The three different types of poodles
Poodles are divided into three different varieties, standard, miniature and toy. The American Kennel Club, the leading authority on dog breeds, outlines the varieties by size. Standard Poodles should be over 15 inches at the highest points of their shoulders. Miniature poodles are defined as 15 inches or less at the highest point of the shoulders and over 10 inches. Toy poodles must measure 10 inches or less at the highest point of the shoulders.
The standard poodle is the earliest variety of this dog breed. It was bred to retrieve waterfowl for hunters. The name “poodle” probably derives from the German “pudelin”, meaning to splash in the water.
Many people think of the poodle trim as something invented for pampered smaller dogs to look cute, but it was actually invented for the standard poodle in its original job as a water retriever. The back fur is trimmed to allow the dog to swim better, while the chest hair is left intact to protect its vital organs in cold water. The tail pump and head bow were used to help hunters locate and identify their dogs in the water.
The standard poodle’s size has made it useful in many other capacities as well. Poodles have been trained as guide dogs, military dogs, guard dogs, cart dogs and even sled dogs. Prince Rupert of the Rhine, a cousin of Charles I of England, is said to have had a white standard poodle named Boy, which he took in a fight with him and which died in 1644 at the Battle of Marston Moor. Emperor Napoleon mentions in his memoirs a Standard Poodle that died at the Battle of Marengo. During World War II in the United States, standard poodles were used to guard defense installations, military installations, and coastlines. Because they are hypoallergenic, poodles make good guide dogs for blind people with allergies. In 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, dog sled teams made up in part of poodles ran the Iditarod race in Alaska and completed the long, grueling journey across the ice.
Miniature poodles and toy poodles were bred during the Renaissance when European nobles wanted small dogs as companions. People wore little poodles on their sleeves during cold weather. Today, toy and miniature poodles are considered companion dogs, often carried in purses or bags. Smaller poodles were used to find a type of mushroom called a truffle because they would destroy the earth less than their larger cousins. The little poodles were trained by the gypsies to perform tricks and were used in vaudeville and circuses.
In February, a male toy poodle named Walker won the toy dog section at the Westminster Dog Show, beating a Pekingese, Shih Tzu and Papillon. Walker was the country’s top-grossing toy dog last year, winning more than 30 best-in-show awards.
Two poodle sizes not recognized by the AKC are Klein poodles and teacup poodles. The Klein is intermediate in size between the standard and miniature, standing 15 to 20 inches at the highest part of the shoulder. Kleins, or moyens as they are called in France, are usually kept as pets in American homes because they cannot compete in AKC shows. Tea Poodles are the smallest, being only nine inches at the highest part of the shoulder or smaller. They usually only weigh six pounds or less.
Whatever their size, poodles are known to be one of the most intelligent and trainable dog breeds. If you buy a poodle, socialize it well and train it early so you have a well-adjusted, happy companion.
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