SWEET POODLES

Don’t be fooled by the fancy grooming. The Poodle may look like an aristocratic couch-potato, but in reality, the breed is energetic, alert and highly intelligent. Poodles are surprisingly low-maintenance. However, like all dogs, caring for a Poodle comes with a number of breed-specific eccentricities that can prove challenging for owners caught unprepared. As a Poodle puppy grows, it will enter several developmental stages, in which it will exhibit certain behaviors. The puppy will grow out of most behaviors, but some behaviors may be present for the dog's entire life. Therefore, it’s essential that bad behavior is addressed early in the puppy’s life with regular and consistent training. In the first phase of its life (8 weeks to approximately 1 year) a Poodle puppy has an abundance of energy and an insatiable curiosity to investigate its new home. It’s important to keep in mind that puppies learn by nipping and investigate their environment with their mouths. They will chew on everything they can find well before the teething stage, which is why it is essential that any home with a Poodle puppy is thoroughly puppy-proofed. Poodles also commonly jump on people and occasionally growl, both of which are behaviors that can be addressed with proper training. Despite the abundance of energy, many Poodles are often shy, opting to stay very close to their owners rather than playing with other dogs or venturing out on their own. New Poodle owners should expect to spend lots of time with their new puppy. In addition to “clingy” behavior, Poodles are also very excitable and known to suffer from separation anxiety. Therefore, it is not uncommon for Poodles to become so excited when their family returns that they lose control of their bladder. Nutrition Poodles are high energy canines who require a high protein diet to fuel their agile bodies. Like all dogs, Poodles are carnivorous; they will never require gluten, wheat or grain, nor are they likely to benefit from artificial ingredients. Feeding your Poodle a diet rich in healthy proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins produces a more luxurious coat, healthier skin and greater quality of life. Owners should avoid feeding Poodles from the table. Like all dogs, Poodles will rarely shy away from a snack, which is why obesity is commonly found throughout the breed, especially in Miniature and Toy varieties. Try to avoid free feeding your Poodle. Instead, implement a feeding schedule. In the weaning stage, it is imperative that a Poodle puppy’s diet consists primarily of their mother’s milk, from which they receive 90% of their natural defenses. Starting at 6 to 8 weeks, puppies should be gradually transitioned from their mother’s milk to solid food over a period of 3 weeks. From 8 weeks on, it’s essential that your Poodle puppy learn that food will no longer be provided constantly throughout the day. Start your Poodle puppy on moistened dry puppy food, 3 to 5 times per day for no longer than 10 minutes per feeding. After 10 minutes remove their food even if they haven't finished. Adult Poodles require a protein-rich diet to fuel their energetic lives and support a greater quality of life. Vets recommend an adult diet consisting of healthy protein, healthy fat, and foods rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Before starting your Poodle on a new diet, we recommend that you speak with your veterinarian to establish a diet that supports their needs specifically. Grooming There are many different ways to groom a Poodle that it’s not uncommon for two Poodles of the same variety to appear as two completely different breeds. You certainly don’t have to master show-worthy grooming, but regardless of the style you choose for your Poodle, grooming must be a regular part of its life. Poodles are mostly hypoallergenic, which means they don’t shed, but don’t be fooled; keeping up with a Poodles lustrous curls is a full-time job. Without regular grooming, a Poodle’s curly coat is prone to matting, which can affect the dog’s overall health and even restrict its movement. Owners will need to brush, clip and trim their Poodle’s coat every 3 to 6 weeks to avoid a costly trip to the vet to remove matted coats (resulting in a bald Poodle) and to treat potential skin conditions. Exercise Regular exercise is a tremendous benefit to your Poodle’s overall health. Exercise wards off obesity, improves circulation, and provides opportunities for your Poodle to socialize and explore its environment. Exercise also provides benefits to your Poodle’s cardiac and digestive health and prevents illnesses like canine diabetes, stroke, and cancer. Poodles are incredibly intelligent and prone to separation anxiety and boredom. Unsurprisingly, Poodles who are not properly exercised have a tendency to release their pent-up energy with destructive behavior; chewing, digging, barking, etc. To ward off destructive behavior, Poodles should receive at least two hours of energy burning activity per day. Walks are a great way for a Poodle to let out its pent-up energy. In fact, owners can expect to see improvement in the dog’s behavior the more the dog is walked. Training As one of the most intelligent breeds in the world, Poodles are capable of truly astounding feats of athleticism, and obedience. Poodle puppies are energetic and enthusiastic but can be a challenge to train. Owners are encouraged to do their research before welcoming home a Poodle to determine whether they are up to the task of training a Poodle. However, this should not deter you from adopting a Poodle puppy, as they make great students. Remember the trick to successfully training any puppy is diligence, consistency and lots of patience. Poodles respond best to positive, reward-based training methods; you are trying to establish yourself as the puppy’s leader through positive reinforcement, not fear of punishment. Housebreaking Housebreaking a Poodle can be challenging, as Poodle puppies tend to give very little warning before they “do their business.” To reduce the risk of incidents, we recommend new owners have a plan at the ready for when the dog signals it’s time to go. Consistency and reward are key to housebreaking a Poodle. Ignore the pottying inside and reward the pottying outside. Puppy pads and a supply of newspaper are good things to keep on hand. However, the most important thing an owner can have while housebreaking a Poodle is the right expectations. Accidents are bound to happen. To reduce the risk of accidents, we recommend new owners have a plan at the ready for when the dog signals it’s time to go. Understandably, housebreaking a Poodle puppy is typically a new owner's highest priority, but equal attention should be given to crate training. Poodle puppies will sleep between 8 and 13 hours per day but will find trouble if given the opportunity. Training your Poodle puppy to sleep in a crate at night ensures they won't cause any mischief or get into something they shouldn’t when not actively being supervised. Crate training should be done in conjunction with potty training and other housebreaking lessons. Puppies are the most impressionable and easiest to train the earlier you start. Remember, it can take up to 6 months to fully housebreak a puppy. Socialization Poodles are very intelligent, highly trainable, and make great family dogs. However, Poodles who are not trained to be sociable at an early age tend to struggle with strangers and other dogs. Poodles who are not socialized are unlikely to gain the experience they need to feel safe in a new environment, or around new people or pets, and therefore more likely to show aggressive behavior. Since Poodles need regular grooming, many owners choose to socialize their poodle on one of its many trips to the groomer. Frequent walks and early trips to the dog park are also great ways to socialize a Poodle puppy. Obedience Training Poodles have a reputation for being difficult to train, but those who are up to the challenge are presented with an incredibly rewarding experience. Poodles are highly intelligent, energetic, and often mirror the energy of their owners. The key to obedience training a Poodle is to remain calm and focused. The more focused you are on the training, the more focused the Poodle will be. The best way to keep a puppy’s focus during training is to remove distractions from the area. Be sure to take the time to ensure your puppy understands your commands. Patience is key to obedience training a Poodle puppy. Consistency and repetition are also critical to establishing the desired pattern of behavior. Designate a specific sound and gesture for the desired command and use that combination every time you issue the command to your Poodle. Issue your command. Pause. Then reward with a treat when they get it right. Every time your Poodle correctly executes a command reward them with a treat to reinforce the behavior.