The origin of the breed, the external standard of the poodle, characteristic features of behavior, health, care, features of training, interesting facts. Purchasing a puppy. We constantly find confirmation that dogs are our true mirrors. These dogs grazed herds, guarded castles and monasteries throughout the ages, accompanied their crowned owners, and helped fishermen. They also worked in the circus and the Soviet police. France is considered the birthplace of these animals. Many people take these pets because they need special care. They can do a variety of hairstyles and take part in exhibitions. They are very energetic and athletic. These pets cannot leave anyone indifferent. When they are mentioned, a smile appears on the face of some people, while others grimace disdainfully. But gentlemen skeptics do not rush to draw conclusions.
The origin of the poodle breed
In the city of Kiel, Germany, there is an institute that deals with the history and problems of domestic animals. German scientists have determined that the homeland of poodles is in Central Asia, Tibet or Mongolia. It was from there that these dogs first came to Greece, then with the Phoenicians to northern Africa, and only in the 7th century AD, together with the Moors who conquered Spain, came to the territory of modern Europe.
These dogs in France are called "canish", and the female duck is called "kan". Here, since the Middle Ages, and for a long time, they were used to hunt waterfowl. The first poodles came to Russia from Germany in the 18th century. Their name comes from the German "puddeln", which means to splash in the water. In Germany, you can find many references and interesting sayings regarding this breed. For example, we say: "wet as a chicken", and the Germans: "wet as a poodle" Continuing the German-poodle dictionary, you can recall the saying: "As blessed as a poodle", that is: "In a still water, devils run like a poodle ", in literary translation it will sound like:" Without pants, but in a hat. " About a person who really wants to draw attention to himself, we will say: "show off", in Germany they will correct: "vypudilitsya".
In general, the poodle is a common European breed. Several countries argue for the right to be called her homeland. But officially, France is considered the place of removal, and there are reasons for this. Poodles acquired their modern look in the 15th century. And this was done in every possible way by the French monarchs. Such dogs lived at the court of Charles the Great. Henry IV had a poodle named "Fabik" who served as the king's bodyguard. Louis XVI introduced the fashion for these wonderful dogs.
This is an old decorative breed. Curly-haired Poodle dogs have been known since ancient times. The poodle, as we know it now, appeared in the 15th century. By that time, it was practically an established breed. Not many representatives of the canine world have overcome the path from the Middle Ages, to the present day, practically unchanged. And this applies not only to appearance, but what is especially important - character. The first description of the poodle was made by the German scientist Konrad Gesner. Seven years later, also German Gonrad Vorar, described three varieties of the poodle: large, dwarf and multicolored. Now in the modern world there are four varieties: large, small, dwarf and toy. All of them are bred by targeted breeding. The poodle is closely related to spaniels and many species of shepherd dogs.
The poodle's loyalty is legendary. The French queen Marie Antoinette had a miniature poodle, who followed her to the dungeon, and then was executed along with his mistress. At the end of the 18th century, poodles began to be spoken of as bohemian dogs. The extravagant French writer Georges Sand had two poodles, she said, the color of champagne. Ludwig van Beethoven, composed an elegy for the death of his favorite. The lucky owners of this breed were also British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, singer Patricia Kaas and the first woman cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova.
Tell me what kind of dog you have and I'll tell you who you are. The poodle is one hundred percent copying the behavior, and most importantly the character of its owner. If you hear about a harmful and opposite poodle, then you should know that we are not talking about a dog, but about its owner. In general, anger and distrust towards strangers and other dogs of this breed are not characteristic. Speaking of malice … Mephistopheles once appeared to Faust in the form of a black poodle, to which the hero exclaimed: "So, what happened to the essence of the poodle!" It's a shame that Guette imagined this cute creature like that. But in fairness, it should be noted that the classic of German literature did not like dogs at all, but in vain. After all, not only are they smart, but they are also beautiful.
During the Baroque and especially the Rococo era, the poodle gained particular popularity in all European countries without exception. Such unanimity was rare. The extravagant appearance of these dogs attracted many painters. Recently, breeders have been so carried away by improving the exterior of the poodle that they began to forget about its working qualities. Representatives of the species are very quick-witted, and if we add that they are distinguished by their agility and extraordinary jumping ability, this explains why they are considered excellent circus performers.
In Russia, the trainer Durov used poodles in his performances. Until now, his dynasty appreciates the qualities of these animals. In a circus, in a short period of time (several months), dogs have to master new, sometimes very complex tricks, and perform them in the presence of a large number of spectators. Working with poodles is a pleasure. They have an excellent memory, they grasp everything on the fly. Sometimes they do things that are beyond the power of other breeds of dogs.
Five hundred years ago, of course, dog hair was not looked after. It rolled down and it turned out to be a warm, not soaking fur coat. But since the poodles began to move from the hunting grounds to the bedchambers of their masters, they had to match the interiors of the castles. Beginning in the 19th century, they accompanied wandering artists, took part in performances and collected coins thrown for a performance. To make them more attractive, they began to make haircuts in different ways.
Description of the external standard of the poodle
Now the highest height of the royal poodle is 62 cm, before these dogs were taller. All four varieties: large, small, dwarf and toy poodle differ only in size and color. They have the same exterior.
- Head harmonious, straightforward. Elongated with a slightly arched forehead and occiput.
- Muzzle long, tapering towards the end. The bridge of the nose is straight. Lips dry, tightly closed.
- Nose - The lobe is well developed, with open nostrils. Its color depends on the color of the dog.
- Eyes almond-shaped, not large. Placed at the level of the bridge of the nose. The color depends on the color of the dog's coat.
- Ears the poodle is long, drooping, close to the cheeks. Flat, expanding to the bottom, rounded at the ends.
- Neck medium, graceful, slightly curved.
- Frame - elongated, well proportioned. The back is neither arched nor straight. The loin is strong. The chest is not big. The belly is well tucked up.
- Tail high landing, docked at puppyhood.
- Limbs strong bones, well muscled, parallel to each other. Hind legs with strong thighs.
- Paws oval-shaped, fingers tightly closed.
- Coat two types. Curly Coat: Thick, curly, long, resilient and fine.
- Cord - thick, curly, more rigid, forms straight cords.
- Color. In addition to the variety of haircuts, poodles have a lot of colors. Traditional black, white and brown. Now you can find silvery, apricot and red.
Characteristics of the behavior of a poodle dog
In the modern world, there are four varieties of the poodle: large, small, dwarf and "toy". They are considered one breed and differ only in height and color. But in reality, of course, the royal poodle is different from the "toy" or dwarf variety. Due to the fact that the dog is larger and more bony, it is less mobile and has a slightly more serious character. The "toy" variety is characterized by a more perky, mobile and playful behavior. As with any breed: "Small dog, puppy until old age."
This "variety" allows you to choose an animal for yourself. For example, retirees, due to the peculiarities of life, it is better to have a smaller dog. It will be easier to walk with her and take care of her fur. For active and young families, you can have a bigger pet.
Aggressiveness in the breed is completely absent. Dogs with a stable nervous organization. They are emotional and can show it by barking, some interesting sounds and behavior. They have many expressions of their feelings for their owners. If they are happy, bored, or want something else, then in their own way, they will definitely tell you about it. Even by the expression of their muzzles, we can already guess how the dog is set up. No matter how they express their desires, they never show aggressiveness. The English say the poodle is no longer a dog and not yet a man.
Poodle health
These are the long-livers of the canine world. Some representatives of the breed live to be 18-19 years old. They certainly have genetic diseases, but in this breed they are extremely rare. It can be hip dysplasia, deafness, blindness. So that there are no health problems for your pet, you need to monitor its diet from a young age. For this, we can recommend a complete food for poodle puppies. The Royal Canin company is famous for its quality products. The components of their concentrates maintain a vigorous state, the beauty of the coat, and ensure proper digestion. Special croquettes have a cleaning effect and prevent the formation of tartar. Well, of course, in order to protect the pet from infection with various infectious diseases, it must be vaccinated throughout its life. It is also important to do him antihelminthic and antiparasitic procedures.
Poodle Care Tips
- Wool. As for caring for their rich fur coat, poodles have a different story. First, they need to be combed out frequently to avoid tangles and to rid them of dead hair. The poodle does not shed, all the hair that has fallen out remains at the base of the skin, they must be removed. The manipulation is carried out with the help of a slicker, and the procedure is completed by combing with a comb. Imagine that you have a dog, and there is not a single hair in the apartment. There is one more plus in these pets. A poodle can be started by people who are allergic to dog hair. After all, it does not shed and wool does not fly in the air. Water procedures are a special element. Comb them before washing. Wash with typed shampoos and conditioners. After, dry with a hair dryer in the direction of the wool, comb out and cut well again. In total, these procedures can take several hours. The frequency of haircuts is once every three, four months. Of course, this is all difficult, but the compensation is gorgeous. There are more than a dozen officially permitted hairstyles for exhibitions, and how many of them are generally difficult to say. In short, for practicality for every day. Longer, for lovers of the breed - what we see at exhibitions. These are such hairstyles as: "lion", "Scandinavian" or "veteran".
- Ears periodically inspected and cleaned.
- Eyes - wipe if necessary.
- Teeth. To avoid problems in the oral cavity, the dog is taught to brush its teeth from puppyhood.
- Claws the poodle needs to be cut when growing back. Long claws interfere with walking.
- Feeding. Can be fed with natural food or solid food. In any case, the food should be of high quality, with the addition of a vitamin and mineral complex.
- Walking. Regardless of the size of the poodle, the number of walks does not differ in any way. Both small and large dogs must walk and have physical as well as psychological stress. An animal cannot develop normally within four walls, communicating only with its owner. It must know what it is: other dogs, children, cats, subways, trolleybuses and other irritants. For any city dog, the norm is walking three times a day, at least 30 to 40 minutes. If the owners have the opportunity to walk longer, then all that is in the big direction, only for the benefit. The king poodle needs more space in the home.
As for dressing, their coat, which is a distinctive feature of the breed, is designed in such a way that it is not hot in summer and not cold in winter. They need to be "dressed" not for the purpose of warming, but in order for the animal to remain clean. Indeed, in rainy, dirty weather, it is easier to shake off the cape than to completely wash the dog.
Poodle training
Poodle training is very simple. This is plasticine for modeling. Sometimes he works in spite of, and not thanks to his master. It is interesting that poodles are called dogs for "fools", but this does not emphasize the dementia of the owner, but, on the contrary, the remarkable ability to train these dogs.
They were used in the armies of various countries of the world as signalmen and orderlies. In the USSR, until 1971, the royal poodle was considered a service dog, and successfully performed in competitions in protective guard service. His brothers: small, dwarf and toy poodles, differ from him only in size, but their intelligence and ingenuity are the same. The first dog in the Soviet Union to detect drugs was a miniature poodle. He worked very successfully at Pulkovo airport, in Leningrad, in the second half of the eighties.
Interesting Poodle Facts
November 20, 1805. On this day, a historic battle took place. The troops of the Russian-Austrian coalition met in the battle of Austerlitz with the troops of the French emperor Napoleon. Among others, in this battle, a dog of the big poodle breed, named "Barbel", distinguished himself. This pet was a favorite of one of the regiments of the Napoleonic army. With its owner, who served at the headquarters, the pet went on many campaigns.
In the battle of Austerlitz, the regiment was at the forefront. During the shelling, the dog, along with the soldiers, hid in the headquarters dugout, but still one of the shells got there. Everyone died except the dog. "Barbel" liked to play with the regimental flag staff, periodically gnawing at it. Distraught with fear, he grabbed his favorite "toy" and rushed away from the nightmarish place. Apparently, he got to the headquarters of the commander-in-chief by accident.
The emperor was informed about the death of the regiment, and about the salvation of the banner. Moved by Napoleon, he awarded the dog with the order. After the fighting, colleagues of the deceased officer handed the poodle to his widow. Together with the awards of the late husband, she received the order awarded to the pet. Seeing the "Barbel" home, the military marched in front of the hero, saluting him. The poodle lived to a ripe old age.
Purchasing a poodle puppy
The latest World and European Championships show that Russia is one of the five leading countries for breeding poodles. Therefore, it is not necessary to travel abroad to buy a great dog. There are also good nurseries in Russia. The future owner needs to know that in good kennels there can be no more than five or six bitches. It is impossible to grow more. If there are many dogs, then these are not quality animals and a soulless business. Avoid these breeders.
The breeder must provide you with tests of the puppy's parents for genetic diseases. The puppy must have KSU documents, vaccinations and antihelminthic procedures. The price of poodle puppies depends on the sex and exterior of the animal. Approximately it will be from $ 100 to $ 1000.
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