Are Poodles Good Guard Dogs?

Poodles have long been known as an extremely popular breed for family pets. Poodles are so prevalent they can be seen everywhere on TV, on movies, and just about any other type of media there is. In fact, poodles are so popular that there are a good number of dog breeds that are mixes that include poodles – bichon frises and poodles, labradoodles, golden doodles, and more! If you were thinking about getting a poodle, you might also be wondering – are poodles good guard dogs? Well, today we will attempt to answer this question by looking at poodles and making sure that we know as much as we can about them.

Poodles are lovely, intelligent creatures that are also adorable in appearance. They can be award winning show dogs with perfectly coifed coats. Some people love spoiling their poodles and getting them professionally groomed on a regular basis. Then, there are people who love getting their poodles groomed to look like the cutest stuffed animal there is. With how adorable these poodles can be groomed to look, it’s really no wonder that people out there must ask “are poodles good guard dogs?”

Well, if you want to know more about the poodle, let’s get talking!

Poodles – Everything You Need to Know

This dog breed comes in three sizes – the only breed in the world that does. Yes, you can get a poodle in a size that can suit your home! This is fantastic because sometimes people want a particular dog breed but they can’t get it due to incompatibility with the size of their dwelling. If you live in a small apartment, you can get a toy poodle which will be able to thrive and survive in such a space. For a medium sized apartment or house you can get a miniature poodle, the mid-sized version of this breed. And of course, if you have the space for it, you can get the standard poodle – the largest of the breed.

Poodles are incredibly smart dogs. In fact, they are widely known to be one of the smartest dog breeds on the planet. These pups are incredibly trainable, and they love the physical and mental stimulation that comes along with this. It is for this reason that many poodles are given tasks to do. As much as possible, poodles should not be allowed to get bored – otherwise they can misbehave and even more, they can become destructive.

Vital Statistics

As we have previously mentioned, there are three different sizes of poodles that can be found today. It is for this reason that they are such a versatile breed because you can find a size that will be perfect for your home and your needs.

Standard Poodle: 15-22 inches tall. Males usually weigh anywhere from 45-70 lbs while females usually weigh around 45-60 lbs.

Miniature Poodle: 11-15 inches tall. This size usually weighs around fifteen to seventeen pounds.

Toy Poodle: Up to ten inches in height. Can weigh roughly 6-9 pounds.

Characteristics of Poodles

There are many different characteristics of this breed and we are here to discuss this information today. Poodles do relatively well in hot weather and are ok with cold. However, these dogs are rather sensitive and also clingy, which makes them “Velcro dogs” – dogs that love sticking by your side as much as they can.

Poodles are friendly all around, which means that they are great for families that have kids. Poodles are affectionate pups and are usually friendly toward other dogs and strangers if well-socialized. This characteristic of theirs might give you an answer to are poodles good guard dogs.

Health and Grooming

Poodles are also fantastic for those who don’t want to deal with shedding or drooling. Poodles are one of the breeds that shed the least, and they don’t really drool at all! Unfortunately, this breed does require regular brushing and the occasional professional grooming so that their fur remains beautiful and unmatted. Know that poodles can gain weight rather quickly as well, so you may want to watch their diet carefully.

Time and Attention

Poodles are human lovers. They love spending time with their humans, and they love getting a lot of attention from them as well. These dogs will follow you around the home and try to be in the same room as you as much as possible. If not trained to handle separation anxiety, you may get poodles that howl and bark until you come back into the room with them. Yes, some of these dogs really dislike being left alone – and as a result we do not suggest you get a poodle unless you know for sure that you will be able to properly take the time to teach them it’s ok to be alone once in a while.

Separation anxiety training can be long and difficult, so you will have to be patient – and you’ll have to let your neighbors known about the situation too. Some poodle owners report that this incredibly attached breed would take a few weeks of separation anxiety training before they figured out that it was okay to be left in a room by themselves, and that it was ok to be in a crate or a room while mommy and/or daddy went to work.

The upside to them being so attached and loving, of course, is the fact that you have a dog that will always be eager for your companionship. Nothing beats coming home from a long day to a dog that can’t wait to be back in your arms and sitting on the couch (or the floor) beside you.

With the above traits, it’s truly no wonder that poodles make such great pets for even novice dog owners!

Training Poodles

As we have mentioned above, this breed is actually one of the smartest out there. This means that they are incredibly easy to train, provided you find the right motivation for them. Poodles do tend to get mouthy and love to explore the world with their mouths, nipping and licking and chewing along the way. Fortunately, these dogs don’t tend to howl or bark much, only doing so when necessary (another reason why they make such excellent apartment dogs). They also do not have much of a prey drive.

Be careful though, as poodles do have a tendency to want to explore and wander. It is for this reason that you should make sure you have a secure fence if you want to let your pup out the back yard. You don’t want your pooch getting away!

Don’t Skip Training

Something that we need to stress is the fact that every single poodle needs training. There is no excuse for not giving your pooch some time to teach them the right behaviors and the proper way to act and behave. Even if you have a toy or miniature poodle, you still want to do your best to make sure you teach them obedience and proper dog manners. If you spoil them too much and coddle them, these highly intelligent dogs will come to the conclusion that they are the alpha and the pack leader. When this happens, it will become much harder to control them and make sure that they behave properly.

At the same time, we feel it is important to remind you that just as you can teach a pooch good habits, you can also inadvertently (and unconsciously) teach them bad ones. The fact is poodles are so smart that they can pick up on a lot of things – which means if you are a novice owner, you could be doing something detrimental that even you don’t know about. Therefore, if you are a first time dog owner, it’s always a good idea to join an obedience class with your dog. Not only will it be a learning experience for both you and your beloved canine, but it will certainly also help as a bonding experience.

Exercise for Poodles

Poodles are about an 8 out of 10 in terms of energy, with one being the lowest and ten being the highest. That being said, they only have a medium intensity, which means that although they are high energy, they won’t necessarily be bouncing off the walls. They do need regular exercise and play time, however, because leaving this breed without physical and mental stimulation can only cause problems with their behavior. Therefore, if you have a poodle that is misbehaving, take a look at whether you are offering them enough exercise or not. It might just be the solution to your pup’s bad behavior!

A Primer in Poodle History

Despite poodles’ appearance and the general misconception that they are spoiled dogs that live life in the lap of luxury, the fact is these are dogs that were bred for a purpose! This breed of dog is famously known to do real jobs – something you wouldn’t really think right off the bat when you see a poodle. However, back in the day before poodles became show dogs, they were water retrievers – dogs that were basically bred to jump in the water and fetch hunters’ prey. In fact, the name of this breed itself tells you about its history. The word poodle comes from the word Pudel/Pudelin, German words which means splashing in water.

The fancy “poodle haircut” we all know so well was also designed for a purpose – the coat was shaved in areas to make sure the dog is lighter and so the fur will not catch on anything underwater. The long hair left around the dog’s joints as well as their vital organs, on the other hand, help to protect them from cold water.

Poodle Care

If you have a poodle then chances are you already know how much work is necessary for grooming and keeping them in good health. To keep them healthy and happy , make sure that you offer enough exercise while also giving them only high-quality kibble. Of course, you can also give them homemade dog food but make sure that you consult with your veterinarian or your dog’s breeder before you proceed. Poodles do require quite a bit of upkeep, and it is for this reason that you should not get them if you do not have enough time to give them regular brushings and Maps. You should also not get a poodle if you cannot afford their professional grooming once in a while (unless, of course you know how to give them a trim yourself.

Poodles are amazingly adaptable and resilient little creatures, and so even if you aren’t exactly an experienced dog owner, you can still have one and keep them happy and healthy. Remember that when you are buying their dog food, you should choose one that is appropriate for their current life stage. Puppies should get puppy food, adults should get adult food, and seniors should get senior food. And of course, you should remember that the size of your poodle also indicates what type of dog food you should give them. Therefore, toy poodles should get food formulated for toy dogs and miniature breeds. Mini poodles should get food specifically designed for small to medium dogs, while standard poodles should get food formulated for large dogs. This is particularly important in making sure that your dog gets the proper nutrition that they need from their diet.

Are Poodles Good Guard Dogs

Now that we’ve basically talked about everything there is to know about poodles, it’s time to answer the question “are poodles good guard dogs?”

Well, the short answer to that is no. To extrapolate, poodles are very fond of human companionship and humans in general. As a result, any well socialized poodle will likely enjoy meeting new people. This does not quite work if you are trying to get them to be completely protective of your home and your property as guard dogs. So are poodles good guard dogs? No, they’re not, so if you want to get a guard dog you are better off finding a dog like a Doberman Pinscher or perhaps a bullmastiff – or even a GSD!

Conclusion

We’ve answered the question “are poodles good guard dogs”, and we have concluded that no, they are most likely not. However, that doesn’t mean that they will not make amazing pets that will be incredibly loyal and affectionate and unconditionally loving to you and your family. So if you want to get a dog for protection, poodles might not be your best bet – but for sure, they will be there to love you unconditionally for their entire lifetime. We hope that this guide to poodles has helped enlighten you on whether a poodle would be the right choice for you and your family. We also hope that if you do get a poodle, you find them just as lovely as most other poodle owners do. Good luck with your search for your new family addition!