🐾 Poodle

Poodle

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris
• Family & relatives: A dog breed that comes in standard, miniature, and toy sizes, related to water retrievers and other gundogs.
• How to spot it: An elegant dog with a curly, woolly coat, a long muzzle, floppy ears, and a proud, springy walk.

Its body & abilities

• Size: Standard poodles stand over 38 cm tall, while tiny toy poodles are under 28 cm.
• Weight: From about 3 kg for toy poodles up to 30 kg (6 to 66 lb) for standards.
• Body & adaptations: Its curly coat keeps growing like human hair instead of shedding much, so it needs regular grooming.
• Top speed: Athletic and quick, a standard poodle can run around 48 km/h (30 mph).
• Strength: A strong swimmer and jumper, it was originally bred to fetch ducks from cold water.
• Senses: Keen hearing and a good nose, paired with one of the smartest minds of any dog breed.
• Growing up: Puppies are born helpless, open their eyes in about two weeks, and learn quickly as they grow.

Where it lives

• Habitat: A companion dog that lives indoors with its family and loves yards, parks, and water.
• Where in the world: Kept as a popular pet in homes all around the world.
• Territory: Its territory is the family home and yard, which it watches alertly.

What it eats

• Diet: An omnivore that eats dog food, with fresh water always available.
• Favorite foods: Balanced dog food and healthy treats, in amounts that match its size.
• How it hunts: Bred to retrieve birds from water, today it happily fetches balls and plays clever games instead.

How it behaves

• How it moves: Trots with a light, bouncy step, swims strongly, and leaps with ease.
• When it is active: Active and playful by day, and quick to learn tricks and games.
• Family life: Friendly, loyal, and clever, it loves being with its family and dislikes being left alone.
• How it talks: Communicates with barks, tail wags, and eager, expressive body language.
• Babies: A mother dog gives birth to a litter of puppies after about two months, and nurses and cares for them.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: Its job is to be a smart, loving helper and companion; as a pet it has no wild predators.
• Conservation: A domestic breed, so it is not a wild animal and is not endangered.
• Dangers: Dies mostly of old age and illnesses, and lives long, healthy lives with regular vet visits.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: Around 12 to 15 years with good care.
• In our culture: The national dog of France and a famous star of dog shows for its fancy clipped haircuts.
• Where to see it: In homes, parks, and dog shows all around the world.
• Fun fact: The poodle's fancy haircut was not just for looks; the puffs of fur kept its joints warm while swimming in cold water.