Par Annette
Poodles
FAQ
When buying a puppy there are often many questions that we need answers for. Here are some of the more common questions we are asked, and some answers to possibly assist inform you about buying a puppy.
Where do Poodles come from?
Although Poodles are recognised as the National dog breed of France, Poodles originate from Germany. The Poodle was developed as a water retriever in Germany, Russia and France from as early as the 16th century.
The smaller Poodles were used as truffle dogs. The word ‘Poodle’ originated from German ‘pudelin’ or Russian ‘pod-laika’ which translates to ‘splashing about in water’. The tight coated Poodle is naturally insulated against water, cold and heat. Poodles or ‘Pudelhounds’ began as water bird retrieval dogs.
From about the 1880s, European Aristocracy found Poodles coats could be fashioned in myriad ways. However, this has also meant that some people regarded Poodles as a bit of a spoiled aristocrat. Nevertheless, in France, the French commonly think of Poodles as just being ‘caniches’ or plain old working ‘duck dogs’.
Why are Poodles such great pets?
Although originally bred for waterfowl hunting, Poodles are regarded as one of the World’s most intelligent and trainable dog breeds. Nowadays, Poodles are classified as a companion dog. Historically, Poodles high intelligence have seen them typically excel in obedience training and they have been popular circus performing dogs. Poodles excel in hunt tests, agility, and rally competitions.
Poodles are incredibly smart, active, and fun-loving dogs with a great sense of the ridiculous. They thrive on affection, and love attention. They are brilliant with people and their gregarious natures see them fit in just about anywhere, and with just about anyone!
We make sure that our Poodle puppies are well socialised at an early age so that they are used to other people, other pets and living with other dogs. We find that our Poodles can run 10kms if required, or are just as happy laying about all day in bed. Poodles are considered as ‘easy keepers’. We do not recommend too many treats though because they can become overweight!
The smaller poodles can live until they are 17 years of age, while the larger Standard Poodles will usually make 12 to 14 years of age. Poodles are brilliant family dogs because they are smart and very easy to train. They will enjoy going out for walks and getting exercise is the best method for ensuring your dog is happy. They do prefer to be with people and are not great as kennel dogs.
There are three recognised varieties of Poodle. The Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodle. All Poodle varieties share identical DNA so all varieties are incredibly versatile. They will do superbly in a glamourous show ring, or are equally as brilliant at being guide dogs for the blind or police dogs.
Poodles also compete in all sorts of dog sports, will pull a sled in Alaska, herd sheep in Australia or compete in obedience or agility trials at Crofts in England. Blanche Saunders, the founder of obedience training had Standard Poodles.
Poodles are also among the world’s most common service dog breeds. Poodles have been regularly used in military service since at least the 17th century. Poodles are regarded as suitable for the battlefield, and have been trained to ignore gunfire. Prince Rupert of the Rhine was famous for taking his hunting Poodle on his horse and riding into battle during the English Civil War. Emporer Napoleon wrote of a soldier’s Poodle who refused to leave the body of his master at the Battle of Marengo.
John Suter served in the US military. In the 1970’s while stationed in Alaska he was taken back by a Miniature Poodle running beside a snowmobile. He was so impressed by the Poodle’s agility and athleticism he bought Standard Poodles from California and then shipped them north to Alaska. He then started his project to train the Standard Poodles to pull a sled, and raised the Poodles with Huskies. He found that the difference between Huskies and Poodles was that if a person falls off a sled, a Poodle will stop whereas a Husky keeps running!
In 1988 Suter competed in the Alaskan Iditarod. He finished the 14 day race in 1988, and his team of Standard Poodles finished the Iditarod again in 1989, 1990 and also in 1991! You can see the results here.
What colours are Poodles?
Poodles appear in a variety of coat colours. Poodle coat colours can be: Apricot which is regarded as the rarest colour; black, brown, blue, cafe-au-lait, cream, grey, silver, silver beige, red which is regarded as the second rarest, and white.
Dogs with coats that consist ofvbrown shades may also have dark amber eyes; liver coloured noses along with liver coloured lips and eye rims as well as dark nails. Rarer Apricot coloured Poodles or Red Poodles may also have liver points and dark nails. All other Poodles must have black noses, dark eyes and black eye rims, black noses and lips as well as self coloured or black toe nails.
Coat colours are even and solid but natural variations in the coat’s shading is not to be considered a fault.
Poodles with progressive greying coats like blue Poodles, silver Poodles, caf-au-lait Poodles or silver beige Poodles may have coats which includes hair in a variety of stages of clearing or their coats may appear to have a variety of shades until they arecfully cleared. These colours can also include Poodles with darker pigmented hair or hair in places where the Poodle has scars or skin damage.
Apricot and cream Poodles may also have uneven colouring and also maintain a darker pigment on the ears to appear Apricot and Cream.
The abovementioned Poodle colours (along with combinations) must be in one pattern as follows:
Parti-colored Poodles: Parti Coloured Poodles must be at least 50% white, and may have patches or spots of any other acceptable patterned or solid colouring. A Parti Poodle’s head may be a solid colour but a Parti Poodle with a white blaze, white muzzle, or a combination lf both os perfectly acceptable too but it is preferred if the muzzle and Blaze is somewhat symmetrical. Similarly, having partial saddle or a full saddle is also perfectly acceptable. Coats that have what is called ‘Ticking’ in the white of the coat is also perfectly acceptable.
Abstract Poodle: Poodles with less than 50% white, and which have 50% any other acceptable patterned or solid colour is called an Abstract Poodle. Nevertheless, in those Poodles which only have coats with a few barely noticeable white hairs or a chest spot or white hairs on toes or chin may show in Poodles rather than Multi-Coloured Poodles.
Phantom Poodles: Phantom coloured Poodles have a solid colour as their base but also have ‘sharply defined markings of a second color appearing above each eye, on the sides of the muzzle, on the throat and forechest, or in a chin and forechest bowtie pattern as well as on all four legs and feet, and below the tail’.
Phantom Poodles that do not have face markings that ‘presents with its whole face’ or have clearly defined face markings’ in the second colour is perfectly acceptable provided that all the other colours are maintained in the specified body markings. If there are merely faint Phantom markings then it is not preferred but are still acceptable. Any combination of any acceptable colour is allowed.
Sable Poodle: A Sable coloured Poodle have a coat that is represented by having ‘black-tipped hairs on a background of any solid color, with no particular pattern or location designated for such hairs’.
Brindle Poodles: A Brindle Poodle has a solid colour base and also has a striped pattern at the skin, but has ‘no particular pattern or location designated for the stripes’. If the Poodle has a longer coat then it may also appear to be blended, but only on the shaven areas, like the feet, the face, or the and base of the Poodle’s tail the Poodle should also have distinct stripes. Note that the striping may decline in appearance as the Poodle grows older.
Multi-patterned Poodles: A Poodle which has more than one of the acceptable colouring patterns, for example, like a Parti-coloured Poodle that has incomplete or full Phantom markings (facial markings with or without presentation of the diamond under the tail), or a Phantom with additional abstract markings, etc is perfectly acceptable.
Disqualification of Colours in Show ring: A Poodle that is comprised of any other colour patten or colour other than those described above are to be disqualified from the show ring sych as Merle colouring or Albinism.
In Show Conformation classes, Multi Coloured Poodles and Solid Coloured Poodles may be shown separately but they remain the same breed of dog.
Which Colours are the rarest?
Red Poodles: Red Poodles are thought of as the second rarest colour after Apricot coloured Poodles. Until the 1980s a Red Poodle was thought of as a Brown Poodle. However, the Red Poodle is now recognised in Europe.
The Red Poodle possesses a unique gene which is referred to as”the Rufus gene”. The Rufus gene makes Apricot darker. The Rufus gene is considered a recessive allele, which is the reason Red Poodles are so rare.
It is important to understand that regardless of a puppy’s colouring, Red Poodles can fade and some can get darker Red as they grow older.
Apricot Poodles: Apricot Poodles and Red Poodles are generally considered as relatively new colouring for Poodles. Red Poodles and Apricot Poodles have only been accepted into the Poodle breed in recent times; although, the first Apricot Standard Poodle was born in 1898. However, the Poodle was called a liver coloured Poodle at that time. Nowadays, Apricot Poodles are the recipients of a plethora of the most prestigious awards. As a result, Apricot Poodles are highly regarded and highly sought after.
Even the world’s top celebrities and sportspeople are embracing Apricot Poodles. Superstar World Cup Footballer Lionel Messi owns an Apricot Toy Poodle called Abu.
Cafe Au Lait Poodles: Cafe Au Lait Poodles are different to Apricot Poodles or Cream Poodles. Cafe Au Lait Poodles have a faint tan hue to their coat and have amber eyes, and liver points. Cafe Au Lait Poodles look a bit like a red Poodle but the hue is closer to silver than red. Cafe Au Lait is an official color, but some can be critical of the colour because they suggest it is a “sub-standard brown”. This has not stopped the colour from winning many top awards!”.
Parti Poodles: Parti Poodles are also very rare. Parti Poodles have large amounts of white on their body which can appear in combination with black, red, brown or other official or solid colours. A search online will confirm Parti Poodle are highly sought-after and can be difficult to find!
Are Parti-Coloured Poodles more expensive?
According to many sources Parti-Coloured Poodles are often more expensive. Searching Google will reveal that it is suggested that Parti Poodles command prices usually 10% or more higher than commonly coloured Poodles.
What types of Poodles are there? How big will they grow?
There are three recognised types of Poodles. Standard Poodles, Miniature Poodles, and Toy Poodles. Moyen or middle-sized Poodles are also possible but are not officially recognised other than in Europe. Teacup Poodles which weigh around 2 kilograms are also not recognised on Kennel Club lists. Nevertheless, all Poodles’ DNA are identical. So, simply remember that the only variations in each breed standard is a Poodle’s size.
The Standard Poodle must be 38cm or more in height at the highest point of the shoulder, and is usually well above 55cm. The Miniature Poodle is between 28cm to 38cm, and the Toy Poodle is less than 28cm.
Are Par Annette Poodles purebred?
All our Poodles are 100% purebred Poodles. Our Cavoodles are 50% Poodle and 50% King Charles Cavalier.
What are the main attributes of a Poodle’s conformation?
Poodle are a normal looking dog without any significant exaggeration. Poodles have proud head and body carriage while standing and moving. A Poodle should hold its tail high and have a long, and strong neck that is ideally suited to sustain the animal during work. Poodles have long, clean-lined heads with a strong and well-defined chiselled foreface. A typical Poodle expression requires ‘a correct head and foreface, a dark almond eye and long, wide, low-set ear leathers hanging close to the face’.
What type of Coat will my Poodle have?
Poodle coats are expected to be ‘dense and of harsh texture for water retrieving’. All solid colours are accepted for showing and a traditional Lion clip is recommended for showing Poodles. Poodles have two types of coats. Fleece Coats are sometimes called borderline or wavy coats. They are a longer looser looking coat than is a less tight curled coat than the Wool Coated dog. A Wool Coat is a much tighter curl. It is not possible to tell with accuracy what coat the puppy will have until they are a bit older. However, both coats are beautiful and soft if you maintain them.
Do Poodles Shed Hair? What about if I have Asthma?
Poodles are classified as a non-shedding dog breed. Poodles coats are also considered ideal for asthma sufferers as they are considered hypo allergenic.
How often do Poodles require grooming?
Pet or Companion Poodles should undergo regular foot, eye, ear, and rectum checks to make sure that they are free of ticks and matting. Ideally, owners should brush their Poodle weekly, and about every six weeks your Poodle should be bathed, have their ears cleaned, their nails trimmed and their coat clipped.
Do Par Annette Poodles come with papers?
Although, Par Annette’s breeding dogs may have pedigree papers, we do not sell any puppies with papers. We aim to breed to provide the best natured family pet or companion dogs instead of breeding show dogs. Annette Hull was a purist, and was and was in the past a Kennel Club breeder. However, Annette became of the belief that so long as her dogs were purebred, it was more important to breed quality puppies with loving temperaments that would fit right into a family. After all, she believed that owning a dog was about love not showing. Hence, Annette also believed it was more important to aim to breed puppies without genetic or physical impairments instead of focusing on breeding puppies to satisfy the opinion of a show ring judge. So, we do not sell papered puppies. If you are seeking a show puppy then please contact a Kennel Club breeder. We are certain that you will find a perfect puppy through one of the Breed Associations if you are seeking a puppy with papers. In the meantime, if you are looking for a Poodle puppy with a great nature that will fit in as a family pet or companion dog then please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Do you guarantee the health of puppies?
Yes, we do guarantee that at the time of collection or delivery your puppy will be in great health. Puppies are de-wormed every 2 weeks. At 6 weeks of age, our puppies are vaccinated, microchipped, and are given a full veterinarian examination. We provide you with a vet health certificate. We also conduct DNA testing of breeding dogs to check for possible genetic conditions. Furthermore, we feed quality feed at the right proportions, and our breeding curriculum is designed to give our mums and puppies the best opportunity for healthy outcomes. Nevertheless, although we cannot guarantee the health of a puppy in perpetuity, we do guarantee your puppy is healthy at the time of collection of delivery.
What issues do some Poodles have?
A 2024 UK study found an average Poodle’s life expectancy is approximately 14 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for other pure breed dogs and just 12 years for crossbreed dogs. See the study here. Some Poodles are known to suffer from hereditary diseases such as: skin sebaceous adenitis (estimated prevalence 2.7%) and Addison’s disease, an endocrine system disorder. According to Wikipedia, both diseases ‘became more prevalent in poodles after the 1960s burst in poodle popularity led to rapid breeding aimed at producing good show dogs. The breeding focused on a small number of popular bloodlines, creating a genetic bottleneck’. Some Poodles may also suffer from otitis externa, melanoma, hypothyroidism, and Cushing’s syndrome. While we do DNA test our breeders for genetic issues, we can never entirely guarantee the health of a dog in perpetuity because environmental factors can be out of our control after a dog leaves our care. Nevertheless, we do warrant our puppies are healthy when ownership first passes to you, and we do warrant that we do not expect your puppy to suffer from genetic health issues or hip dysplasia.
What is the process for purchasing a Par Annette Puppy?
The purchasing process is simple. To get started we ask you to follow the steps below:
- Let us know which puppy you want to adopt.
- Provide the name, address, phone, and email of the person who is going to be responsible for the puppy. This will enable us to send you a Puppy Raising Information Pack which will have detailed information on raising a puppy. We will also send you Puppy Purchase Agreement for you to consider.
- If you are certain a puppy is right for you, then simply sign and return the Puppy Purchase Agreement.
- Par Annette will then send you an invoice for payment.
- To secure your puppy we ask you to pay a small 10% deposit. Payment can be made by Paypal, Direct deposit or cash if you prefer.
- After the puppy is 8 weeks old you can collect or arrange delivery for your Poodle puppy. Prior to your puppy being collected or delivered full payment must be made. We may consider other arrangements depending on very special circumstances.
- Upon collection or delivery of your Poodle puppy, we will supply a hard copy of your puppy’s vaccination and microchip record. We will also supply a Microchip transfer form for you to lodge with your local council. We also provide a hard copy of the Vet Health Certificate.
- Do not forget to send us regular updates. We love to hear from our owners and see Par Annette family members as they grow up – it makes it all worthwhile!
Do I have to collect our puppy in person?
We can assist you with arranging transport for your Poodle puppy both domestically and overseas. We are experienced in transporting puppies by road and air freight around Australia and especially including Tasmania.
Is Par Annette a registered Breeder?
Yes, Par Annette Poodles is a registered Breeder. Our NSW registration is B001082526. Furthermore, our Responsible Pet Breeders Association membership is 11620. We follow the Responsible Pet Breeders Code, the association’s ethical guidelines, and State legislation which can be found here https://responsiblepetbreeders.com.au/about-us/.
How do I avoid puppy scammers?
Please beware of Puppy Scams. For information on how to avoid puppy scammers visit Choice at
https://www.choice.com.au/outdoor/pets/products/articles/pet-scams.
We are not sure if we know how to raise a puppy? Do you have some more information on raising a puppy?
To assist you to decide whether a puppy is right for your, please download our Puppy Raising Information which covers a wide variety of topics such as: feeding, socialising, vaccination, worming, training your puppy and much more.
Can I download a copy of the Puppy Purchase Agreement?
Please download our Puppy Purchase Agreement and peruse the document to make sure you are comfortable with what is required to purchase a puppy.
We have another question?
Please visit our Contact Us page and reach out by phone or email. We would love you hear from you and answer any questions that you may have about raising a Poodle puppy.