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Poodle Facts & Worksheets

Whether standard, miniature, or toy, the poodle stands proudly among dogdom’s authentic royalties.

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Whether standard, miniature, or toy, the poodle stands proudly among dogdom’s authentic royalties. Beneath its curly black, white, or apricot coat, this national dog of France is a refined athlete and companion for all seasons.

See the fact file below for more information on the poodle or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Poodle worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • The poodle is one of the ancient breeds that were used for hunting waterfowl. Most historians agree that the breed originated in Germany but developed its own specific traits in France.
  • Most believe that the breed is the product of crosses between a number of European, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hungarian, and Russian water dogs.
  • Other historians assume that poodles were the descendants of the North African Barbet, which was imported to the Iberian Peninsula.
  • After that, the poodle reached Gaul, where it was used as a hunting dog.
  • Some also believe that one of the poodle’s ancestors is the Asian herding dog. Ancient poodles accompanied the Germanic Goth and Ostrogoth tribes to eventually become a German water breed.
  • Another theory suggests that the poodle originated from dogs that were brought out of the Asian steppes by the dominating North African Berbers, and it finally found its way into Portugal in the 8th Century by travelling with the Moors.
  • Despite the number of theories about the poodle’s origin, it is still a very old breed. Drawings of poodle-like dogs were found in Egyptian and Roman artifacts and tombs from the first century B.C. These illustrations and statues depict dogs that show a resemblance to modern-day poodles.
  • Some researchers say that the miniature and toy poodles developed shortly after the standard, while many believe that it wasn’t until the 15th century that breeders started producing smaller versions of the poodle – first the miniature, then the toy – to satisfy the Parisian aristocrats. The toy and miniature varieties were bred by crossing small poodles with each other, not by breeding poodles with other smaller breeds.
  • The French utilized standard poodles for duck hunting and the miniature ones for sniffing out truffles in the woods. The toy poodles served as companions to the nobility and wealthy merchant classes.
  • Well-off owners during the Renaissance period were spotted carrying toy poodles in their large shirtsleeves, leading to the nickname “sleeve dogs”.
  • Gypsies and traveling performers observed that poodles also excelled in the circus. They trained these breeds to perform tricks, dressed them in colorful costumes, and sculpted their coats into fanciful shapes to add to their stage appeal. Rich patrons took note and began clipping, decorating, and even dying their own poodles.
  • The Kennel Club in England listed their first poodle in 1874, with the first British club for poodle enthusiasts arriving on the scene in 1876.
  • It is not known when poodles reached the United States, but the American Kennel Club registered the first poodle in 1886.
  • The Poodle Club of America was established in 1896, but it disbanded after a few years. Poodle fanciers reestablished the club in 1931.
  • Poodles were rare breeds in the United States until after World War II.
  • However, in the mid-1950s, the poodle had become the most popular breed, a position that it held for more than two decades.

APPEARANCE

  • Poodles come in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. Toy poodles reach up to 10 inches tall and weigh between six to nine pounds.
  • Miniature poodles stand up 11 to 15 inches tall and weigh 15 to 17 pounds. Standard poodles are about 15 to 22 inches tall. Males usually weigh between 45 to 70 pounds, and females weigh 45 to 60 pounds.
  • Standard poodles heads are slightly rounded with a moderate but definite stop. Their cheekbones and muscles are flat, and their necks rise from compact and smoothly muscled shoulders. The chest of the standard poodle is deep and moderately wide, and its tail is straight and pointed high. Its oval-shaped feet are rather small, with well-arched toes and thick, firm pads.
  • Miniature poodles have dark, oval-shaped eyes. Their ears hang close to the head or slightly below eye level, with a long, thickly-feathered leather fringe. Just like standard poodles, their cheekbones are flat, and their muzzles are long and straight.
  • Toy poodles generally resemble the other two varieties, only they are much smaller in size.
  • The poodle’s coat quality can either be curly or corded. Curly coats are naturally harsh in texture and dense throughout. Corded coats, however, hang in tight, even cords of different lengths. These cords are usually longer on the body coat, head, and ears, and shorter on puffs, bracelets, and pompoms.
  • Generally, poodles do not have fur like all other dog breeds. They have hair instead. A poodle below one year of age may be shown in the “Puppy” clip. Poodles 12 months or older must be sculpted in the “English Saddle” or “Continental” clip. The AKC also lets the “Sporting” clip in Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes.
  • In a “Puppy” clip, the face, throat, feet, and base of the tail are shaved. A pompom on the end of the tail is also visible. In order to give it a neat appearance, shaping of the coat is allowed.
  • In the “English Saddle” clip, the face, throat, feet, forelegs, and base of the tail are shaved, leaving the puffs on the forelegs and a pompom on the end of the tail.
  • “Continental” clips, however, display a shaved face, throat, feet, and base of the tail. The legs are also shaved, leaving bracelets on the back legs and puffs on the front legs. The rest of the body is left untouched but may be shaped in order to guarantee overall balance.
  • “Sporting” clips show a poodle with face, feet, throat, and base of the tail shaved, leaving a scissored cap on the top of the head and a pompom on the end of the tail. The rest of the body and the legs are clipped or trimmed to observe the outline of the dog, leaving a short blanket of coat not more than one inch in length. Sometimes, the hair on the legs may be moderately longer than that of the body.
  • Coat colors range in blues, grays, silvers, browns, cafe-au laits, apricots, and creams. Brown and cafe-au lait poodles have liver-colored noses, eye-rims, and lips; black toenails; and dark, amber eyes.
  • Black, blue, gray, silver, cream, and white poodles, on the other hand, have black noses, eye-rims, and lips; black or self-colored toenails; and very dark eyes.

TEMPERAMENT

  • Poodles can be described in four words: smart, affectionate, loyal, and playful.
  • Despite its royal appearance, the poodle has a mischievous streak, likes to play, and is always up for a game of any kind. The poodle is also very sociable and eager to please.
  • Poodles are naturally protective of their home and family. They sound a warning bark to their owners if a stranger approaches the house.
  • An excellent trait of the poodle is its extreme intelligence. Poodles are often said to acquire human-like intelligence and an outstanding cleverness that astound their owners. They are quick learners, and they remember everything.

HEALTH

  • Addison’s Disease. Also referred to as hypoadrenocorticism, this is an extremely serious condition caused by a lack of production of adrenal hormones by the adrenal gland. Poodles plagued with Addison’s Disease vomit, have a poor appetite, and are lethargic.
  • Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus. Also known as blot, this condition is commonly found in large, deep-chested dogs like poodles. This involves gas buildup and twisting of the stomach, a common health problem of giant-breed dogs. To prevent this, owners should feed them two or three small deals a day instead of one full meal. Also, owners should allow poodles to rest for at least an hour after eating meals.
  • Cushing’s Disease (Hypercortisolism). This condition happens when the body produces too much cortisol, which results in an imbalance of the pituitary or adrenal gland. It can also happen when a dog has too much cortisol caused by other conditions. Common signs include too much drinking and urination.
  • Epilepsy. This is a hereditary condition that can cause mild or severe seizures.
  • Hypothyroidism. This condition is caused by underactive thyroid glands that are believed to cause epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, lethargy, dark patches on the skin, and other skin disorders.
  • Hip Dysplasia. This abnormality in the hip socket causes crippling lameness and painful joint inflammation, such as arthritis.
  • Legg-Perthes Disease. This is another condition of the hip joint that most toy breeds are plagued by. Poodles with Legg-Perthes have decreased blood supply in the head of the femur, and the head of the femur that is connected to the pelvis starts to disintegrate.
  • Patellar Luxation. Poodles experience dislocation of the kneecap, where the knee joint slides in and out of place, causing pain.
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This is an eye condition that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina, which may result in night blindness or complete blindness.
  • Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. This is a congenital failure of the development of the optic nerve, resulting in blindness and abnormal pupil response.
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease. A hereditary blood disorder, Von Willebrand’s disease interferes with the blood’s ability to clot.

Poodle Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the poodle across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Poodle worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the poodle which stands proudly among dogdom’s authentic royalties. Beneath its curly black, white, or apricot coat, this national dog of France is a refined athlete and companion for all seasons.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Poodle Facts
  • Lovable Poodles
  • Breed Standards
  • Three Poodles
  • Fancy Poodle Facts
  • Growing Up Fancy
  • Poodle Cuts
  • Taking Care of a Poodle
  • Pros and Cons of a Poodle
  • As Service Dogs
  • Poodles in Pop Culture
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Link will appear as Poodle Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 3, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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