One of the most underrated dog breeds is the Poodle. This is an amazing dog, originally bred to be a hunting dog primarily duck hunting in France. They are rated as one of the more intelligent breeds, people-focused. Meaning, they naturally look to their owner for guidance and, when bred to the original standards, have no resource guarding and no aggression issues. On top of that they are hypoallergenic, and come in several sizes:
- Standard: Should be over 15 inches tall at the shoulder, with most being 22–27 inches and weighing 40–70 pounds
- Miniature: Should be over 10 inches but under 15 inches tall at the shoulder, with most being 13–15 inches and weighing 10–15 pounds
- Toy: Should be 10 inches or under at the shoulder, and weigh 4–6 pounds
The one thing you must remember with these amazing dogs is they are working/hunting dogs. They have high energy and love to play fetch and run, thus need a lot of exercise. If their internal drives are not met, they will begin to self-advocate and can develop unwanted behaviors in the home.
If you are looking for a new dog for your home, consider the Poodle. At Species K9 we offer a dog selection service to help you determine the right dog for your family’s needs. Feel free to contact us to discuss your next dog.
