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Nutricanine Canada - Raw dog food
Breed Poodle
  • Breed Group
    Non-Sporting Group
  • Temperament
    Active, Proud, Clever, Faithful
  • Personality
    • Height10-23 in
    • Weight40-70 lbs
    • Lifespan10-18 years
    • EnergyEnergetic
    • GroomingHigh
    • SheddingNone

Poodle

Poodle Facts and Best Dog Food - NutriCanine

Although they’re the national dog of France, Poodles are believed to have originated in Germany. The breed name comes from the German word “pudel,” which means “to splash in the water.” Many believe the Poodle is a cross between several European water breeds. The Poodle was originally bred to fetch waterfowl for hunters or fish for fishermen. Poodles are excellent swimmers and love to be in water. Poodles were purposely bred with traits such as webbed paws and a water-proof coat to help them stay in water for longer periods of time. The Poodle was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club  (AKC) in 1887.

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Poodle Appearance 

The Poodle is an active breed with a lean, athletic build. They come in three size varieties: standard, miniature and toy. Poodles have a square appearance with floppy ears and a long, elegant neck. Poodles can grow to be 10-24 inches tall depending on their size category and weigh between 40-70 pounds.


Poodle Temperament 

Poodles are characterized as intelligent, alert, energetic and incredibly friendly.  They’re generally great with children and other dogs and make wonderful family companions. Poodles can be reserved around strangers when introduced for the first time. Under normal circumstances, Poodles aren't aggressive but can be very protective of their family. They’re very loyal and tend to bond quickly with their family members.

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Grooming Your Poodle

Poodles are known for their curly, single-layered coat. Much like humans, a Poodles’ hair will continue to grow all year round. Their coat comes in a variety of colours including white, black and apricot. Poodles are considered hypoallergenic as a result of their unique coats and minimal shedding, this is a great benefit for owners that may be allergic to dog fur. Poodles also need regular nail trimming, ear cleaning and dental care.

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Training & Exercise for Poodles

Poodles are known for their intelligence and ease of training. Poodles love to learn and are eager to please their owners. They respond well to positive reinforcement and reward-based training. 

Poodles of all sizes are high energy and require an adequate amount of exercise. They’re best suited for highly active owners. It’s recommended that you spend 30-60 minutes exercising your Poodle each day. Poodles love daily walks around the neighbourhood or a rousing game of fetch. Poodles also excel in a variety of canine sports including obedience, agility and retrieving. 


Health Considerations for Poodles 

The Poodle is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of 10-18 years. To ensure your Poodle gets the most out of these years, it’s important to be aware of some of the common health issues Poodles are prone to, including Addison's disease, hip dysplasia, epilepsy, bloat and patellar luxation.

Addison’s Disease

Addison’s disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism, is a chronic condition in which the adrenal glands don’t produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. As a result of the wide range of symptoms associated with this disease, many dog owners fail to recognize it in its early stages. Some common symptoms to look out for in your Poodle include lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive thirst and loss of appetite. Although not curable, your Poodle can go on to live a normal life by taking lifelong replacement hormones.

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is one of the most common canine ailments. It’s a genetic condition that causes an abnormal formation of the hip socket, which can eventually lead to lameness and arthritis of the joints. This hereditary disease can be magnified by factors including excessive growth rate, age, types of exercise, and improper weight and nutrition. While mild conditions can be managed with prescription medication and physical therapy, more severe cases could require surgery. To prevent or reduce the severity of hip dysplasia, it’s important to ensure your Poodle gets a proper diet and the right amount of exercise.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disease that’s often, but not always, inherited. Commonly found in Poodles, this disorder affects the brain’s electric activity and can cause your Poodle to suffer from epileptic seizures, which are brief bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. An epileptic episode can typically last between one and several minutes. It's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of seizures to get your Poodle medical help as quickly as possible. Some common signs to look for include twitching, tremors, shaking and convulsions. Treatment might involve lifelong anti-seizure medication; however, this will help your Poodle maintain a good quality of life. If your Poodle is having a seizure, call an emergency vet and make sure they can’t injure themselves.

Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus Syndrome (GDV or Bloat)

Bloat, also known as Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome, is a life-threatening disorder most commonly seen in large, deep-chested breeds, including the standard Poodle. This condition is caused when the dog’s stomach fills with air and twists. This cuts off the circulation of blood and can be deadly if not corrected. Some of the signs of bloat to be aware of in your Poodle include salivation, obvious pain, a distended abdomen and retching. Ways to prevent this condition from happening to your Poodle include encouraging slower eating, providing easy to digest dog food and refraining from exercise immediately after eating. If you suspect that your Poodle has bloat, immediate veterinary attention is required. 

Patellar Luxation

All sizes of Poodles have a genetic predisposition to patellar luxation. A luxating patella is a knee cap that moves out of its normal position. When this occurs your Poodle may have difficulty bearing weight on their leg. This condition can cause your Poodle to have cartilage damage, pain, inflammation and in some cases ligament tears. Some symptoms to look for in your Poodle include limping, lameness or sudden lifting of the hindlimb. Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition, however surgery may be needed to hold the patella in its appropriate location.

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What Makes a Poodle Unique? 

Poodles were originally bred as hunting dogs

Poodles were originally bred to assist with hunting. As excellent swimmers, Poodles would use their skills to retrieve ducks and other birds from the water. Some hunters continue to use Poodles for hunting purposes today. 

Poodles have hair that keeps on growing

As mentioned earlier, Poodles have hair that will continue to grow and grow. Fur on the other hand, grows to a certain length before falling off. Regular grooming is required in order to keep your Poodle’s hair in check.

A team of Poodles once competed in the Iditarod 

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance race that takes place every year in Alaska. In 1988, a musher named John Suter entered the race with a team of standard Poodles. Unable to handle the extremely cold temperatures, some of the Poodles had to be dropped off at checkpoints. This brought about a new rule that allowed only northern breeds to compete in the race.

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Why NutriCanine Is Great For Poodles

  • Best Dog Food for a Poodle Puppy (1-4 years)

    The best dog food for your Poodle puppy will be high quality and nutritionally complete to ensure they grow into a healthy adult. Poodles will typically reach their full adult size around 2 years old. When choosing the best dog food for your Poodle, it can help to understand the special needs of this particular breed. For example, Poodles are prone to developing certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia and bloat. Choosing a dog food that contains well-sourced protein, nutrients, and a proper amount of fat will help in the development of healthy bones and joints. It’s also important to consider dog food that is free from any fillers and artificial ingredients, which can help reduce the risk of feeding allergies. The best dog food for your Poodle puppy will support healthy growth and consider the breed’s health concerns.

    As your Poodle puppy is still in the process of development, another factor to consider is the consistency of their dog food. Your Poodle will have an easier time digesting soft dog food as opposed to hard, dry kibble. NutriCanine’s nutrient-dense and easily digestible meals are developed by a dog food formulation specialist for an incredible flavour and texture that your Poodle will love. Our dog food recipes offer complete and balanced nutrition for your pup, with human-edible animal proteins and our unique blend of highly digestible fruits and vegetables. All our dog food recipes are freshly prepared with no hormones, no antibiotics, and no artificial preservatives, colours or flavours.

  • Best Dog Food for an Adult Poodle (5-7 years)

    As an active breed, Poodles need high-quality, protein-rich dog food to fit this stage of their life. NutriCanine’s raw dog food recipes are a great solution as they contain rich animal proteins and natural ingredients that will help support your Poodle’s athletic build. NutriCanine’s raw dog food recipes provide your Poodle with a variety of flavour options including chicken, salmon, turkey, beef and lamb. These raw dog food recipes are formulated to be complete and balanced and are specially designed to meet your Poodle’s nutritional needs.

    However, if you’ve got a picky eater, a pup with a sensitive stomach, or an immunocompromised family member at home, NutriCanine’s gently cooked dog food is a great option as well. All our dog food recipes are freshly prepared with real, human-edible, locally sourced ingredients. NutriCanine’s dog food is always free of hormones, antibiotics and preservatives. Adult Poodles need a trusted dog food that can fully support their lifestyle.

  • Best Dog Food for a Senior Poodle

    Once Poodles reach seniority, their energy levels begin to slow down considerably. It’s important to feed your Poodle dog food that contains high-quality ingredients and is low in calories and fat. NutriCanine’s raw dog food recipes are specially formulated to accommodate your senior dog’s nutritional needs; however, our gently cooked line might be easier for an older dog to transition to if they’re not accustomed to fresh dog food. Our fresh dog food comes in a variety of delicious recipes that your Poodle will absolutely love, including high-quality proteins like chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, and chicken and salmon.

    There are numerous health benefits when feeding your Poodle a diet of real, fresh dog food. With complete and balanced nutrition from NutriCanine, you’ll start to see health benefits in your senior Poodle, including improved digestion, fresher breath, more stable energy levels, reduction of allergies and intolerances, brighter eyes, fresher breath, cleaner and whiter teeth, a stronger immune system, a thicker and glossier coat, less flatulence, and firmer stools, to name a few. Our dog food recipes offer complete and balanced nutrition for your Poodle, with human-edible animal proteins and our unique blend of highly digestible fruits and vegetables. All our dog food recipes are freshly prepared with no hormones, no antibiotics, and no artificial preservatives, colours or flavours.

  • Best Dog Food for an Overweight Poodle
    If your Poodle is experiencing weight issues there are steps you can take to get them back to an ideal weight. Proper exercise is important and dog food that’s low in calories. There are numerous health benefits when feeding your Poodle a diet of real, fresh dog food. With complete and balanced nutrition from NutriCanine, you’ll start to see health benefits in your Poodle, including improved digestion, fresher breath, more stable energy levels, reduction of allergies and intolerances, brighter eyes, fresher breath, cleaner and whiter teeth, a stronger immune system, a thicker and glossier coat, less flatulence, and firmer stools, to name a few. NutriCanine dog food recipes also come pre-portioned, making it easy to track and control your Poodle’s calorie intake.
  • Best Dog Food for a Poodle with a Sensitive Stomach
    Selecting which dog food to feed your Poodle with a sensitive stomach is made easy with NutriCanine. Our gently cooked dog food recipes are specially designed to meet your Poodle’s nutritional needs. With a variety of protein-forward recipes to choose from, a great starting point is our gently cooked beef recipe as it would respond well to your Poodle’s sensitive stomach. This unique blend contains antioxidant-rich berries and highly digestible rice, the perfect formula to strengthen your Poodle’s immune system while reducing any allergies and intolerances. NutriCanine’s meals are freshly prepared with real human-edible, locally sourced ingredients. NutriCanine’s dog food is always free of hormones, antibiotics and preservatives.

Top 10 Facts About Poodles

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NutriCanine Meals

Raw

NutriCanine raw recipes contain a unique blend of highly digestible fruits and vegetables. Our raw recipes offer complete and balanced nutrition, ideal for all dogs of all ages and sizes. The transition to raw tends to be easier for younger dogs and high energy dogs.

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Gently Cooked

NutriCanine gently cooked recipes are great for all dogs including picky eaters, sensitive stomachs, or senior dogs with brittle teeth. Our recipes are safe enough for humans to eat but specially designed to meet your dog's nutritional needs.

Try NutriCanine gently cooked recipes