Breeds in the Utility Group of Dogs

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Miniature Poodle

There are three sizes of Poodle; the Toy - less than 11" tall, the Miniature - between 11-15" and the Standard who is over 15" tall.  The Breed Standard for all three is identical except for size.  Although he is viewed as being French in origin, the Poodle comes from Germany where he was known as the Water Dog or Pudel and was used as a gundog, particularly for waterfowling,  and for carting.  Once in France their potential as companion dogs was  exploited and he became a great favourite in Court as they were bred down in size.  There is scarcely a French monarch who did not own Poodles.

The Poodle has been recorded in Europe since the 13th century as part of the group of curly-coated duck dogs, and in France the smaller Poodles were used to scent truffles.  He has many talents; a good nose, a love of water, highly intelligent and a strong desire to please his owner  Always happy to play the fool, this was taken advantage of in the French circus where his love of showing off was used to its full extent.

A famous Poodle called Boye belonged to Prince Rupert of the Rhine; he accompanied his owner to England to fight with Charles I in the English Civil War against Oliver Cromwell and was killed in the Battle of Marsden Moor in 1644.

His harsh curly coat is clipped according to preference; for the showring the traditional lion clip is preferred whilst the pet Poodle more likely to have a puppy clip - face, feet and the root of the tail clipped with a modified pom-pom on the head and tail.  All solid colours are allowed and the clearer the better.

He makes a lovely family dog being playful and good-tempered, although poor temperaments do occur in Standards and you should make sure that the dam is even-tempered before acquiring a puppy.  Grooming is, of course, an expense as even scissoring is a considerable skill and he should be professionally groomed every 6 - 8 weeks.

Click here to read the Miniature Poodle Breed Standard.

Selected Books

The time to make sure that the Miniature Poodle is the right breed for you is before you bring him home. If you and your dog are going to be a good match speak to breeders, Breed Clubs, and generally find out as much as you can about the breed.

Understanding dog psychology, and what his motivations are will save a lot of confusion and misunderstandings for both you and him. Many mistakes can be avoided, and quick solutions reached if you have the basics of puppy training to guide you through all the early settling in difficulties.  It helps, too, to have some idea of basic healthcare so you can make informed judgements about whether a visit to the vet is necessary or if there is a simple remedy.  For example, many cases of upset tummies are best cured by 24 hour starvation.  The books we have chosen will be able to guide you as to whether your dog can be treated at home, or a visit to the surgery is necessary.

Miniature Poodle Breed Clubs

• BRITISH TOY POODLE CLUB. Sec Mr L Harwood. Tel No: 01843 833631
• EASTERN COUNTIES POODLE CLUB. Sec. Mrs P McGough. Tel No: 01638.577252
• INTERNATIONAL POODLE CLUB. Sec. Miss K Rees. Tel No: 01623 861946
• LONDON & HOME COUNTIES TOY POODLE CLUB. Sec. Mr N B Cook. Tel No: 01634 241073
• MERCIA TOY POODLE ASSOC. Sec. Mrs H D Bakewell. Tel No: 01283 814876
• MIDLAND COUNTIES POODLE CLUB. Sec. Mrs C Lawton-Anderson. Tel No: 01782 623955
• NORTH WESTERN POODLE CLUB. Sec. Miss C Harwood. Tel No: 01254 812121
• NORTHERN TOY POODLE CLUB. Sec. Miss D Smith. Tel No: 01254 33422
• NORTHUMBRIA POODLE CLUB. Sec. Mr R McAuley. Tel No: 01642 550944
• POODLE CLUB. Sec. Mr & Mrs Butcher. Tel No: 020 8500 2335
• POODLE CLUB OF SCOTLAND. Sec. Mr B Fleming. Tel No: 01592 773689
• POODLE CLUB OF WALES. Sec. Mr J R Stone. Tel No: 01278 760210
• SOUTH WESTERN POODLE CLUB. Sandra Godfrey
• TRENT TO TWEED POODLE CLUB

Miniature Poodle Rescue and Rehoming

Contact a Breed Club. They should all be able to give you information about dogs requiring homes and procedures for re-homing; if you are in the unfortunate position of having to re-home your own Poodle, please go through breed rescue. They will not be judgmental and are best able to find the right permanent home for your dog.

Miniature Poodle Breeders

• Arrencrest 
• Kertellas 
• Maldavale 
• Navarre 
• Pyennebeare 
• Sherrygold 
• Tazmitch 
• Tramarllan

If you are looking for a puppy contact the Breed Clubs and the Breeders listed and visit the puppyfinder website where there is a great deal of information on hereditary conditions.  If you are a Breeder and wish to advertise your puppies puppyfinder is an excellent showcase.