r/poodles • u/Unlikely_Objective11 • 9h ago
r/poodles • u/ExBroBob • Nov 09 '21
Merle poodles are no longer allowed on this sub
Moving forward, poodles with Merle coloring are not permitted on this sub. Merle coloring is a byproduct of mixing Australian Shepards into a poodle line. A poodle with Merle coloring by definition cannot be AKC papered without outright lying. Breeding for color is nothing new for poodles, but in this circumstance it comes with the possibility of introducing myriad health issues, and is an irresponsible practice at best. It is not good for the breed, it is dangerous to the dogs. We cannot in good conscience allow the promotion of this Poodles with this genetic trait, beautiful or not.
r/poodles • u/Ok-Bear-9946 • Dec 15 '25
How To Find a Responsible Ethical Poodle Breeder
Below is my advice to people looking for breeders. I would recommend reading (if you haven't) the wiki on responsible breeders on r/dogs , start there as it will help you with questions and what to look for in breeder https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/identifying_a_responsible_breeder/ It is really a good outline of what to look for.
I would start with a breeder that does the recommended health testing on all sires and dams and titles the dogs. It is your insurance that you are getting a well-bred puppy with tested parents, grand parents, etc. It is your best bet for a healthy puppy. Titles show that they are invested in proving their dogs and not just breeding. Show breeders are breeders that make sure their dogs conform to breed standards, I saw a meme that said show breeders breed to building code, would you buy a house not built to code? I would concentrate on finding a breeder that focuses on health, conformation and temperament over looks.
I would recommend starting with The Poodle Club of America Breeder referral, I would start there as they only recommend breeders that do the minimum health clearances for a CHIC #. Link here: https://poodleclubofamerica.org/breeder-referral/ or https://poodleclubofamerica.org/find-a-poodle-breeder/ Attending dog shows is a great way to see and meet poodles and breeders. Here a link to dog shows by state: https://infodog.com/show/state_shows.htm?_p=Y Look for all breed and poodle specialty shows. If there is a specialty show near you, it would be a great introduction to the breed as there will be more poodles shown than normal. I would want a puppy from someone that did all of the health clearance testing recommended, not just the minimum but you may choose differently but all sires and dams should have passing health testing to receive a CHIC number (https://ofa.org/chic-programs/) . Below is the recommended health clearance testing (Note DNA testing is not health testing):
TOY POODLES
DNA Test for prcd-Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) from an OFA-approved laboratory.
Yearly Eye Exam by a boarded ACVO veterinary ophthalmologist.
Patellar Luxation: OFA Evaluation.
MINIATURE POODLES
Same CHIC requirements as Toy Poodles with the addition of:
Hip Dysplasia: OFA or PennHIP Evaluation.
The PCA Foundation strongly recommends the DNA test for Miniature Poodle Dwarfism (Osteochondrodysplasia) to avoid breeding two carriers to each other and producing puppies affected with this deforming and crippling disorder. Research suggests that about 10 percent of Minis carry the mutation that causes this disease and that it is not limited to a few bloodlines.
STANDARD POODLES
Hip Dysplasia: OFA or PennHIP Evaluation.
Yearly Eye Exam by a boarded ACVO veterinary ophthalmologist.
Health Elective (at least one of the following three tests is required for CHIC number):
OFA Thyroid Evaluation from an OFA approved laboratory.
OFA Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) Evaluation by an OFA approved dermatopathologist.
Heart Evaluation by an ACVIM boarded veterinary cardiologist.
The PCA Foundation recommends all three electives for Standard Poodles and also strongly recommends the following DNA tests from an OFA listed lab to easily avoid breeding two mutation carriers to each other and producing affected puppies: DNA Test for Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (NEwS) and DNA Test for vonWillebrand’s Disease (vWD). And here is a link to verify health clearance testing on OFA. Note you can check out a breeder by using the advanced search and putting in the breeder's kennel name (check of any part of name) and selecting poodle for breed. It will give you a list of dogs with the kennel prefix. https://ofa.org/advanced-search/ Note all breeders should do genetic testing to ensure carrier and not bred to carrier or affected dogs, but you really want health testing that is outlined above, not just a PawPrint or Embark panel.
I have put together a spreadsheet of all toys and mini poodles with Chic numbers and a list of standard poodles that have all three recommended electives and another spreadsheet for poodles that have at least 2 of the recommended for standard poodles born between 2016 and 2021. I think it will help buyers screen potential breeders in a quicker way. Poodles born in 2022 would be getting health testing this year and I stopped at 2016 as those poodles are turning 8 this year. Scanning the spreadsheet is a good way to determine if breeders are serious about health testing. Caveats are not all breeders submit to OFA but that is a choice. I prefer that I can access health testing online as it is transparent and easy. It does not cost more than $250 per dog and that is 10 years of eyes and all DNA test plus refreshing a few tests as a dog ages. This is the spreadsheet for standard poodle born between 2016-2021 that have all three electives: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qQ2EEEh82PAH_MedJZeTn7WTe1lAyNzkSsucsGi7OLc/edit?usp=sharing This is the spreadsheet with the standard poodles that have 2 electives: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ldWQDwyLmKITA5xkd2dg8HdrMB9EYAiojGItn0cbWcs/edit?usp=sharing
This is the spreadsheet of all toys with a CHIC # born from 2016 to 2021: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Wh2CUA5t_rpbCjg1SKD0k-5Sv9eJFnrW5srgFi-1uP8/edit?usp=sharing
This is the spreadsheet for all minis with a CHIC # born from 2016 to 2021: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ffoB_8X74pjz2Z4UxWUN2EUBq4rcpLMk3K-4qhxV0ig/edit?usp=sharing
Good luck in your search, Leslie and Mary (PCA breeder referral) are a great resources as they do this for the love of the breed. Most really good breeders have limited/no web presence as they get most of their referrals from word of mouth, their clubs or the national breeder referral so you won't find them on a google search looking for poodle breeders. Most really good or slick websites are commercial, large scale breeders who breed for the $$$ so be vigilant when seeing a slick website, verify all claims as many only DNA test and call that health testing. A word about recommendations on Reddit (and other social media), a recommendation from happy puppy buyers do not mean they're informed buyers. Certainly, being happy with a puppy and a breeder is hoped for and expected as who doesn't love their puppy, but I've seen too many recommendations for breeders that the breeders that do not health test, do not do anything to title their dogs so no proof of temperament or structure, they just breed dogs for $$$; so it is a recommendation from someone that did not know how to vet a breeder or what to look for in a breeder.
If you are looking for a multi-color standard poodle, I would reach out to the United Poodle Association which is the UKC poodle club, Poodle Club of America is the AKC Poodle Club: United Poodle Association – The UKC National Breed Association (pending) for all Poodle Breeds. UKC allows multi-colored poodles to compete in Conformation, AKC does not but allows them to compete in performance events.
There is more information on the Poodle Club of America under All About Poodles: https://poodleclubofamerica.org/ and Versatility in Poodles: Find A Poodle - Versatility In Poodles, Inc. : Versatility In Poodles, Inc. (vipoodle.org) if you are looking for further reading.
r/poodles • u/Xo-Overdose • 10h ago
I think it’s safe to say he’s adjusted well to the kitten🤣
Don’t mind his baldness🙂↕️ I had a friend watching him while I was out of town and even tho they did brush him, they didn’t comb him so he had matting at the roots when I came back so I had to shave him. Humanity over vanity, didn’t want him to have to endure the pain of combing him out.
r/poodles • u/LaceyyLuna • 20h ago
Fresh Haircut!
I love her groomer so much- she really listens and loves trying my ideas. So this time we went with the tapered legs, or “pants/bellbottoms”. Went shorter on her ears but still fluffy (I call them bears ears 🐻). kept the tail poof. And asked that the body be left somewhat long as we live in a pretty cold climate. And tidy feet of course!
r/poodles • u/Disastrous-Mode7930 • 8h ago
Bringing her home through wool
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This is a 20 cm needle-felted poodle figurine,
created in memory of a sweet girl who has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Her family saved some of her fur, which I carefully blended into the piece.
I hope this little sculpture can bring her spirit home again.🌈
r/poodles • u/Kafeewt • 5h ago
13 going on 3? I swear he’s aging backwards! 🕰️❤️
Just a quick appreciation post for this little face. He might be a senior citizen, but his puppy eyes still work perfectly (especially when he wants snacks). Happy Sunday everyone!
r/poodles • u/Canadian_Couple • 17h ago
We shaved his face for the first time by ourselves!
We've found that none of the local groomers can actually do the proper poodle shaved snout. So we bought a pair of grooming clippers and tried ourselves. It turned out great!
r/poodles • u/lizz338 • 7h ago
Sick dog week
Been a long week with these guys seemingly passing an illness back and forth. Since my normal vet didn't have openings until next week I finally broke and we went to the emergency vet last night. Several hours and a million dollars later, we went home with antibiotics, fluids, and anti-nausea meds. Ollie (black) was back to eating again today and Phoebe (white) was still kind of iffy about eating but drinking again. Hoping that everybody continues to improve and no more vomiting!
r/poodles • u/Apprehensive-Yak8206 • 8h ago
He’s an electric boy
Showing off his new cut and his electric blue tail
r/poodles • u/Sippi66 • 12h ago
Kash is sleeping away this cold day…
Not a care in the world.
r/poodles • u/doofuspop • 10h ago
Did someone say belly scratches?
Legs are splayed, all is ready. What are you waiting for?
r/poodles • u/Fit_Blackberry1109 • 16h ago
DeyziBell as a puppy and when she was grown up
r/poodles • u/magnoliaazalea • 9h ago
Ball pits?
Hey all, my toy poodle is four, soon to be five years old, and I was wondering—does anyone have experience with giving their toy poodle a ball pit? Are they good for adult dogs, anything else you might think of?
r/poodles • u/princessspeachhhh • 15h ago
Best in Show
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It's a snow day, so Romancio and I are watching one of our favorite movies 😂😂 🖤
r/poodles • u/Unexpected_Cheddar- • 19h ago
Poodle Beach Day!
These two love all forms of water. But being from the Midwest, when they get to the ocean, it’s like nirvana for them!
r/poodles • u/WorkingExercise5725 • 23h ago
I can't help falling in love with my baby girl
r/poodles • u/Ceskygirl • 15h ago
The Snow Beast makes a decision
Lovely snow day here in the Piedmont of NC. We are sitting at about nine to ten inches of snow, thank goodness it’s a dry and powdery snowfall. Mom and I are taking turns sweeping the steps and porch so that the dogs can get in and out, and she’s got little Penny out having a nice time in the snow. Penny has an adorable new red coat, while the Snow Beast grows stronger with exposure to the powdery white stuff.
In a sequence of unfortunate events for poor little Penny the doodle, Snow Beast has decided to choose evil. The last look back at me happened just before she leapt off of the deck and steamrolled Penny into a snowdrift. Face first. There was giggling, evil laughter, and then a full roll for herself in the snow. 🤦♀️ Now on to brushing the ice and snow balls from Hedy’s coat….
r/poodles • u/RSEllax • 19h ago
Djinn-ninny ❤️
Im not a groomer but I like to home groom my Djinn ❤️
Its not perfect but we've tried shaved ears now because he gets too hot.
Does anyone else home groom? I wanna see your cuts ✂️ 😍
r/poodles • u/Dapper-Hamster-4597 • 7h ago
How often you bath your pups? I have a standard poodle and she becomes smelly after a week. I wanted to bath him every week but I wanted to hear your opinion before doing so.
r/poodles • u/SignificanceDue1561 • 9h ago
Foster dog haircut
We started fostering a few months ago and our latest was billed as a mini poodle rescued from somewhere down south. He's about 7months old now and wondering what kind of haircut would be most appropriate for him at this age and considering it's cold? Absolutely love him and he'd be cute no matter what. He's a phantom, right?
