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Poodles are
considered among the most intelligent and easily
trained of all dogs. Generally, this breed is alert,
cheerful, and willing to learn, so most owners have
found that basic obedience training and house
training come without a lot of difficulty. There
seems to be little difference in temperament between
male and female, though each dog, of course, is an
individual.
Contrary to some opinions about their daintiness,
the Poodle is actually a quite sturdy dog that is
listed in the gun dog/hunting dog category. This
breed has been around for hundreds of years, as far
back as Egyptian and Roman times. The Poodle was
bred to be a water dog, used for retrieving game and
accompanying the master on outdoor adventures. Its
roots may extend back to Asian herding dogs and
German dogs that were widely used in and around the
water. The Poodle may also be closely related to the
Portuguese dog known for its rugged nature in and
around the water.
With this in mind,
you may want to reconsider how the Poodle fits into
your family picture. In fact, some of the
recognizable grooming associated with the Poodle was
done to protect certain parts of the body during
outdoor activity. This breed is excellent at
learning tricks and performing in front of people.
Agility and balance are among the most revered
traits of the breed.
This breed loves to work with its owner/master in
agility competition, tricks competition, and even
outdoor trials. While basic obedience training is
good for any new pet, your Poodle may be great at
obedience trials. These competitions show how the
dog and handler perform as a team. Beginning with
the basics, such as sit, heel and stay are necessary
before advancing to increasingly difficult obedience
tasks.
According to the American Kennel Club, there are
several levels of poodle training available
for owners of purebred dogs. These levels range from
the puppy classes that emphasize socialization and
basic household commands to events training such as
agility, advanced obedience and tracking. In fact,
the Poodle Club of America has its own specialty
competitions for the breed.
Among the competitions available to those who want
to pursue something beyond basic obedience training,
there is freestyle obedience. This competition
involves performing a set routine, with accompanying
music. The routine can involve turns, jumps, and
other actions designed by the handler or owner.
Poodles can also be very successful in agility
competitions. This is a growing canine sport, with
clubs and organizations throughout the country
holding competitions. The dog is judged on speed and
accuracy. The course can include ramps, jumps,
weaving poles and much more. There are organizations
devoted specifically to freestyle and agility
competitions. If you have been through basic
obedience and house training with your new Poodle,
you may want to look into activity at a higher
level.
One of the activities that seem to attract Poodle
owners, as well as owners of other quick, agile
pets, is fly ball. This relatively new competition
involves chasing tennis balls over a course that
includes hurdles. Essentially, this competition
tests the dog’s agility, speed and intelligence, as
well as the obedience training the dog has received.
The final goal is to retrieve a ball and return it
to the starting point. A Poodle’s natural
intelligence and agility make this breed ideal for
fly ball competition. Whatever the level of training
you choose for your Poodle, you will probably find
that this breed is exceptional when it comes to
learning something new.
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