POODLE

The Poodle is one of the most underrated working breeds in the world. They were originally bred to retrieve waterfowl — yes, the fancy show coat hides a hunting dog. They consistently rank in the top three smartest breeds.

We work Toy and Miniature Poodles. Each size has its own audience; both share the breed's signature combination of low-shedding coat, high intelligence, and willingness to engage.

The intelligence question

Poodle owners often complain their dog "outsmarts them." That's not the dog being difficult — it's the dog being under-trained. A Poodle who has nothing to do will invent something to do. Usually something inconvenient.

The fix is steady mental engagement. Daily training reps of 5–10 minutes prevent more behavior problems than the same time spent on physical exercise.

Programs that fit

• Puppy Foundations — non-negotiable starting point. Poodles are sponges in the socialization window; missing it shows up as anxiety or fearfulness later.

• Basic Obedience then Advanced Obedience — Poodles thrive in structured group work. They learn from other dogs faster than most breeds.

• Grooming — Laura's grooming service handles full coat work. The Poodle coat doesn't shed, but it doesn't self-maintain; weekly brushing at home + 4-8 week professional grooming is the protocol.

Notes on coat

The Poodle's signature curly coat is the source of their hypoallergenic reputation. To keep it healthy:

• Brush 2-3x weekly at minimum. Matted coats are uncomfortable and skin-damaging.

• Professional grooming every 4-8 weeks. Skip this and the coat mats faster than you can recover.

• Trims that match your life. The full continental clip is for show. Most pet Poodles get a "puppy cut" — shorter all over, easier maintenance.