If you want to get a dog but don’t like dog hair on your sofa or dog hair tumbleweeds on your floor maybe you’ve considered getting a Poodle as a family pet. In this article we’ll explore the pros and cons of getting a Poodle and answer the question, “Do Poodles Shed?”
Poodles shed their curly hair but very, very little. Poodles shed much less hair than most other dogs. Any hair that Poodles shed gets caught in their thick, curly coat giving the appearance of being a non shedding dog. They do require frequent brushing to keep their hair from tangling and to remove loose hair.
This article will explore the specific information about Poodles shedding and the cost of having a Poodle groomed.
In my personal experience I haven’t seen any hair on our sofa or on the floor from our 3 year old Standard Poodle Annie. When I pet her I don’t see any ‘floaties’ and I don’t see any ‘tumbleweed’ hair in the corners like I saw with our Golden Retriever. Although our Golden Retriever was a wonderful family member we saw hair tumbleweeds and that dog hair was everywhere!
Poodles have a single coat of curly hair while many dogs have a double coat of hair. The Poodles hair doesn’t stop growing at a specific length like most dogs. Their hair just keeps growing similar to human hair. This gives groomers almost endless possibilities when it comes to hair styles for poodles but also creates a hair challenge for Poodle owners.
Grooming a Poodle
Since a Poodles hair keeps growing It means poodles need regular grooming and brushing. This is an important consideration if you want a poodle as a family pet. Poodles should be brushed at least 3 times a week although brushing your poodle daily is recommended. Brushing helps stimulate circulation and distributes natural skin oils which helps keep the poodle’s skin healthy. Brushing your Poodle regularly will remove loose hair and dander by keeping it on the brush and not on your dog.
Keeping your Poodle cut short, as opposed to the traditional Poodle cut, will require less maintenance and helps prevent the hair from getting matted.
This brings up another consideration with owning a Standard Poodle. Taking a Poodle to the groomer every 6 weeks can become expensive. Since Poodles come in three sizes, Toy Poodles, Miniature Poodles, and Standard Poodles the size of the dog will usually influence the grooming fee. Larger dogs are charged a bigger fee.
The typical cost to have a Poodle groomed ranges from $60 to $100’s of dollars depending on your location. I have paid from $80 to $105 including tip here in the St. Louis MO suburbs as of this writing in 2021. Annie’s most recent grooming cost was $85 and I added a $20 tip. Once again, Annie had no money so I had to pay the groomer for her. Here’s what Annie received for this price:
- Warm Massage Jet Wash
- Fluff Dry
- Nails Trimmed
- Paw Pads Shaved
- Ear Cleaning
- Mink Oil Coat Shine
- Bandana
- Haircut of Choice (I chose an all over shorter cut for the summer)
- Fragrance
As you can see they include a lot of washing, cleaning, trimming and more for the price, which I believe is well worth it. Many Poodle owners opt to buy some good electric trimmers, brushes, and combs and learn how to groom their dog themselves which can save a lot of money in the long run.
If they have the time and patience and can develop the expertise to groom their Poodle I have great respect for them!
(Yes, go watch some YouTube videos! There are reliable groomers sharing great tips about maintaining your poodle). Trimming the dogs nails or trimming around the eyes, ears, and mouth is stressful! If your are at all unsure about learning to groom your Poodle then by all means use a reliable groomer.
Questions to Ask a Dog Groomer
- Do you have experience grooming Poodles?
- Do you have certifications and what is your experience level?
- What would you do if my dog gets scared?
- May I see the work area where you groom pets?
- What is your pricing structure?
- Do you have a plan in place for an emergency?
- Do you use natural, chemical free products?
- What does your grooming include? (Nails trimmed, ears cleaned, paw pads shaved?)
- What is your fee?
Are Poodles Hypoallergenic?
(See full article, “Are Poodles Hypoallergenic?”)
Poodles are hypoallergenic! How can we say that when so many other sources say no dog is hypoallergenic? Let’s look at the definition of hypoallergenic from the Merriam – Webster Dictionary:
“Hypoallergenic: Having little likelihood of causing an allergic reaction.”
Being hypoallergenic simply means humans have little likelihood of experiencing an allergic reaction, so it is still possible to have an allergic reaction except the odds are very low. Because Poodles have a coat that sheds very little and produces less dander this results in a dog that is hypoallergenic.
The dog’s dander is the primary cause of allergies in people. Dander is composed of tiny flecks of the dog’s skin. The dander then clings to the Poodle’s hair and is the root cause of allergic reactions. This is why it’s so important to keep your Poodle clean a groomed regularly in turn reducing dander and an allergic reaction to the dog.
Poodles shed their skin about every 21 days as opposed to most dog breeds that shed their skin every 3 to 4 days. This huge difference significantly reduces dander that causes allergic reactions in family members.
A primary reason to get a low shedding dog is to help avoid allergies.
For dog lovers that have allergies the Poodle has been a very popular choice over the years. With their friendly disposition and high intelligence the Poodle is easy to train and is a welcome family member.
Poodles Come in 3 Sizes:
Standard Poodle: The largest poodle of the 3 sizes is over 15 inches tall at the shoulder — typically in the 22″- 27″ range. Males typically weigh 45 to 70 pounds and females typically weigh 45 to 60 pounds.
The life expectancy of a Standard Poodle is 12 years, ranging from 11 to 13 years as considered typical.
My Standard Poodle Annie weighs 48 pounds. She loves playing with my grandkids and she is a “velcro” dog that stays close to me whenever possible. She can be a silly goofball and has calm moments when she likes hugs. If you like a lot of dog to hug this would be the right choice for you!
Miniature Poodle: This is the medium size poodle and they are over 10 inches tall and under 15″ inches tall at the shoulder – most are in the 13″-15″ range and usually weigh 10 to 15 pounds.
The life expectancy of a Miniature Poodle is 15 years, ranging from 14 to 16 years considered typical.
Toy Poodle: The smallest poodle is under 10 inches tall at the shoulder and usually weigh 6 to 9 pounds. This tiny size Poodle is perfect for smaller homes or apartments.
The life expectancy of a Toy Poodle is also 15 years, ranging from 14 to 16 years considered typical.
Poodles Come in Many Fun Colors
- Black
- White
- Brown
- Red
- Blue
- Apricot
- Cafe Au Lait
- Cream
- Gray
- Silver
- Silver Beige
In addition to these 11 colors is the various, almost endless mix of these colors known as Parti-Poodles. Parti Poodles have white as their base color with patches of other solid colors such as brown, black, red, etcetera on their coat. The Parti Poodle is unique and they are relatively rare. Originally they were considered “defective” Poodles whereas now they are very desirable.
History of the Poodle
The Poodle was referred to as PudelHund in Germany where the breed originated over 400 years ago. The word Pudel simply means puddle and the Poodle was known as the puddle dog. Amazing as it sounds the Poodle was developed and used for hunting birds and small prey. Poodles are extremely athletic and are excellent swimmers making them great retrievers if trained properly.
Eventually Poodles were adopted as the national dog of France and are sometimes referred to as French Poodles. This is when Poodles gained a reputation as a frou frou, delicate dog. This definition simply does not apply to Poodles. They are elegant, athletic dogs that love to play, prance, and rough house with other dogs.
Conclusion
If you are considering a poodle as a family pet and want a dog with very little shedding then the Poodle would make a great choice. They are also hypoallergenic making them a good fit for people with allergies.
Keep in mind Poodles need regular grooming and brushing so you will have some expenses maintaining your Poodles thick hair. To get a more specific idea of the grooming cost, I’ve spent $75 to $105 including tip to have my Standard Poodle groomed here in the Saint Louis MO area. You will also need to set aside time to brush your Poodle regularly. Daily brushing would be best or at least 3 times a week. It’s well worth the effort to brush your poodle to avoid mats and tangles.
Poodles have a reputation for being high strung, aloof, prissy dogs. Actually, they are highly intelligent, athletic, dogs that make excellent family members. As they are highly intelligent (ranked number 2 smartest dogs in the world) they need plenty of mental stimulation and physical exercise. The more exercise and mental stimulation you can give your Poodle the happier and more well behaved she will be.
Poodles are sometimes entertaining clowns that are quite goofy and funny. They are elegant, social dogs that thrive with families. We highly recommend these loyal, intelligent, athletic, fun loving dogs that make great family pets.