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Taking Care of your Poodle The Poodle has dense, curly and non-shedding fur, which means that they also require regular grooming. In the tail is usually docked in the United States, but not always in Europe. The shorter docked tail or "bunny tail" is rarely seen and the tails are being left much longer than they have been in the past. Because these dogs come in three sizes, they are distinguished by their shoulder height. The Standard Poodle if 15 inches at the shoulder and over, the Miniature Poodle is 11 to 15 inches and the Toy Poodle is under 11 inches. "Teacup" Poodles may be even smaller, but this very small breed is not recognized by the kennel clubs. There are several clipping options when it comes to grooming your Poodle. Poodle show clips require hours of brushing and care each week, around 10 hours. Most owners do not keep their dogs in a show clip and these dogs are usually clipped down to a low maintenance cut. Pet clips tend to be less elaborate, but many owners may choose to keep their miniature and toy dogs in a show clips, as these are not as time consuming as the Standard's show clip. Many breed registries recognize certain clips depending on the dog's conformation. Adults are shown in "Continental" or "English Saddle" clips. Dogs that are under twelve months of age may be shown in a "puppy clip." The United Kennel Club allows similar clips. With the puppy clip, the face, throat, feet and part of the tail are clipped. The coat is often clipped with scissors for a neat appearance. The length of hair in the puppy makes it difficult to obtain and maintain an adult clip. The continental clip involves shaving the face, throat, feet and part of the tail. The upper half of the legs are shaved and "pompoms" are left around the ankles. The hindquarters are also shaved with pompoms left on the lower leg and rosettes may also be formed over the hips. This is the most popular show clip. The English saddle clip is similar to the continental clip, except the hind quarters are not shaved. There is a small curved area of hair left on each flank just behind the body. The feet and the bands just below the stifle and above the hock are formed into three pompoms. This clip is rarely seen in today's Standard Poodles. Pet clips are usually simple, but may be elaborate. The hair under the tail is usually kept short to prevent matting. The feet and face are clipped to keep dirt from matting between the toes and around the muzzle. Beyond these basic sanitary requirements, the clip may be as elaborate as the owner wants to maintain. Some owners prefer a longer coat in the winter and shorter in the summer. When mats occur, you can simply cut them out and trim the fur and then wait for it to all grow back out. Matted hair is extremely annoying for the dog and an eyesore for the owner, not to mention a hinderance when in the middle of dog behaviour training. The most common health issues include Addison's Disease, thyroid issues, gastric dilatation volvulus, epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis, hip dysplasia, juvenile renal disease and cancer. Standard Poodles are susceptible to some other minor health issues, such as ear infections but these are common in all of the varieties. The average lifespan of the Poodle is between 11.5 to 12 years for the Standard and 14 to 14.5 years for the Miniature and Toy Poodles. The leading cause of death in the smaller poodles are old age and kidney failure. If provided with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, Poodles can live for several years, much older than other breeds of dogs and make excellent companions. |
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