Poodles are an enormously popular breed of dog and rightly so. They have enormousadvantages as a pet.The poodle is an intelligent animal that enjoys the company of human beings and adapts well tourban life. Perhaps its main advantage for the modern pet owner is that it comes in a wide rangeof sizes. A toy poodle can be the ideal for an apartment dweller who needs a small dog.As a result the poodle has become the archetypical lap dog. But in fact the poodle is an ancientworking dog. Records suggest that it many have been first bred in Ancient Egypt where it wasused as a herd dog and hunting dog.Images survive from Egypt which show poodles participating in drag net hunting, retrieving birdsfor hunters and herding cattle. The Ancient Egyptians may even have begun to breed differentsizes of poodle. So the great variety of poodle sizes may go back a long way in history.Small poodles are not necessarily a recent innovation. That may be why the keep so much ofthe character of the larger dogs. They are brave, bright animals that are learn quickly, butquickly get bored. This is still the profile of working animal rather than a lap dog.The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes three sizes of poodle: the standard, the miniatureand the toy. The types are determined by the dog's shoulder height. A standard poodle shouldbe more than fifteen inches high at the shoulder. Miniature poodles must be less than 15 inchesbut more than ten inches at the shoulder. Toy poodles should be under ten inches high at theshoulder.Some breeders have recently begun to offer what they call teacup poodles. These grow toabout eight inches in height. They are not yet recognized by the AKC but they are proving to bevery popular with dog owners. They are much sought after and command high prices. They suitthe modern trend for very small dogs. Dogs of this size can be easily carried about town. Theyhave become something of a fashion statement.Many people are attracted to poodles in the first place because they are a nonshedding dog.That is to say they do not leave hairs all over the house. They shed some hairs but not as muchas other breeds of dog. This is an advantage to allergy sufferers in particular. It can also beadvantage if a dog owner does not want the hassle of constant cleaning of carpets andupholstery.Poodles also appeal to many people because their coats can be clipped into a variety ofattractive forms. All Sizes of poodle can be clipped in the same way. Poodles were first clippedin this way when they were used as gun dogs that would leap into the water after ducks that hadbeen shot by hunters.There are various styles of clip. Some are suitable for the show dog and require a lot ofmaintenance. Others are suitable for the general pet owner and are more practical.
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