Miniature Poodle

Breed Description

The Miniature Poodle is that perfect in between size of the Poodle family, bigger than a Toy but daintier than a Standard, and it somehow manages to pack all the brains and personality of its bigger cousin into a compact, easy to live with frame. The Miniature Poodle is 15 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders, with a minimum height in excess of 10 inches. Underneath that famously curly, low shedding coat is a dog that is sharp, alert, and always ready to be part of whatever you are doing.

Miniature Poodles are bright, affectionate dogs that thrive on learning and play, with a lively, people-oriented companion who loves staying active and engaged. They tend to carry themselves with a proud, almost regal air, yet underneath that polish is a goofy, fun loving dog who never seems to run out of games to play.

Their coat is a big selling point for a lot of households. Poodles are proud and regal in their appearance, and their fur is easy to maintain, and if you are looking for a hypoallergenic dog for a sensitive person in your household but don’t have a lot of space, the Miniature Poodle is a great choice.

Breed History

The Miniature Poodle’s story starts with the larger Standard Poodle, a dog whose roots trace back to working as a water retriever. A popular theory is that German soldiers brought the Poodle to France during the 1400s, and everyone agrees that Poodles were bred for bird hunting and water retrieval, with their love of water explaining how they got their name.

Once Poodles crossed into France they became hugely fashionable, but a dog built for hauling ducks out of lakes was not exactly convenient for city life or for certain delicate jobs. The Standard Poodle was commonly used to retrieve game from the water and also sniff out delicate truffles, but the only difficulty was that the Standard Poodle was too large and crushed the tender mushrooms, rendering them useless. Breeders solved that problem by consistently choosing the smallest pups to breed together, and over time the Miniature Poodle took shape as its own distinct size.

Once proper size was attained the Miniature Poodle excelled at the task at hand and was the premier truffle hunter in France, and unlike its ancestor, the Miniature Poodle does not love the water nearly as much. From there the breed’s charm and intelligence carried it well beyond the forest floor. The Miniature Poodle’s history also includes a stint in circuses during the 19th century due to their compact size and trainability, further cementing their status as versatile and entertaining companions.

Behavioral Characteristics

Ask anyone who lives with one and they will tell you the same thing: Miniature Poodles are whip smart and they know it. Miniature Poodles are affectionate, alert and very bright, with more energy than their size suggests. They pick up new commands and tricks almost embarrassingly fast, which makes them wonderful for owners who enjoy training but can also mean they get bored, and a little mischievous, if their brains are not kept busy.

With their own families they tend to be warm and devoted, often shadowing their favorite person from room to room. They can be playful, goofy, and energetic despite their elegant appearance, and while some may be cautious when meeting new people, they typically warm up with a little time and gentle encouragement, showing strong affection toward their companions. Early socialization goes a long way toward helping that natural wariness of strangers soften into friendliness.

They generally do well in family settings, though their modest size means play needs to stay reasonably gentle. The Miniature Poodle is generally well tempered with children, and if raised together and taught how to properly interact they are playful, protective, and full of love with the young ones, though this is a small, fragile dog that can be prone to injury if played with too roughly. With other pets they usually do fine too, especially when introductions are handled with care and patience from the start.

Fun Facts

• “Despite their strong French associations, most experts trace the Poodle's roots back to Germany, where the breed's name comes from a word tied to splashing in water.”
• “Miniature Poodles were once prized truffle hunters in France because their smaller paws did not crush the delicate fungi the way the larger Standard Poodle's did.”
• “The fancy pom pom hairstyles seen on Poodles today actually started as a practical trim, designed to protect joints and vital organs from cold water while still letting the dog swim freely.”

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