Dogs have been constant companions of humans for hundreds of years. Pets are used as guards, assistants in agriculture, as well as a sweet and funny friend who gives a lot of positive minutes and brightens up minutes of loneliness and sadness. The conditions in modern apartments often do not allow you to start large breeds that need a large space and special care.
Often people give preference to small pets that have a funny appearance, playful and affectionate nature, and are also absolutely harmless to young children. Among the huge number of miniature breeds, dog handlers recommend paying attention to the small poodle.
Breed description
The small (medium) poodle breed is the result of sectional work on crossing a curly-haired Hungarian shepherd and an Italian diver. Four centuries ago, this breed was used to accompany hunters. The dense fur made it possible for animals to easily tolerate the cold climate and field conditions, the dogs quickly studied the owner's teams and gladly brought the prey, and also made a minimum amount of noise in the forest.
After many years, dog handlers divided the poodle into several species according to their parameters. So there was a miniature poodle, small and royal. In the conditions of a modern city, a beautiful and funny beast is brought up only as a friend and has not been used for hunting for a long time. The growth and size of a dog of this breed does not exceed 45 cm. The maximum mass of an adult is in the range from 8 kg to 15 kg.
By the end of the first year of life, dogs gain most of the weight, which can only increase slightly with age.
Small poodles have a strong physique with a well-developed muscular system. The long hair of animals has a wavy structure and practically does not fade. Animals have parallel extremities with developed joints and elastic pads. The base of the tail is located at the level of the lumbar region. In the neck area is a scruff. On a high-set head is a long muzzle with a bulging nose.
In accordance with established standards, the length of the ears should be on par with the eyes. The ears are elongated and have twisted tips and hang down freely. In the area of the frontal lobe there are small almond-shaped eyeballs. Some specimens have a slight strabismus. The color scheme of eyeballs ranges from yellow to brown. In one litter there can be more than 6 puppies.
Healthy offspring should have the following characteristics:
- White teeth;
- lack of an unpleasant and specific smell from the oral cavity;
- clean auricles that fit snugly to the skull;
- shiny eyeballs, without pus and mucus;
- dry eyelids;
- good appetite;
- high level of activity;
- shiny coat.
Like any pet, a poodle has both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- high level of intelligence;
- beautiful appearance;
- unpretentiousness;
- devotion;
- playfulness;
- quick perception of teams;
- lack of aggression;
- ability to protect yourself and your master;
- non-conflict.
Disadvantages:
- the need for regular haircuts;
- the need for constant communication with the owner and intolerance of loneliness.
Before purchasing this breed, it is necessary to study the intricacies of a curly-haired pet's haircut. The animal needs regular and high-quality hair care. If the owners plan to participate in the poodle at exhibition events, you need to know the list of permitted haircuts.
Beginning dog breeders for help and advice can turn to professional groomers who will not only cut the pet, but also help the owner with the development of this procedure.
Character
Small Poodle is a friend dog that has a cheerful, mischievous, kind and playful character. The animal loves outdoor games and quickly finds a common language with both young children and other residents of the house. A non-conflict and sociable pet can easily find contact even with large and aggressive dogs and wayward cats. Animals have a high level of intelligence and are easy to train. The poodle takes an active part in the sporting activities of its owner and will gladly become a partner in health jogging.
Despite the good-natured character and puppetry, the poodle is a reliable protector. In the event of even minimal danger, the animal, without hesitation, will rush to save its owner, and making sure that there is no threat, will again start to fool around and have fun.
A beautiful and graceful animal looks spectacular at dog shows and likes to pose in front of photos and television cameras.
A cheerful and sociable pet does not tolerate loneliness. Without communication, the dog constantly howls and whines and can even become depressed. Given all the characteristics of the character, this breed will be an invaluable purchase for families with children and an active young generation, as well as for lonely old people, whose pet will not only not let you get bored, but will also regret it during a period of illness or poor health. Inactive and busy people, it is better not to focus on a playful animal.
How old are dogs?
Strong immunity and the most comfortable living conditions allow pets to please their owners for at least 15 years. Some individuals can live up to 18 years. The following pathologies can significantly reduce the life of poodles:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- diseases of the joints and musculoskeletal system;
- digestive system disorders;
- disruption of the central nervous system;
- diabetes;
- pancreatic disease;
- disorders of the thyroid gland;
- glaucoma;
- skin inflammations;
- diseases of the teeth and oral cavity.
To prolong the life of a pet will help holding timely vaccination and regular visits to veterinarians.
Types of color
The color scheme of adults consists of the following shades:
- white;
- ashen;
- silver;
- ginger;
- the black;
- peach;
- red;
- blue and black.
The color of newborn puppies very rarely matches their future color. Only at the age of 2 months, dogs begin to acquire that coat color that will remain with him for life. The most popular are black and gray individuals, which are often taken often in exhibitions. Animals of brown shades do not have genetic resistance and may not pass on their color to offspring.
Apricot and harlequin dogs may have physical defects. The coat of white pets needs special care, which provokes a low level of demand for animals with this shade.
Conditions of detention
Small poodles are unpretentious species of pets and do not need special conditions and increased attention. This breed is of high intelligence, so animals do not gnaw wires and do not spoil furniture, and also do not emit a piercing bark, which can cause inconvenience to neighbors. Before buying a dog, special attention should be paid to arranging its habitat. Near the allocated place there should be no heating appliances and a source of strong sound, drafts are also contraindicated. For relaxation, you need to purchase a special warm litter, which must be regularly cleaned and washed.
An energetic pet needs a morning and evening walk. The time spent on the street should not be less than 60 minutes. After each visit to the street, the pet needs to thoroughly wash its limbs, and monthly water procedures should prevent the occurrence of dangerous parasites and give the coat a shiny and silky structure. To wash the animal, you must use special shampoos, and the use of conditioners will remove the unpleasant odor.
To prevent colds, the drying of wool should be done with a hairdryer.
The obligatory daily procedure should be combing out a pet. Dense and wavy wool should be carefully combed out with special brushes with soft bristles. As necessary, it is necessary to cut the animal. For this procedure, you can use ordinary cars. If the pet needs a special hairstyle, experienced dog breeders recommend contacting professional masters.
Inspection of long ears should be carried out regularly and carefully remove all dirt with cotton buds. You can wash your eyes only with special eye drops. In specialized stores, you need to buy dog toothpaste and a toothbrush, with which you need to treat your teeth every 2 days. To prevent the development of inflammatory processes and early tooth loss, the animal should be regularly taken to a veterinary clinic.
Once every two weeks, experienced dog breeders recommend adjusting the nail plates with special nippers. After trimming the claws of the cut, it is necessary to process the nail file.
What to feed?
This breed is unpretentious not only in care, but also in feeding. When purchasing dry feed, you must give preference to the highest quality products, which include iodine. This mineral makes the hair shiny and bright, and also increases its resistance to fading in the summer.Expensive feeds do not contain preservatives and dyes, but consist of natural products, vitamins and trace elements.
If the owner plans to feed the dog with natural food, then it is necessary to give preference to boiled lean meat, chicken and beef liver, boiled eggs, cereals, cottage cheese and dairy products, as well as fish fillet and chopped vegetables. The most favorite vegetables are tomatoes, spinach, carrots, beets and cabbage.
Experts recommend giving pets large bones that dogs can sharpen their teeth on, and regular use of collagen will prevent diseases of the joints and musculoskeletal system. It is strictly forbidden to feed your pet fatty, fried, salted, smoked, spicy and sweet foods. You can not give the poodle beans and peas, mushrooms, sour cream, grapes and sweet pastries.
Experts do not recommend light-haired animals to feed chicken, corn grains and sweet confectionery. An allergy to these products can cause souring of the eyes and the release of a small amount of liquid from the eyeballs. The use of beet meal can cause a change in the color of light tones of wool, and beetroot product, on the contrary, will give depth and saturation to apricot individuals. The diet of animals up to 8 months should consist of 3 meals a day, and adults should eat 2 times a day.
Training and education
Particular attention in the maintenance of a poodle should be given to its training and education. Despite the decorative appearance, dogs are very active and need daily walks, on which the animal should spend its energy as much as possible. With a long stay in a confined space, pets begin to indulge and cause concern to the owners.
Smart and quick-witted animals are easy to train. The process of training animals can be turned into fun and exciting games. Thanks to the innate mind and cunning, dogs can evade classes and pretend that they do not understand the commands. Delicious delicacies that will become a reward for completed tasks will help to stimulate the training process.. The most common tricks are bringing sticks, overcoming obstacles and getting thrown objects out of the water.
Thanks to the quick study of tricks, poodles are regular participants in circus performances.
The male representatives have a more stubborn character and need a strict and tough upbringing. Females make contact faster and have a softer and more executive disposition. In the absence of skills in raising and training dogs, it is necessary to turn to professional dog handlers who will tell you all the details of communication with this breed.
Professional dog handlers recommend at the very first stages of training to teach the animal to never take food from the hands of strangers and not eat food found on the street. The use of products of unknown origin can not only provoke poisoning, but also lead to the death of a beautiful pet.
Living a pet in an apartment is not only a sea of joy and happiness, but also daily care for a pet, its health and diet. Before acquiring a chosen pet, it is necessary to carefully study the features of its character, the rules of feeding and the subtleties of grooming so that the animal does not become an unnecessary acquisition, which often turns out to be thrown out into the street. Novice dog breeders should understand that they bear full responsibility for the life and health of the little creature.
In the next video, you can look at small poodles of a modern color.