Poodle Information
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Poodle Behavior
Overview
Poodles are amazing canines, capable of high intelligence, strong loyalty and having a range of emotions. Just like people, Poodles can feel sad, depressed, excited, happy, bored, overwhelmed...even jealous. The Poodle is known for being one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world with a unique temperament. Being so elegant, particularly the show dog, many people do not realize just how friendly and "people orientated" a pet Poodle is. They love human companionship, love to play and are truly "man's best friend".
Along with each Poodle having their own unique personality, owners find that their Poodle can also have some odd or particular habits or behaviors. Let's take a look at some of the behaviors of this breed and whether one should be concerned...or just chalk it up to the individuality.
Sleep
Puppies - Poodle puppies up to the age of 8 months can sleep anywhere from 15 to 20 hours per day! Their sleeping needs will decrease with age. With puppies, it is very normal to sleep quite a bit and to be extremely active while awake.
An adolescent & adult Poodles - Poodles, usually after the age of 1 year, will sleep approximately 13 hours and by this age most dog's learn to adjust their sleeping hours to be in conjunction with their owner's schedule. It is normal for Poodles to take naps. Dogs who are left home alone during the day for more than 3 hours will usually take many more naps than ones who have companionship during the day.
Senior Poodles - Senior dogs will sleep more often and naps will increase as the dog grows older. A Toy Poodle is considered to be a senior at the age of 10, a Miniature Poodle at the age of 8-9 years and a Standard Poodle at 7 years old. It is important to allow an older dog to take naps whenever they wish and not to "push" playing or exercise on them. While daily walks are still very important to health, do allow a senior to rest when needed.
Poodles are amazing canines, capable of high intelligence, strong loyalty and having a range of emotions. Just like people, Poodles can feel sad, depressed, excited, happy, bored, overwhelmed...even jealous. The Poodle is known for being one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world with a unique temperament. Being so elegant, particularly the show dog, many people do not realize just how friendly and "people orientated" a pet Poodle is. They love human companionship, love to play and are truly "man's best friend".
Along with each Poodle having their own unique personality, owners find that their Poodle can also have some odd or particular habits or behaviors. Let's take a look at some of the behaviors of this breed and whether one should be concerned...or just chalk it up to the individuality.
Sleep
Puppies - Poodle puppies up to the age of 8 months can sleep anywhere from 15 to 20 hours per day! Their sleeping needs will decrease with age. With puppies, it is very normal to sleep quite a bit and to be extremely active while awake.
An adolescent & adult Poodles - Poodles, usually after the age of 1 year, will sleep approximately 13 hours and by this age most dog's learn to adjust their sleeping hours to be in conjunction with their owner's schedule. It is normal for Poodles to take naps. Dogs who are left home alone during the day for more than 3 hours will usually take many more naps than ones who have companionship during the day.
Senior Poodles - Senior dogs will sleep more often and naps will increase as the dog grows older. A Toy Poodle is considered to be a senior at the age of 10, a Miniature Poodle at the age of 8-9 years and a Standard Poodle at 7 years old. It is important to allow an older dog to take naps whenever they wish and not to "push" playing or exercise on them. While daily walks are still very important to health, do allow a senior to rest when needed.
More Behaviors
There are many stages that a Poodle puppy enters during this fast time of growth and development. Some stages happen so fast, you can see your Poodle changing right before your eyes! Other behaviors can be present for the dog's entire life...and bad habits can stay indefinitely if training is not implemented. Let's take a look at what is normal behavior for a Poodle puppy , adolescent and adult dog...and some ways to deal with these phases.
The Hyper Poodle Puppy - This phase will last from 8 weeks to approximately 1 year. It will be normal for your puppy to have an abundance of energy! Poodle puppies will want to play from daybreak to nightfall. It is normal for a pup to run around the home, investigate every object they can get their mouths on and generally wear you out! Do keep in mind that a puppy will want to chew on everything, well before teething even begins. You may find it helpful to read the Dangers section to keep your Poodle safe. Enjoy this special puppyhood phase, as it goes by very quickly. If you find your Poodle is just too hyper, you may wish to read our Question & Answer section which discuses hyperactive puppies and adult Poodles.
The Overexcited Poodle - While it is much more common with puppies, a Poodle of any age may become excited very easily. This can be negative or positive. Some Poodles have Separation Anxiety, a term used when a dog has a difficult time coping with being home alone. Dogs who feel this way may become so happy when their owners return home that they loose control of their bladder. Since we can't be with our Poodles every moment (although we wish we could), you may wish to read the Separation Anxiety section.
The Chewing Machine - As mentioned above, puppies have an almost uncontrollable instinct to chew on everything that they can find. This is actually a very important stage, as it is a learning stage. An owner must keep the home "puppy proofed", however at the same time one must allow a puppy to explore their world, both inside and outside of the home. When teething begins, this can be an especially trying time. You may wish to read more about this in the Teething section.
Nipping - Nipping can become a bad habit, if training is not given to show a Poodle that nipping is not acceptable. This can interfere with many aspects, including having your dog behave when company comes over or when your dog is playing with children. Puppies naturally nip because this is the 1st form of play that a puppy learns. It will be the owners job to show their Poodle was is and what is not acceptable so that you do not have a nipping adult dog! You may wish to read more in our Nipping / Biting section.
The Hyper Poodle Puppy - This phase will last from 8 weeks to approximately 1 year. It will be normal for your puppy to have an abundance of energy! Poodle puppies will want to play from daybreak to nightfall. It is normal for a pup to run around the home, investigate every object they can get their mouths on and generally wear you out! Do keep in mind that a puppy will want to chew on everything, well before teething even begins. You may find it helpful to read the Dangers section to keep your Poodle safe. Enjoy this special puppyhood phase, as it goes by very quickly. If you find your Poodle is just too hyper, you may wish to read our Question & Answer section which discuses hyperactive puppies and adult Poodles.
The Overexcited Poodle - While it is much more common with puppies, a Poodle of any age may become excited very easily. This can be negative or positive. Some Poodles have Separation Anxiety, a term used when a dog has a difficult time coping with being home alone. Dogs who feel this way may become so happy when their owners return home that they loose control of their bladder. Since we can't be with our Poodles every moment (although we wish we could), you may wish to read the Separation Anxiety section.
The Chewing Machine - As mentioned above, puppies have an almost uncontrollable instinct to chew on everything that they can find. This is actually a very important stage, as it is a learning stage. An owner must keep the home "puppy proofed", however at the same time one must allow a puppy to explore their world, both inside and outside of the home. When teething begins, this can be an especially trying time. You may wish to read more about this in the Teething section.
Nipping - Nipping can become a bad habit, if training is not given to show a Poodle that nipping is not acceptable. This can interfere with many aspects, including having your dog behave when company comes over or when your dog is playing with children. Puppies naturally nip because this is the 1st form of play that a puppy learns. It will be the owners job to show their Poodle was is and what is not acceptable so that you do not have a nipping adult dog! You may wish to read more in our Nipping / Biting section.
