Poodles are bright, friendly, active little dogs who require
a lot of attention and are more than willing to repay the attention
they get with love and devotion. Poodles also need a routine,
a daily schedule they can count on. In an ideal world, a poodle's
day would include the following care.
Exercise
One or two short walks every day will help keep your poodle in
great shape. If you have an older poodle, walk more slowly and
for shorter distances, but don't forego the exercise entirely.
Your poodle needs the workout, even if it doesn't necessarily
like it.
Bathroom Breaks
A puppy or an older dog, both of whom may have bladder control
problems, will probably need to be escorted to its elimination
area several times a day. A mature dog should be okay with three
or four outside trips. Poodles are smart, and once they know where
you want them to urinate and defecate, they will usually go straight
to the door when the urge strikes.
Feeding
Puppies with their tiny bellies will need three or four small
meals a day. Mature dogs can usually make do with two meals, one
in the morning and one in the afternoon. Make sure your poodle
always has fresh water.
Grooming
Groom your poodle every day, or at the very least every other
day, to keep its coat soft and shining. In the absence of proper
poodle grooming care, the poodle's fur deteriorates quickly, so
brushing and combing should be an important part of your dog's
routine. Other routine grooming tasks include clipping your poodle's
nails once a week, bathing your poodle once every two to three
weeks, and arranging for a professional grooming once every six
to eight weeks.
Playtime
Encourage your puppy to play tug of war with an old rope, chase
after a Frisbee, or race you around the house. While owning a
poodle does require a substantial amount of work, it shouldn't
be an endless grind. Making time for joy and fun in your poodle's
life is just as important to its care as making time for feeding,
grooming, or exercise. Remember to respect your poodle's old favorite
toys, while also making room for new playthings. Poodles will
get bored looking at the same toys every day.
Family Time
This is time you spend with your family and/or other pets talking,
playing, watching television, etc. The poodle is not necessarily
the focus of attention, but it is a part of the family and should
not be ignored. Even something as simple as a friendly pat on
the head can remind your poodle that it is accepted and loved.
Training
Poodles are lifelong learners who love to delight others with
their performance of clever tricks. They are also pack animals,
like any other dog, and they crave an alpha presence to set limits
and boundaries. Poodle
training is not difficult, but it does require patience and
consistency. Ideally, you should work with your poodle for fifteen
or twenty minutes per day.
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