Poodle (Miniature)

Coat and looks how to spot one

curly or corded, single, non-shedding hair

A compact, square-built little dog whose body length roughly matches its height. The coat is a dense mass of fine, springy curls that keeps growing rather than dropping out, and it can alternatively be allowed to twist into long cords. Dark almond eyes, a long refined head and a high-set tail complete a proud, alert look, and the dog moves with a light, bouncy trot.78311

Personality what they are like

A bright, playful and devoted little dog with a well-known sense of humour. Miniatures bond closely with their family, enjoy being included in everything and generally mix well with children and other pets when socialised early. They are quick learners that respond best to varied, reward-based training.97510

Daily activity how busy a day looks

More athletic than its size suggests: plan on up to an hour of activity a day, split between walks, play and brain games. Many enjoy swimming, retrieving, agility and dock diving.356

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The coat grows continuously and mats if neglected, so brush it daily (or keep it clipped short) and book a professional trim every 4-6 weeks. A bath roughly once a month, regular tooth brushing and drying the ears after swimming round out the routine. Pet owners often choose a simple sporting clip; show dogs wear the Continental, English Saddle or Puppy clip.3568

Home where they are happiest

Adapts well to flats and town life as long as it gets daily outings; a fenced garden or leash walks both work. It wants to live indoors close to its people rather than be left alone for long periods.1096

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, good-quality commercial dog food suited to its life stage and small size. Puppies eat three to four meals a day, adults two. Portion to body condition and keep treats modest, since poodles gain weight easily.5610

Company who they like around

Very social and strongly attached to its family; it thrives on company and daily interaction. Early, gentle socialisation with new people, places and dogs helps it grow into a confident adult.956

The story where it all began

The Poodle started out as a water retriever for duck hunters in continental Europe. Its German name Pudel comes from a word for splashing, while the French call it Caniche, from cane, a female duck; the FCI links it to the Barbet, from which it had separated by the mid-18th century. During the 1700s breeders in Paris and other cities scaled the Standard down into the Miniature and Toy as handier companions for town dwellers, and UKC notes smaller water-dog and bichon-type breeds may have helped. Small poodles became favourites of the French court from Louis XIV to Louis XVI, starred in circus acts from around 1700 thanks to their trainability, and appear in many European paintings. The Kennel Club in Britain recognised the breed in 1874 and the AKC listed Standard and Miniature in the late 1880s. Poodles took off in the US after the Second World War and were the most registered AKC breed for over two decades, with the Poodle Club of America (founded 1931) guiding the breed. Today the Miniature is a popular family companion and a regular winner in the show ring and in dog sports.72934

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard No. 172 (Caniche), Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs, Section 2 Poodle; country of origin France; definitive acceptance 1 Jan 1955; current standard published 20 Mar 2024; no working trial. Four sizes: Standard, Medium, Miniature and Toy.1

The Royal Kennel Club

Utility Group; Standard, Miniature and Toy sizes share one breed standard. Wikipedia gives 1874 as the year of Kennel Club recognition.14

AKC

Non-Sporting Group (Standard and Miniature). AKC's own history article says Standard and Miniature were recognised in 1887; Wikipedia gives 1886. Current standard approved 14 Aug 1984; Toy variety added 1943.2

FCI (size)

Miniature: height at withers over 28 cm up to 35 cm7

UKC

Poodle recognised 1914; since 1 Jan 2000 the Miniature and Toy form the breed 'Poodle' in the Companion Dog Group, separate from the Standard Poodle. Miniature: over 10 in up to 15 in.9

AKC (size)

Miniature: 15 inches or under at the shoulder, over 10 inches8

Popularity Poodle (Standard, Miniature and Toy combined) ranked No. 6 among AKC-registered breeds in the US, dropping out of the top five as the Dachshund moved up15