The origin of the Poodle has not been substantiated but dogs similar to this breed were seen in many parts of the Europe as early as 1553. This type of dog was developed in the seventeenth century as a water dog that retrieved game fowl out of rivers and lakes. They quickly became popular with royalty and as circus dogs as a result of their ability to master many trades and tasks.
Historical references suggest that was a lot of variation in size even in the sixteenth century. However, it was not until the nineteenth century that poodles officially became classified as Standard (the largest type), Miniature and Toy (the smallest type). We have had the most success training Miniature Poodles.
Poodles are arguably one of the most intelligent breeds. They love to learn and as a result usually excel in their obedience and sound-work training. The Miniature’s were developed to be companions rather than working dogs. As a result they are ideally suited to life as a hearing dog happily accompanying their recipients where ever they go.
Miniature Poodles are playful and energetic dogs that love partaking in chase or retrieve games with their owners or with other dogs. Despite this, they are not prone to chase and hunt other animals, making them well suited to our recipients that have pets. As companions, Miniature Poodles are highly sociable and are usually good with children. They therefore make excellent hearing dogs for recipients with busy lifestyles and large families. However, as a versatile breed they adapt well to a variety of lifestyle and environments, they will happily live with recipients that live alone and those that have a quieter lifestyle, provided they are given enough exercise and stimulation.
The poodle coat is dense and waterproof, useful for working dogs that retrieve game from rivers and lakes. However, for a hearing dog the most important physical characteristic of the poodle coat is that it does not moult. This is a very useful attribute for recipients that work in certain environments where shedding may be a problem.
