Puppy Buyers

Bringing a Poodle into your life...

The Poodle is one of the most popular breeds of dogs. Poodles are highly intelligent, adaptable & have a remarkable sense of humour. They come in 3 sizes, many colours, don't shed and are tolerated by many allergy sufferers. With so many wonderful qualities, it is easy to see why the Poodle has so many admirers.
According to breed scholars, the Poodle's origins are most likely German, where he was known as PUDELIN (meaning 'to splash') because of his love of water. It was the French, however, who honoured the dog - at home, in the courts of Kings and on the battlefield - thus earning the dog his popular, but incorrect title - the French Poodle.

Your First Step

We recommend that you contact The Poodle Club of Victoria. Members of the club who have puppies available or litters planned for the immediate future provide details to our Puppy Officer. Our membership covers Standard, Miniature & Toy Poodles. The club also has information of older Poodles that sometimes become available due to changes in their owners circumstances.

You can find more general information about buying a pure bred dog by visiting the Dogs Victoria website - http://dogsvictoria.org.au - & clicking on the Dogs & Puppies tab.

Is a Poodle right for you?

Think about your lifestyle, your household, your capacity to meet the financial commitment of both the purchase & care throughout the Poodle's life, and your ability to provide for a Poodle's needs - feeding, grooming, exercise, training & companionship. A Poodle cannot be left for regular long periods without human companionship. Most of these needs will apply to any breed, however the Poodle does have particular grooming needs. His non-shedding coat has many advantages, but for his comfort, hygiene & the health of his skin, he needs to be brushed regularly to remove the dead hair from his coat and he needs to be clipped every 4-8 weeks.

Do you want your Poodle to be solely a companion dog, or are you interested in trying other activities with him? If you'd like to try obedience, agility or showing, the Poodle Club can help to connect you with people who can help you achieve your goals.

Which Poodle is right for you?

THE TOY POODLE
Of the 3 varieties, the Toy is the smallest. He is popular with apartment owners, retired people who enjoy travelling with their pet and those who prefer a very small dog. By definition, the Toy Poodle should be no taller than 11"at the shoulder. Please note there is no such thing as a registered Teacup Toy Poodle. This term is used as a marketing gimmick to suggest that your puppy will be extra-small. Any Poodle which under 11" tall is called a Toy Poodle. Very tiny dogs can often have serious health problems as a result of them being so small.

THE MINIATURE POODLE
The Miniature Poodle is the medium size variety, ideally not taller than 15" at the shoulder. This sturdy size is small enough to suit apartment living, and large enough to be a rough & tumble child's companion.

THE STANDARD POODLE
The Standard Poodle has no upper height limit, although the majority are generally between 22" & 27" tall, with females at the lower end of the range. The Standard, originally a water retriever, is now enjoying a myriad of roles - hospital therapy dog, hunting dog and loyal companion. He is ideal for those who prefer a larger dog. There is no such thing as a Royal Standard Poodle - this term is a marketing gimmick to suggest your puppy will be extra-large. The Poodle should NOT be a Giant breed, & as with excessively small dogs, excessively large Poodles can be susceptible to health problems.

The Standard Poodle is a tall, energetic dog that will require more food, exercise, training & grooming than a Miniature or Toy.

HOW OLD?
Puppies are ready to go to their new homes between 8 & 12 weeks. Baby puppies are endearing, however be prepared to commit time & patience to integrate him into your household & allow him to develop into a well-adjusted & well-socialized dog. An older Poodle has the advantage of having passed through its early puppy stages, however older dogs may have acquired habits suited to their previous owner & may need some time & patience to adapt to your requirements.

Keep in mind that a Standard Poodle may live 14 years or more. Miniature & Toy Poodles may live 16 years or more.

Don't buy on impulse.

Buying any dog is a commitment to look after him for the duration of his life. Buying a dog SHOULD NOT be done on impulse. Learn as much as you can about the breed in which you are interested. Every breed has advantages and disadvantages - responsible breeders will make sure you understand both before letting you take one of their babies.

ADVANTAGES OF THE POODLE
Three sizes to choose from
Highly intelligent & adaptable
Delightful, clever temperament
People oriented
Non shedding
Breed of choice for many allergy sufferers
Many colours to choose from

DISADVANTAGES
Demands grooming on a regular basis
A very social dog - not a breed to be a 'backyard dog' or left alone for long periods

Health Considerations

There are hereditary health problems in ALL dogs, & it is interesting to note that rather than being 'healthier' mixed-breed dogs are susceptible to all the common problems of BOTH breeds, as well as specific problems of their own.

The Toy Poodle may have luxating patellas (unstable kneecaps) & Legg-Perthe's Disease (disease of the hip joint).
The Miniature Poodle may have knee, hip, eye & thyroid problems.
The Standard Poodle may have gastric torsion/bloat, von Willebrand's Disease & autoimmune problems such as sebaceous adenitis, Addison's disease & autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Through research funded by Kennel Clubs & Poodle breeders worldwide, DNA tests have been developed to help in the identification of the genes which produce some of these diseases (such as PRA & vWD), with many more research projects in progress. Responsible breeders screen all breeding stock for hereditary health problems for which tests exist prior to utilizing ANY dog in a breeding program, and will be delighted to answer any questions about the health of your puppy's sire or dam. Even when both parents (& even grandparents) have been tested & found to be suitable for breeding, there is no guarantee a dog will not develop a health problem. However, buying a puppy from a knowledgeable breeder who completes health testing will considerably increase your chances of getting a healthy Poodle.

What is a Registered Breeder?

A Registered Breeder is a breeder of pure bred dogs, who is registered with the Australian National Kennel Council through their relevant state affiliate organization. In Victoria, our state affiliate is Dogs Victoria. A Registered Breeder will be a member of Dogs Victoria, and will have their 'prefix' (kennel name) registered with Dogs Victoria.
This is NOT THE SAME THING as being registered with a local council, which is a legal requirement for every companion animal in Australia. Companion Animal Registration DOES NOT constitute the registration of a dog as a pure bred dog.

What is a Responsible Breeder?

In Victoria, responsible breeders are members of Dogs Victoria & have their breeding prefix registered with Dogs Victoria. They understand and implement the Dogs Victoria Code of Ethics, the Companion Animal Act and the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Code of Practice. These documents can be viewed on line. A responsible breeder recognizes that in a world of unwanted dogs, it is NOT RESPONSIBLE to produce vast numbers of randomly bred puppies. Responsible breeders are committed to breeding with the purpose of improving the standard and the health of the Poodle, and ensuring good homes for their puppies based on:

Good knowledge of the Poodle breed & the breed standard (http://ankc.org.au/breed/detail.90)
Good knowledge of their own dog's pedigrees & their ancestors
Appropriate health testing of puppies' parents
Appropriate vaccination, worming & microchipping before they leave the breeder
Being happy to show a buyer the parents of the puppy (if both are owned by the breeder) & the conditions in which the puppy has been bred & raised
Obtaining necessary information from the buyer before agreeing to sell, to satisfy the breeder that the buyer understands their responsibilities & can meet them
Informing buyers of the appropriate preparations to accommodate their new Poodle puppy
Providing all buyers with appropriate registration papers, quality care information and an offer of on-going support & help

BUYER BEWARE!
Be aware that there are people selling puppies - both Poodles & Poodle-related cross-breeds - who exploit their dogs unethically to make money, regardless of the health. well-being & quality of their dogs. To avoid disappointment, do your research carefully, and seek advice from the Poodle Club.