Hi all,
Yes its been a long time .... definately over a year since i posted about Freya, my CKcS, having a hear mumor. Well shes going strong as is Molly whos nearly 9 and all clear, touch wood. Anyway my near 5 and 2 year olds lovethe girls and the girls love them too!

Anyway thats not the reason for posting. We will be hoping to expand our brood, of dogs not children!, towards the end of next year (yes ages away but i like to do planning and research). I love my CKCS but have also liked poodles too. Now i know the standard will be too big for us so am considering a miniature or toy. Really just wanted a bit of info on temperment, size difference (compared to myy CKCS if poss) and any other considerations including suitablilty to a family with children, who will be 4 and 6 when we hopefully get another.

Any info woudl be greatly recieved.

Thanks
Marie

My mum had a min poodle when we were young..infact I was named after her!! She passed away aged 16 when I was about 8 years old. She was a show dog when they were very popular & she had a fantastic temperament. As far as I know they arent as popular in the show ring now(well less then there used to be). I can always remember mum brushing her whilst lying on her lap in front of the TV...

The first dog to bite me was a miniature poodle when I was at my aunts house. I got up to turn the tv over and he bit a chunk out of my knee. I was only young and can remember it 50 years on.

Funnily enough I've never been particularly interested in owning one!

It's the first time that I've been without a poodle in something like 35 years.  Temperament is excellent, and they are very, very intelligent.  I have never had a poodle that didn't enjoy obedience work, they do like to work their brains.  I adore the toys, but would never sell to a family with such young children.  I believe that it would be more sensible to go for the miniature.

My friend's miniature is quite shy, but is very friendly once she knows you and is very intelligent. I think the shyness is unusual and is made worse by her owner. A miniature I groom is a lovely boy, extrovert without being insanely bouncy, and absolutely fine with me as a total stranger the first time clipping face, feet etc, great temperament. Of course you will need to either learn to groom or take your poodle to a groomer every 4-6 weeks no matter what trim you choose to have him in, preferably starting as soon as you get him, ignore any vets who say not to groom him until 6 months old!!

ps good to hear Freya is well!

Thanks. This is why I want to research so I make the right choice for all involved. The dog will be mine (it'll be my pressie of hubby and boys) but I suspect I'll barely get a look in with my boys:)

Another thick question though ... Do miniatures come in the apricot colour and am I right thinking they are the middle ones in terms of size?

Thanks. I know the grooming would be a consideration so I would probably try to find out how to do the maintance myself with the groomers every few months.

Thanks about Freya .. It was a shock when I found outbut we trimmed her down and increased the walking. Both going well :)

Hi, toys are the smallest and miniatures the middle sized. The toy is probably nearer to your CKCS in size. Some people say toys are too delicate for small children but if your children are used to dogs then I don't see it as a problem personally. Go visit some and see how you feel !
Please check your pup has health tested parents, there are many badly bred poodles and their crosses on certain websites. The KC website has a page on health tests, DNA for PRA will be one recommended.
Look on the Champdogs Breeders section and look on UK Poodles for a fantastic page which shows breeders and their dogs in size and colour. You may find some in your area to contact.

Good luck in your search, and don't forget to let us know about your new puppy.

Thanks. There is a breeder in Huntingdon so quite close. Will contact them at some point too.

We've had all sizes but my preference is the standard and toys, not sure why but I found the miniatures a bit 'whiny' for my liking.  I've groomed hundreds of them and most mins have been a bit like that, but most have been black and probably from similar lines around here.  Colours should be same for all sizes but you don't see as many apricot mins as toys.  They are super intelligent, I swear our toy knows every single word we say, she is 13 and has the agility and sharpness of a pup.

Before you get your pup do some research into local groomers, some don't like poodles (too much scissoring) and they'll put you off getting them groomed at an early age which is vital.  All our poodles have been face, feet & tailed from 3 weeks by the breeders and I start on them a week after they arrive with me.  Nothing worse than a poodle who hates grooming!  Find your groomer before your pup!

I love poodles but one is never enough!

I have a real liking for the Miniatures as I find the toys just a bit twee but then if you are used to toys I expect that would not be a problem. Many years ago I used to work a group of black miniatures and they were lovely every last one of them but mind you there is no way you could get them to do anything they did not want to.

The toy is nowhere near the size of a Cavvie!  Breed standard for the Cavalier is 12 - 18 lbs.  The toy poodle is nowhere near this size St Domingo.  The miniature is much, much nearer in size. 

If a toy poodle was as heavy as this, it would never be the desired height.

I was going to suggest the miniature as being the more comparible size to a cavalier. A well bred poodle of any size should have a great, fun loving temperament and very well suited to family life. I have owned a standard and they are fantastic pets, but if we were ever to get another poodle, I would opt for a toy or miniature, just because of the time consuming aspect of coat care (I used to clip my own). Poodles are fab and totally misunderstood by the general public :-)

>Poodles are fab and totally misunderstood by the general public :-)

I used to clip my own back in the 70's and now that my hands are rubbish I can't do it any more.  But agree that they are fab cavlover.  I loved it when I turned up at obedience classes with a toy in full show coat.  The BC owners didn't need to say what they were thinking, you could see it on their faces.

So when my bitch was asked to do the "leave" demonstrations for the baby BC classes, I was in my element!  :-)

I was talking about height not weight.
All of the cavvies around me are nearer the height of a toy poodle, not a miniature.

I would suggest the OP visits both toy and miniature herself to choose as it is a costly and long living mistake to make.

>I was talking about height not weight.

A toy poodle should be under 11" tall; most cavvies seem to be rather taller than that, at about 13"-14".

Under 11'' at the shoulder .

I am not going to be drawn into a spat over this. IMO a toy poodle is nearer in height to a CKCS. The OP can buy whatever she wants and I hope you enjoy whichever size you buy.

In reference to size compared to a CKCS I would say toy is closer only for the reason they are easily carried under your arm like a CKCS, mins are leggy and heavier and don't like being carried around as much, but still easy to lift when necessary.  I like my toy for this reason.  Toys can be tiny in weight comparison.  Neither are exactly the same size, one is going to be smaller, one taller but the toy can easily be carried if that is a consideration. 

Jean, I used to find it very therapeutic clipping and scissoring my girl, but it was time consuming - I did not have a natural flair for it so it took ages to get it just right. But I used to feel so proud taking her out once all done, knowing it was all my own work. She was such a gorgeous, elegant lady.  So obedient, so clever, a gentle and loving soul, but also a clown when she wanted to be!

Fantastic story about your toy poodle showing the BC's how it was done! ;-)

I remember once being told a story by a guy who went on a shooting holiday in France, a labrador man himself. He said that when they brought out the standard poodles for the retrieving, everyone's faces dropped... but by the end of the hol they had won everyone over as they were such fantastic gundogs :-)

I miss having a poodle :-(

Thanks for all the responses . I will contact local breeders to see if I can go see examples of both although am swaying towards the miniature .... Although may still opt for a ruby ckcs at the last min :)

I ADORE the standard poodles. My dad had one as a youth and loved them too. My partner hates them and hates the typical breed clip and does not want one... sigh..... :P

I admire both the standard and the miniature in lamb cut and think the miniature is very like the standard to look at but smaller, the toy, to me at least, looks like a toy and seems to look better in full clip I don't know why but perhaps because it gives them a more defined shape.

I have a black miniature poodle. I have been brought up with poodles as they have always been in the family. The best thing you could do is spend some time with them as they are all different :-) we've had super confident dogs to timid ones.
The dog i have at the moment is quite 'gobby'. Will give it all mouth but if anyone approaches him he will back off and lower himself to the ground.
I was always best friends with the dogs growing up and now i have a little one she is the best of friends with the dog. I think if introduced and handled properly they are definitely a very family friendly breed.
The only thing to be wary of is the exremely high intelligance. If used to its advantage then its amazing, but clever dogs get bored easily so be prepared to be very inventive making up games and using their inteliigance to train/do agility etc.
As for clipping, i used to do it myself but no longer have the time so i take Fred to the groomers. I pay about £28 for 1hr 1/2 where he is bathed, brushed, clipped ,ears cleaned etc. He goes every 8-10 weeks ish. Contrary to what lots of people think i dont think poodles coats are any higer maintenance than any other dog. Occasionally i wil pull the hair from his ears and he gets a brush.