The Poodle is a popular breed of dog found in many homes around the world.� There are three Kennel approved sizes of poodles, which are distinguished by the adult shoulder height:� the Toy, Miniature, and Standard.� The Toy Poodle weighs approximately 6-9 lbs. and stands up to 10� in height.� The Miniature version weighs from 15-17 lbs. and is about 11-15� in height at the shoulder.� The Standard variety is a larger dog that weighs about 45-70 lbs. and has a height of over 15�. There is also a very small version of this breed of dog called the Teacup Poodle, which is a delicate little dog small enough to fit in a teacup (hence the name).

This is one of the oldest breeds of dogs, being popular throughout Europe for several hundred years.� It is not known of the exact origin of this breed, with Russia, Iberia and Germany all having been cited.� The Standard Poodle was initially bred as a hunting dog to retrieve hunter�s fowl from the water, therefore they come under the retriever or gun class of dogs.

This breed of dog has a dense, curly coat of hair (not fur) that usually does not shed. They are ideal for households where a hypo-allergenic dog may be required. The texture of the hair can range from coarse and wooly to soft and wavy.� Because they do not shed, these dogs require a great deal of maintenance, brushing and care, especially with the show dogs.� Poodles in regular households generally keep their dogs� hair shorter in order to be more manageable.

The clipping of a poodles coat is well-known for the distinctive patterns, but initially the way a poodle was clipped served a purpose.� The areas left furry or bulbous was to protect and keep the areas around their joints warm while doing they were doing their cold water retrievals. The shaved hair around the rest of their bodies reduced the drag of water on them. Today the distinctive clipping is done for artistic appreciation of the breed.

Poodles come in many colors with most being a solid color, such as all black or all white, although others colors come into play as well.� They can be brown or grey, pink or red, apricot or brown.� Some can even be parti-colored or multi-colored.�

Poodles are intelligent animals that are quick to learn.� Their intelligence is appreciated in many dog competitions ranging from agility to obedience, tracking or herding. These dogs, however, because they are so intelligent are apt to get bored easily and may get into mischief.� They are an active dog that requires a fair bit of exercise.

This breed of dog is also a very social one, liking the company of its human family. They tend to get along well with children and are very family-oriented rather than a one-person type of dog.� They are adaptable, agile and easy to train, making them an ideal family pet.