Poodles are very good with children and all other pets. They are the worlds most versatile dog; obedience, agility, guide dogs, therapy dogs, wonderful companions for children and the elderly, fabulous watchdogs. There is nothing you could want from a dog tht a poodle wouldn?t do. They are thinkers, schemers, and always one step ahead of you. They are like people in curly suits. Many people mistakenly perceive the poodle as an aristocrat snob. window dressing. This is so far from what is the true nature of the dog really. People are misled by the hairdo, but there is a real dog under there. Most poodle owners clip their dogs in the more practical cuts than the hard to maintain show styles. But there is no denying this breed excels in the show ring, they have that extra sparkle, sizzle and pizzazz. They can hold their own in any company and the attitude. If you don?t have attitude, you don?t have a poodle. People have the idea that poodles are merely for show and only for rich people who have them around for show. They look good when they are groomed and fluffed, but it is what?s on the inside of the wonderful lil dogs that counts. What?s on the outside doesn?t shed, Many people with allergies do well with poodles. You have to stay on your toes and not be upset at them for using their hight IQ. The poodles cleverness often humbles owners. They are very self-possessed and self-contained. An agile and athletic breed the poodle is up for plenty of activities, including obedience, agility, hunting , jogging etc? Most people fall in love with their regal looks and charming personalities. They can be quite clownish at time but are eager to please and willing to learn. They make wonderful companions for children and are quiet indoors. Active, athletic, merry very alert and intelligent, the friendly poodle delights in life. His loyalty is legendary, but can be possessive. Highly adaptable, outgoing and good-natured, he makes a wonderful pet!

Advantages and Disadvantages to Owning a Poodle

? Highly intelligent and adaptable.
? Delightful, clever temperament. Highly personable.
? People-oriented. Gentle and cuddly.
? Non-shedding, no hair on clothes or furniture.
? Virtually odor free.
? Breed of choice for many allergy sufferers.
? Many colors from which to choose.
? Less space is needed for exercise because of their small size.
? Poodles are considered the best therapy dogs for elderly, infirmed, or handicapped.
? Great lap dogs.
? Less potty to clean up than most dogs.

Disadvantages to Owning a Poodle

? Demands grooming on regular basis; every 8 weeks it is necessary.
? Teacups can be fragile and may not be suitable in homes with very small children.

Lifespan
15-20 years normally. If healthy, this is a long lived breed, living between 15 and 20 years if well taken care of.

Susceptibility to Illness
Low

History
This size of poodle was known to exist at least 500 years ago. During the 17th and 18th centuries the poodle became a favorite with the nobility. They wanted dogs smaller than the Miniature variety, and so the Toy Poodle was developed. Today the Toy Poodle is exclusively a companion and lap dog.

Intelligence
The Poodle is an extremely intelligent and eager to please dog, thus he/she is inordinately easy to train. As a result, the Poodle has a history of performance, appearing in circus and street acts for hundreds of years. Poodles are unusually sensitive to vocal intonation, probably one of the reasons they are so easy to train. Many pet owners, using gentle and consistent training methods, have seen their poodles excel in obedience trials, flyball, and agility.

Overall Exercise Needed
It is a good idea to include a poodle in some sort of activity so that the mind is stimulated along with the body. They love to go for walks and to the dog park.

Stress Caused if Left Alone
This breed does need the companionship of people; in fact they prefer it over other poodles or other animals in general. They do get very lonely when left alone a lot or for really long periods of time. If your poodle will be left alone more than he is with you, then consider getting another poodle for him/her to grow up with and spend time with; besides you, this is the next best thing.

Ease of Transportation
High, they love to ride in cars and can be taken on planes in carry on bags.

Level of Aggression
Low, poodles are very easy going and are non-aggressive.

Gets Along with Other Animals
High, they love all animals though they prefer your company to anything else.

Suitable for Children
High, they love kids but children need to respect them and learn to care for them well.

General Character and Temperament
Getting along with the kids, and the cat is no problem for the poodle. Lively and affectionate, they make wonderful companion dogs. The poodle will adapt to life in more confined quarters. They can be good guard dogs, announcing visitors but never being aggressive. Children should be trained to handle these small, delicate dogs carefully, though..

Requires Professional Groomer
True, unless you're experienced, you could really cause stress to both your poodles and yourself. Grooming is not the easiest thing to do, but it is learnable.

Color
They come in a variety of colors such as blacks, blues, grays, silvers, browns, caf?u-laits, and apricots. The colors can be varying shades within the coat, for example, darker feathering on the ears and tipping on the tail. The color will fade on most with age.

Non-Allergic
Yes, poodles are non-shedding. They have fit well into families with persons who have had pet allergies prior to owning a poodle.

Defining a Teacup Poodle

What is a Teacup?
Simply put, a Teacup is a weight category which means 4-pounds or less.

Are Teacups common?
No. In fact, if you compare birth numbers and ratios of Teacups to all dogs, Teacup births are less than 1% of all dog births. In fact, the number is substantially less. Teacups, when compared to the general dog population, are very rare -- and the demand far exceeds the supply.

Have Teacups always existed?
Yes, it just seems like they are more prevalent today because of all the publicity they have gotten recently. Teacups have been highly publicized because of the exposure they've received as a result of their celebrity owners.

Why are Teacups so expensive?
They are difficult to breed, and they require a lot of extra attention at birth. Since they are so fragile, often weighing 2-4 ounces at birth, they require a lot of care and 24-hour attention for 2 or 3 weeks. Secondly, since the demand is so high for Teacups, with demand far exceeding supply, the price is higher.

What are the benefits of owning a Teacup?
Because of their small size, Teacups are extremely portable, making them a great traveling companion for everyday activities like going to the mall or dining out. Another thing to consider is that the airline companies allow Teacups to travel in the main passenger cabin as opposed to bigger dogs that are required to travel in the cargo area of the plane. Teacups are great for senior citizens who cannot lift heavy dogs, and they are great for apartment owners because they don't need to go for walks -- an apartment provides all the exercise space they need. They also can be trained to use disposable indoor wee-wee pads easily.
Lastly... maybe the biggest benefit is that everybody loves puppies, and many dog owners equate Teacup Poodles to having a dog that always remains puppy size.

What is the life expectancy of a Teacup Poodle?
Contrary to popular belief, a Teacup Poodle will often live 15-20 years, which in many cases is a better life expectancy than bigger dogs.