on. They're practically tiny photocopies of the standard poodle, but are no more than 10 inches tall and 4-6 pounds on average.

An even smaller kind of poodle called a teacup poodle can also be found, but you should avoid these when you see them. They're the result of unethical breeders pushing for smaller and smaller dogs at the expense of everything else, so they often have terrible health issues. Because of this, they're not recognized by any kennel club.

Poodles are somewhat unique among dog breeds in that they have hair rather than fur. This means it grows longer, sheds less, and has different characteristics than fur-covered dogs. These coats come in different forms, with the curly coat being the most iconic for standard poodles. Corded coats are rarer and resemble dreadlocks, similar to breeds like the Komondor and Puli. Many modern poodles, including a lot of miniature and toy poodles, have a wavy coat that is less dense and straighter than the standard poodle coat.

Poodles don't shed much, but they do require a lot of care, as they're prone to mats and tangles in those curly coats.

Health and Wellness

Poodles have a fairly wide life expectancy. Some live to be around 10, while others can make it as long as 18. One study did find that they're better than the average dog at making it past 10, though the average was around 12-13 years old.

Poodles do have some breed-specific health issues they're more likely to develop, just like any breed. As always, it's worth knowing these so you know what to watch for as they grow up.

• Addison's Disease. This is a kind of adrenal insufficiency, which manifests as digestive problems early on and can progress to high potassium that interferes with the heart. It's treatable but does require monitoring your poodle's potassium and sodium levels.

• Bloat. Many dogs have the potential to suffer from bloat, which distends the stomach and causes abdominal pain. The stomach can also rotate and cut off part of its blood supply, causing partial organ death. This requires emergency surgery to correct or is otherwise fatal.

• Liver disease. Some poodles develop something known as chronic active hepatitis, or CAH. This tends to show up when they're around 5-7 years old at the earliest. It's a disease that indicates liver damage or failure, and needs maintenance with medications and a special diet.

• Thyroid diseases. As poodles get older, many of them develop an imbalance in thyroid hormones, either too much or too little of them. This can lead to a variety of behavioral and health issues, including seizures, aggression, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, and delayed healing. It's generally treatable with medications, but cannot be cured.

• Hip Dysplasia. One of the most common problems in dogs, dysplasia is a mismatch between the ball of a bone and the socket of the joint it sits in. This causes pressure and erodes cartilage until it becomes a painful bone-on-bone rubbing. It leads to decreased physical activity due to the pain. Depending on how bad it is and when it's diagnosed, it can be handled with diet and monitored exercise, or it may require surgery.

• Epilepsy. Poodles are one of many breeds that suffer from idiopathic epilepsy, which is epilepsy that doesn't have specific causes. Seizures are scary but can be handled and aren't necessarily otherwise dangerous, so long as you know how to handle them when they happen.

As usual, I'll give my standard disclaimer: your poodle isn't guaranteed to get any of these issues. These are just the problems that poodles are more prone to developing than the average for dogs across all breeds. Even with them, as long as you manage them properly, your poodle can live a long and happy life by your side.

Mentality and Personality

Poodles are incredible dogs to have with a family. They're gentle and patient, and can deal with children who don't really know how to properly handle a dog, taking the mild abuse with aplomb. They're social and friendly, but they also tend to be most loyal to their families. They'll often be standoffish towards strangers (more so people than strange dogs), at least until they get used to you, then they'll add you to their mental list of family and love you just as much.

Poodles are also incredibly smart dogs. They love to learn and can pick up very complex tricks and routines, which is why they were used as circus dogs, hunting dogs, and working dogs. They'll learn your routine and be ready for your patterns before you are!

Poodles also love to solve problems, so complex puzzle feeders and similar tools will be important to keep around.

They're not territorial dogs in general, so don't expect them to be defensive of your home or yard. If they sense immediate danger, they'll act, but they're not going to challenge the mailman every day.

Because of their high energy levels, exercise needs, and mental capacity, they really thrive in environments where their parents can dedicate a lot of time to them. Smaller poodles can be fine in an apartment situation, but larger poodles need more space to run and play.

They also like a nice balance. They'll feel some anxiety if they're left alone too long, and boredom can cause behavioral problems. On the flip side, a hectic and active household can stress them out.

With enough love, though, they can adapt to just about anything.

Tips for Caring for a Poodle

How do you care for a poodle? What do you need to do to be prepared to have one of these energetic, loving pups in your life? In addition to the usual "feed them right, bring them to regular vet checkups" and other basic advice, here are some poodle-specific tips.

Expect a very demanding time.

Poodles are a challenging dog breed and are often recommended for experienced pet parents rather than as first-time dogs. Especially as puppies, they have a lot of behaviors that aren't what you want, and a lot of training is needed to get them where you want them to be.

Don't give up, though; once you get past the hurdles, you'll have a fantastic companion.

Know the health issues.

Several of the common poodle health issues look like the symptoms of a basic illness, until they very suddenly aren't. Learn to recognize the standard behavior of your poodle, and watch for anything outside the norm, especially lethargy.

You'll want to have a close relationship with your vet, and make sure to get them all the testing they need to catch any of their worst diseases early.

Be prepared for the grooming.

Poodles don't shed much, but their coats need a lot of care. The elaborate trims and cuts for poodles aren't entirely just for show; they're to help make it easier to care for the poodle's coat!

You'll want regular appointments with a groomer every month or two, to make sure they're well cared for and don't have issues with their coat or skin.

Meet their exercise needs.

Since poodles are very active dogs, you'll need to establish a routine where they can really let go and play.

They love being able to play in water, so it can be worthwhile to find a local beach you can take them to, or set up a pool of your own.

Adopt, don't shop!

Poodles are a widely-bred dog, which means there are a lot of breeders trying to sell show-quality dogs, and a lot of not-quite-show-quality dogs left in shelters.

I always recommend looking at shelters for your perfect pooch, and it's no different with poodles.

If you have any questions about poodles that I didn't discuss in this article, be sure to let me know in the comments section, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!