How to Care for a Poodle

Poodles are more than just bows and bangles. Poodles are intelligent, playful, devoted and make great pets. And these traits hold true for all three sizes of poodles: Standard, Miniature and Toy. Here are ways to care for the ever-popular poodle.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Spay your female poodle before the first heat to prevent breast cancer and uterine infections. Neutering your male poodle will prevent testicular cancer, help maintain a healthy prostate and curb aggression.

2. Take your poodle for regular medical and dental checkups and stay current on vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventative. You can also do a monthly home exam of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, teeth and gums. Have your poodle’s teeth scaled professionally; ask your vet or a teeth-cleaning professional to recommend a schedule. Preventative dental maintenance can include: feeding dry dog food (which can be mixed with canned or moist), tartar-control biscuits as treats and safe tartar-control chew toys. You may also choose to brush your poodle’s teeth with a dog toothpaste.

3. Feed your poodle a nutritious diet with the proper balance of protein, carbs, fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals. If feeding a commercial dog food, choose a quality brand with meat as the first ingredient.

4. Poodles can live in apartments and don’t require a yard. They should, however, be taken on daily walks and frequent off-leash romps for exercise and to prevent boredom. Toy and Miniature poodles are more active indoors than Standard Poodles.

5. Socialize your poodle at a young age to prevent behavioral problems. If not socialized early, they may become timid or high-strung.

6. Give your poodle patient and consistent training. They are very trainable and eager to please, but tend to be sensitive and don’t respond well to harsh training methods.

7. Bathe your poodle when necessary with a mild dog shampoo and clean the ears regularly with baby oil or an ear cleaning solution for dogs. Make sure the coat is clipped at least every three months. Having it done by a professional is best for a poodle. The groomer will also clip the nails and remove hairs that grow in their ear canals that could cause infections. Brushing your poodle daily is a good way to prevent mats and tangles, plus it will make the grooming easier.

Tips & Warnings

• Poodles hardly shed and have hair instead of fur, therefore are good pets for people with fur allergies.
• Poodles tend to get along with other dogs and non-canine pets.
• Poodles love to be around people, but are sometimes shy with strangers.
• Poodles excel at learning tricks, including agility and retrieving.
• Poodles may tend to bark a lot, but can be trained not to. Make sure they have plenty of toys for stimulation, regular exercise and that they aren’t left in a yard where a lot of people and animals pass by.
• Miniature and Toy poodles may snap if teased by young children, therefore do better in households with older children and adults. Standard and Miniature poodles tend to be more friendly and outgoing than Toy Poodles.
• The breed may have genetic tendencies toward runny eyes, cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), ear infections, digestive disorders, heart problems, allergies, skin disorders, slipped stifle, diabetes and epilepsy.
• Only get your poodle from a poodle rescue (see Resources below), shelter or responsible breeder. If buying from a breeder, make sure to visit in person and see the dog’s parents. This is crucial since poodles are often bred in puppy mills or by irresponsible “backyard” breeders and could end up with a variety of health problems.

Resources

• Poodle Rescue & Adoption
• Poodle Rescue of New England