Featured Pet of the Day: The Teacup Poodle

Happy Fursday, Missians!

First off just letting you know I have an update regarding the episode "Vet Visits: How Often Is Enough?".  I did go ahead and get the episode scheduled on Blog Talk, but yesterday, D informed me that she will likely have some family in town Saturday and won't be able to do the show.  And since, (as I mentioned yesterday), my husband and I are potentially going to see his family Saturday, we've decided to postpone Saturday's show until next week, (September 12th).  We apologize for any inconvenience.  If you guys want to read the episode description, you can do so by clicking here.

Now onto the featured pet of the day, the Teacup Poodle.  I used to consider getting this cutie, (although my first choice was the Miniature Schnauzer--I'll do a feature on him later).  Teacup Poodles are cute as "all get out" and make great pets, (if they are the right fit for you).  Take a moment to read more about this potential pet to see if this could be the fur baby for you:

Picture of Penny The Teacup Poodle, Courtesy of dogbreedinfo.com

 

Teacup Poodle information courtesy of dogbreedinfo.com:

Pronunciation	TEE-kuhp POO-duhl
Extras	The Teacup Poodle is an unofficial size variation of the Poodle. It is, in reality, a Toy Poodle, but is smaller in size than the AKC Toy Poodle standard. Breeders are purposely breeding them accordingly. Teacups are common in the States. They tend to be 9 inches or smaller, and under 6 pounds in weight. The Teacup Poodle is just a name given to very small Poodles by breeders, and therefore, there is no universal standard for those who are breeding them.
Description	When groomed to show dog standards the body is meant to give off a square appearance. It has approximately the same length as the height at the withers. The skull is moderately rounded with a slight but definite stop. It has a long, straight muzzle. The dark, oval-shaped eyes are set somewhat far apart and are black or brown. The ears hang close to the head and are long and flat. Both the front and back legs are in proportion with the size of the dog. The topline is level. The tail is set and carried high. It is sometimes docked to half its length or less to make the dog look more balanced. Dewclaws may be removed. The oval-shaped feet are rather small and the toes are arched. The coat is either curly or corded. It comes in all solid colors including black, blue, silver, gray, cream, apricot, red, white, brown or café-au-lait. While it does not make the written show standard, some breeders are breeding parti-colored Poodles. See grooming for different types of Poodle clips.
Temperament	The Teacup Poodle is remarkably intelligent. Highly responsive, it is said to be one of the most trainable breeds. Sweet, cheerful, perky and lively, it likes to be with people. Delightful, very amusing and keen. Socialize them well. They make a very good watchdog for their size. Without the proper type and amount of exercise they may be high-strung and timid. If the human is not 100% pack leader, they may snap if they are teased or surprised. Toy Poodles are generally good with other pets and dogs. Unless given rules to follow and limits as to what they are, and are not allowed to do, this breed will tend to bark a lot. Do not let this small dog develop Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors where the dog believes he is pack leader to humans. This causes varying degrees of behavior issues, including, but not limited to snapping, growling, guarding, demanding, untrustworthiness with children and sometimes adults, sensitive, nervous, reserved with strangers and obsessive barking, as the dog tries to tell the humans what it is HE wants THEM to do. This little dog can be good with children, however is usually recommended for older children who know how to display leadership skills. The reason is that most humans treat the dog in such a way that makes them unsure just who the pack leader is in the human dog relationship. The dog, in his own mind, is convinced HE is the leader to humans. These are NOT Tea Cup Poodle traits, but rather traits brought on by meek owners. Make sure you are your dog’s firm, consistent, confident pack leader, providing daily mental and physical exercise in order to have a trustworthy, mentally stable dog.
Height, Weight	Smaller than the Toy Poodle. Not an official AKC size variation, however has become a popular unofficial size variation. Height:  9 inches or under (22 cm) Weight:  under 6 pounds (3 kg)
Health Problems	A long-lived breed, Poodles are, nevertheless, subject to many genetic diseases. Some are prone to IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia), slipped stifle, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disorders, PRA, runny eyes, ear infections and digestive tract problems. Eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy which can cause blindness. Skin conditions, possibly due to unskilled use of clippers. Brown Poodles tend to become prematurely gray. Allergies are common, sometimes to shampoo and/or color reinforcer.
Living Conditions	The Teacup Poodle is good for apartment life. It is very active indoors and will do okay without a yard.
Exercise	Teacup Poodles need a daily walk. Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all breeds, play will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs that do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They will also enjoy a good romp in a safe, open area off lead, such as a large, fenced-in yard. They adore water and love sessions of play.
Life Expectancy	About 12-15 years
Grooming	Poodles must be bathed regularly and clipped every six to eight weeks. Clean and check the ears frequently for wax or mites or infection and pull out hairs growing inside the ear canal. The teeth need regular scaling. Since the coat does not shed it needs to be clipped. There are several different types of Poodle clips. The most common for pet owners is an easy-care clip called a "pet clip," "puppy clip" or "lamb clip" where the coat is cut short all over the body. Popular show clips are the English saddle and the Continental clip where the rear half of the body is shaved, bracelets are left around the ankles, and pom-poms are left on the tails and hips. The AKC standard allows for a dog under a year old to be shown in a show style puppy clip which has special requirements such as a pom-pom on the end of the tail. Other clip styles are the modified continental clip, town and country clip, kennel or utility clip, summer clip, and the Miami of bikini clip. Poodles shed little to no hair and are good for allergy sufferers.
Origin	The Poodle has been known throughout Western Europe for at least 400 years and is depicted in 15th century paintings and in bas-reliefs from the 1st century. The subject is controversial of where the dog was officially developed and no one really knows the breed’s true country of origin. France has taken a claim on the origin, but the AKC gives the honor to Germany, where they say it was used as a water retrieval dog. Other claims have been Denmark or the ancient Piedmont. What is certain is that the dog was a descendant of the now-extinct French Water Dog, the Barbet and possibly the Hungarian Water Hound. The name "Poodle" most likely came out of the German word "Pudel," which means "one who plays in water." The "Poodle clip" was designed by hunters to help the dogs swim more efficiently. They would leave hair on the leg joints to protect them from extreme cold and sharp reeds. The hunters in Germany and France used the Poodle as a gundog and as a retriever of waterfowl and to sniff out truffles laying underground in the woods. The French started using the breed as a circus performer because of the dog's high intelligence and trainability. The breed became very popular in France, which led to the common name "French Poodle," but the French people actually called the breed the "Caniche," meaning "duck dog.” The Toy and Miniature Poodle varieties were bred down from larger dogs, today known as Standard Poodles. In the 18th century smaller poodles became popular with royal people. The three official sizes are the Toy, Miniature and Standard Poodle. They are considered one breed and are judged by the same written standard but with different size requirements. Breeders are also breeding an in-between size called a Klein Poodle (Moyen Poodle) and a smaller Teacup Poodle. Some of the Poodle's talents include: retrieving, agility, watchdog, competitive obedience and performing tricks.
Group	Gun Dog, AKC Non-Sporting
Recognition	DRA

Keep in mind there are other sources of information out there regarding Teacup Poodles.  This is just to provide a general idea of what to expect.  If considering a Teacup, be sure to do your research.

Until next time,

This is your host J,
signing off...........................................................