|
"Small Dog Breed Catalog"
Small Dog Breed Catalog: Page 51
of 56
Toy Poodle Dog Breed
The Toy Poodle has a personality that is full of fun. He is obedient,
intelligent, affectionate, and has a long lifespan. In the United
Kingdom, this breed has proved himself to be a tough competitor in the
obedience competitions. He also enjoys playing in water. This breed
is very popular in the show ring where he boldly displays the
traditional lion clip. This dog requires a fastidious method in
canine beauty treatment that some owners and handlers claim that he is
the most difficult breed to prepare for the show ring. He is a
sensitive dog that is not ideal to be a child's pet and gets noisy
when left unchecked.
Size: The ideal height for the Toy Poodle should be under 11in at
shoulder and weighs about 5-8lb. He has a very small body and a curly
non-shedding coat.
History and origin: The Poodle was originally a shaggy guard dog as
well as a good retriever and protector of sheep. This breed's origin
is similar to the Irish Water Spaniel. His common ancestors are the
French Barbet and the Hungarian Water Hound. Contrary to what many
believe, this breed is not solely from the French origin. The Poodle
actually originated in Germany as a water retriever, which accounts
for his love for water. The word Poodle came from the German word
“pudelnass” or puddle. This somewhat large and sturdy breed, which is
the Standard Poodle, evolved the Miniature Poodle and the Toy Poodle.
The Toy Poodle has been popular in England since Prince Rupert of
the Rhine came to help Charles I in battle and brought along his
Poodle. The dog won the affection of Marie Antoinette who many
believe to be the one who invented the idea of the lion clip to match
the uniform of her courtiers. Nowadays, the Toy Poodle is a very
popular dog in the United States.
Feeding: Suggested feeding for this breed is 1/3-1/2 can (13.3oz
size) of high quality meat product with the same amount of biscuit
added or 1-11/2 cupfuls of complete dry food.
Exercise: The Toy Poodle loves a pleasant ball game in the yard,
obedience training, or a nice jog in the park.
Health care: The Toy Poodle is susceptible to ear problems,
nervousness, and joint malformations. His teeth need a regular
scaling.
Grooming: Proper equipment to use in grooming the Toy Poodle is a
wire-pin pneumatic brush and a wire-toothed metal comb. He will need
to be brushed and combed daily. Although the lion clip is necessary
for the show ring, many Toy Poodle owners generally go for the more
natural lamb clip. Learning how to clip your Toy Poodle can be quite
a challenge and many owners resort to taking their high maintenance
dog to a professional groomer. The Toy Poodle needs to be groomed
every 6 weeks.
Copyright 2006 by Jay Jennings. All rights reserved.
|