Are you planning to get a Poodle for yourself, a loved one, or for the entire family? Before you get one of the popular breeds, you’ll need to consider the potential owner’s age when selecting the right Poodle!
Read on for the essential factors to consider when selecting a Poodle for specific age groups:
Poodle Variety
There are three Poodle varieties: Standard Poodles, Miniature Poodles, and Toy Poodles.
These Poodles differ by size but have a similar temperament, exercise, and grooming requirements and may even inherit the same genetic diseases upon birth or as they age.
That said, there are minor differences.
- Toy Poodles, given their size, are considered more like lapdogs. These dogs also live longer than their larger counterparts but are more at risk of accidents and injuries. The typical Toy Poodle measures 6-9 inches tall and less than 10 pounds in weight!
- Miniature Poodles fall in the middle, measuring 11-15 inches tall and having a healthy weight of 15-17 pounds.
- Standard Poodles are the largest among the three Poodle varieties. These Poodles are taller than 15 inches, with adult weight reaching up to 100 pounds!
You can even find Poodle mixed breeds with different sizes and temperaments. It will depend on the other parent breed as well.
Your Poodle’s Age
We base the information above on people from age groups owning a growing Poodle puppy or young adult. However, if you plan to adopt an older Poodle, either an adult or senior, then this may change who it’s more suitable with in the future.
Older Poodles are better with adults and seniors because they are less maintenance in exercise. While these Poodles still require daily brushing, they are better companion dogs. Older Poodles will feel contented with slower walks, sometimes even being a couch potato with their owners the entire day!
Furthermore, Poodles are gentle and nurturing, loving human companionship. As such, we recommend older Poodles for older adults, and we recommend adoption, so these dogs have a chance to live out normal lives!
Poodle’s Health
While Poodle varieties are prone to similar health issues, one has a higher prevalence of diseases than the other (and vice versa).
All Poodles are at risk of these common diseases:
- Hip dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Epilepsy
- Addison’s disease (caused by damage of adrenal glands)
- Hypoglycemia
- Bloat
- Collapsed trachea
- Thyroid issues
- Bad breath and other dental issues
- Patellar luxation
Now that you know the Poodle’s common disorders, Here are the individual breeds’ specific health issues and common disorders:
Toy Poodle
Toy Poodles are at risk of heart disease, such as Patent Ductus arteriosis. They are also at risk of Dilated cardiomyopathy, another heart disease that requires dietary supplementation and monitoring in reputable animal clinics.
The Toy Poodle can quickly gain adult weight because of its size. Some people tend to overeat this smaller dog, making them at higher risk of obesity. If your Toy Poodle is considered overweight, it’s best to start a weight loss diet plan to prevent obesity from becoming a severe issue.
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodles will have a lifespan of 13-15 years on average.
Like the Toy Poodle, Miniature poodles are at risk of obesity, being smaller animals. It can cause or worsen joint issues. If you believe your dog’s current weight is over the recommended amount, weight loss is required to keep him healthy.
Furthermore, your Miniature Poodle may experience minor problems such as:
- Cataract
- Entropion
- Distichiasis
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
- Lacrimal duct artesia
Miniature Poodles can also experience significant health conditions like:
- Epilepsy
- Legg-Perthes disease
- Patellar luxation
Standard Poodle
Standard Poodles have a shorter lifespan of 12-15 years on average.
Standard Poodles are prone to idiopathic epilepsy and infectious disease. They are more susceptible to bloat, heart disease, eye problems, and bleeding disorders than the Miniature and Toy Poodle.
Addison’s and Cushing’s are more prevalent in Standard Poodles than other dog breeds. The same goes for Von Willebrand’s disease, a kind of hemophilia that may cause anemia.
That’s why it’s essential to ask the breeder about the parent Poodle’s health condition and receive health clearances to ensure that the litter of puppies is free from severe medical conditions. You can get health clearances from local animal clinics.
You must know the different common disorders a Poodle variety is prone to, so you’re prepared to prevent and treat them as necessary. Some Poodles can be weaker or stronger than others, so it’s up to you whether you can take on the effort required to care for your dog if he gets sick.
Also, learning about the Poodle’s health will help you understand the costs it entails owning a Poodle. You will need to factor in regular veterinary checkups in animal clinics, pet insurance, medications, and treatments, besides the daily living expenses of a Poodle like food, pet supplies, and the like.
What’s the Best Poodle for Each Age Group?
Poodle age and variety are two significant factors to consider when choosing a Poodle for yourself and your family. The next step is determining your family’s attitude and ages to see which Poodle suits them best!
Now that you know what you must look into before choosing a Poodle, what is the best Poodle for each age group? We break it down into four major sections.
Toddlers and Young Children (Under nine years old)
Contrary to popular belief, not all Poodles will suit children well!
Toddlers and young children are still growing, so they don’t know how to handle dogs yet. You can introduce animals to the little ones, but with adult supervision at all times.
If you’re considering a Poodle, you’re in luck. This breed does well with children, being a loyal and friendly dog that loves to be part of whatever its family is doing. Plus, these are gentle dogs that know when to slow down, switching from hyper mode to couch potato!
Furthermore, all Poodles are hypoallergenic, being great for children with allergies.
Standard Poodles, in particular, are incredibly patient and loving with the highest energy levels. Given their size, they can handle rough play and have all the energy to learn tricks and play games with children for mental stimulation. Also, these Poodles are intelligent and alert, warning their owners if something is amiss. That makes them excellent watchdogs for children.
Miniature Poodles are also a good choice, though be careful during playtime, as they are small dogs. This small dog is very affectionate and gets along with younger children well, especially when they want cuddles.
That said, we do not recommend the Toy Poodle for families with younger children and toddlers. It isn’t because of a significant attitude issue or what, but because these are small dogs!
Given that younger children play rough and are still learning about their surroundings, there’s a chance that they can injure these small dogs, unknowingly causing harm. Not only can dogs become injured, but they can act aggressive and defensive when hurt, even when the child didn’t mean it.
Also, while we mentioned that Toy Poodles don’t have significant attitude issues, they have a reputation for snapping at younger children, especially when they go out of bounds. That shows that the Toy Poodle isn’t too patient and less likely to socialize with kids as excellently as Standard and Miniature Poodles.
If you plan to get a dog, we advise against Toy breeds and opt for medium to large-sized dogs. Make sure that you supervise playtime with children and dogs because even if Poodles are fabulous with kids, you don’t know what may happen.
Older Children and Teenagers (10-19 years old)
Children most likely know the limits at this age as they play with animals. They will play roughly from time to time, but like Poodles, they know when to stop and calm down!
That’s why any Poodle variety, whether Standard, Minature, or Toy Poodle, will do well with owners at this age. Teenagers don’t need adult supervision, but we recommend educating your children on adequately caring for their Poodle pet to live a healthy life.
Doing so will teach your children more about the responsibility of caring for their companion animals. It will also improve their relationship with the dog, whether through playing fetch games for mental stimulation, brushing the coat, feeding dog food, or cuddling on the couch.
If you have a more active teenager, then a Standard Poodle will do best for them, as they will enjoy long walks, runs, and games. But if you have a more quiet child who loves animals and cuddles, the smaller dog varieties will suit them best. You never know, a Poodle can help your child grow out of his shell and grow!
Adults (20-60 years old)
All Toy Poodles will suit adults! However, the Poodle you choose will depend on your lifestyle.
For example, if you live in a small home or apartment, the Miniature or Toy Poodle is best for you. Their size makes them a great fit in smaller spaces, as long as you take them out for walks and leave them toys to play with at home. Furthermore, these two smaller Poodle varieties are suitable for those who lead a “calmer” life, as they will love to stay on your lap after their daily exercise!
If you’re an adventure seeker or live in a bigger home, then the Standard Poodle is an excellent addition to the household. Standard Poodles thrive in areas with a big yard where they can play and expend their energy all day long. Also, since they have high energy levels and larger bodies, they are best to take out for hiking, to run, or swimming as you travel!
While the Miniature and Toy Poodle are also energetic and love to play and explore, their size makes them more vulnerable to injuries. That said, if you love to travel, bringing your pet with you, their size gives them an advantage, as you can easily take them anywhere with less hassle on your end.
However, if you are an adult living alone and mostly stuck at work or love going out, the Poodle isn’t the best dog for you. Remember, these are companion animals that require a lot of love and attention, or they will be prone to separation anxiety and frustration from lack of care and exercise.
For adults who cannot commit to the time and care requirements owning a Poodle entails, other individual breeds with lower maintenance needs are more suited for you.
Seniors (Over 60 years old)
We highly recommend a low-maintenance dog for senior citizens, something that will want to spend most of their time at home cuddling with their owners.
For seniors, we recommend the Miniature and Toy Poodle. They will still need daily exercise, but not as intense as Standard Poodles. You can find the two smaller Poodle varieties wanting to spend time curled up on your lap.
If you want to get a bigger Poodle for seniors, an older Poodle is best, which you can adopt from a local shelter. Senior Poodles will appreciate their time at home with their owner more so than running around outside.
Regardless, expect Poodles to be easy to train and feel soft-tempered, making it easy for seniors to teach and live with for the long term. But do note that Poodles have higher grooming and exercise requirements than the typical dog, so if this is a problem, we recommend other companion animals like the Shih Tzu or Poodle mixed breed with a low-maintenance diet parent.
Poodles will have individual temperaments and needs with all this information in mind. One Poodle may be “lazier” than another or require more grooming than usual. Furthermore, there are other lifestyle factors to consider before choosing the best Poodle for your household, such as the house’s size, the amount of time you can give your Poodle, the budget, and more!
Either way, we believe that Poodles are best for any age group, and as long as you can give your pet the attention and care it needs, then you’ll both enjoy each other’s company and thrive in the long run. You can check our other blog posts for further research about the different Poodle varieties and mixed breeds to picture what they are like and which one’s best for your age and lifestyle.