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Welcoming a poodle into your home means that you have begun a loving friendship with a very intelligent animal. There are many poodle varieties but care for them is fairly similar to all varieties. Poodles are smart and affectionate dogs and deserve to be well taken care of. This does not mean you need to turn them into princesses with bows in their hair, but they do need proper grooming as well as a healthy diet, exercise, and a loving home.

Poodles were originally bred in Europe as hunting dogs, and as such, they require exercise to stay healthy and happy. Standard sized poodles in particular need space to run. Poodles can come in many sizes, from a tea cup size to the standard poodles that can be as tall as an adult’s shoulder.

Poodles love being with people and are eager to be a part of the family. With their high level of intelligence, they can be easily trained, and the larger poodles (standards and miniatures) are good with children. They are athletic and appreciate lots of exercise. They also make good watchdogs.

Caring for a poodle should always include yearly veterinarian visits and vaccinations to protect against disease. Yearly dental check ups are also important for the dog’s health and to help control against bad breath. Consult the veterinarian as well on heart worm and flea control products. When the poodle is a family pet and not for breeding, it is important to spay and neuter the dogs in order to protect their long-term health.

A poodle’s diet should be high-grade dog food whose first ingredients are meat and fat. Their dog food should also contain some carbohydrates, fiber and vitamins and minerals. Standard poodles do better if you feed them a few small meals throughout the day instead of one large feeding.

Poodles make good house dogs and do not need yards but do require daily exercise. They are the perfect pet for people who enjoy long walks every day. Off-leash parks are also an excellent idea to allow them to run off some of their energy. Socializing poodles while they are young will help them learn to behave with other dogs.

Grooming a poodle is essential to keeping their coats from getting matted and tangled. Poodles have hair, not fur and they do not shed their coats – making them a good option for allergy sensitive households. This does mean, however, that they need to have their hair cut regularly – about every three months. Having a professional groomer work on the dog is often the easiest option. They will also clip their nails. It is a good idea to brush their coats daily to prevent tangles and to keep the fur clean.

These playful and loving dogs make great pets with the right attention and care. You’ll find that there are many reasons that they have been such a popular breed for so many years.