The Poodle is one of the most aesthetically unique dogs on the planet. The dog’s curly hair allowed it to consistently rank among the AKC’s top 5 most popular dogs since 1997.
Thanks to breeders’ efforts, Poodles now exist in various sizes. They’re also available in several colors, including black, white, cream, silver, apricot, and more.
Among the dog’s colors, red remains one of the most attractive and sought-after coat colors.
If you want to find out more about the Red Poodle, you’ve come to the right place! Today, we’ll explore the Red Poodle’s characteristics and features, so you can figure out whether it’s the right dog for you!
History and Where the Red Poodle Comes from
To understand how the Red Poodles came into existence, we have to take a closer look at the history of the breed.
Poodle Origin
Since it’s the national dog of France, a lot of people think that the Poodle is originally French. However, historians believe that the present-day Poodle hails from Germany during the middle ages.
The Poodle is originally a water dog, which is a retriever-type dog that aids hunters in catching waterfowl. In fact, the name Poodle is derived from the old German word “Puddeln”, which means “splashing”.
The dog’s intelligence and obedience, combined with its unique looks, earned it remarkable popularity all over Europe.
Selective breeding led to the rise of different size variants of the dog, including standard, medium, miniature, and toy poodles.
Red Poodle History
In addition to size, Poodle breeders have successfully bred the dog in a wide variety of colors and shades.
The original colors of the Poodle were black, white, and dark brown. However, breeders were capable of generating new colors by mixing poodles with different colors together. This led to the generation of apricot, beige, and silver.
The Apricot Poodles were the product of an extremely recessive gene called the “Rufus” gene. Upon mixing Apricot Poodles with brown Poodles. This led to the darkening of the shade, creating Red Poodles.
This red gene is extremely rare and can only dominate the white color gene in Poodles. (it has almost no effect on dark black poodles).
Red Poodle Quick Facts
If you’re interested in adopting or buying a Red Poodle, there are some interesting points that you should keep in mind. Let’s check them out!
They’re Recognized By Most Registry Clubs
Many dog registry clubs, such as American Kennel Club (AKC), set strict standards and regulations regarding each breed.
For that reason, the AKC is known for not recognizing many designer breeds or hybrid dogs. However, since the Red Poodle has been around for a very long time, Red Poodles were actually recognized by the AKC in 1980.
This means that your Red Poodle can participate in competitions, events, and show rings sponsored by the AKC.
The dog color is registered and standardized under the code “140”. However, “Red/White” and “Red/Apricot” are registered but not standardized.
They’re Hypoallergenic
Although Poodles have long hair, they’re among the best dog breeds for people with respiratory allergies.
Dog allergies are originally a result of shedding hairs that leave airborne dander and tiny particles hanging in the air.
Since poodles have a single-hair coat, they shed much less than many other dog breeds.
Luckily, the genes of the Red Poodle have no effect on the rate of shedding. This means that Red Poodles are also hypoallergenic compared to other dog breeds.
They’re Extremely Rare
As previously established, the Red hair coat is a result of a faded gene that isn’t capable of overpowering other colors. (except white and apricot to some extent)
In other words, producing Red Poodles is more difficult than other colors due to rare genetic pairing. This makes them more expensive and harder to find than other breed colors.
Red Poodle Size and Weight
Red Poodles come in standard, miniature, and toy sizes. Each one of them has its own height and weight. Males are slightly larger and heavier than females in each size range.
The standard Red Poodle is the largest one. These are considered large-sized dogs that typically range between 15 to 22 inches tall (ground to shoulders). Despite their size, they’re relatively lightweight, weighing anywhere between 40 to 65 lbs.
Miniature Red Poodles are smaller than standard ones. They range from 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh around 15 to 30 lbs.
Toy Red Poodles are the smallest variety. These can be as little as 5 to 10 inches tall and weigh a little under 10 to 12 lbs.
Red Poodle Appearance
The thick and wavy hair of the poodle is the dog’s most characteristic aspect. A typical Red Poodle won’t have any markings on its copper-red hair coat but will have black eyes, nose, muzzle, and paws.
The Red Poodle also has long floppy ears that are covered in curly red hair and get bigger as they grow up.
Despite their buffy appearance, standard Poodles have athletic bodies with muscular legs.
The Red Poodle also has a thin, medium-long tail that is covered in curly hairs all the way. On the other hand, smaller poodles are less muscular, but they’re equally energetic.
Red Poodle Behavior and Temperament
In general, Poodles are loyal, alert, and quick on their feet, which are all traits that the Red Poodle share. Here’s a quick look at the dog’s temperament.
Is the Red Poodle Intelligent?
Red Poodles are very intelligent dogs that are easy to train and capable of learning commands. The coat color doesn’t have an impact on the dog’s intelligence genes, so Red Poodles are as smart as other colors.
Some people suspect that standard poodles are smarter than the toy and miniature versions. However, there’s no scientific evidence that establishes any difference in the level of smartness.
Is the Red Poodle Aggressive?
Poodles are playful and active but they’re generally friendly, so they’re not naturally aggressive. However, they can develop some aggressive behaviors in some situations.
For example, if your dog doesn’t get proper training and socializing from a young age, it can develop some form of social anxiety and fearfulness that makes them easily startled and aggressive toward others.
Poodles are also prone to separation anxiety if they’re left alone for a long time, which may lead the dog to destructive and aggressive behaviors.
Does the Red Poodle Make a Good Family Dog?
Similar to other Poodles, the Red Poodle is intelligent and friendly. These dogs are also very easy to socialize and train.
This makes it easy for them to get along with family members and other pets around the house.
Red Poodle Puppies are also energetic but gentle, so they are good with young children under constant supervision.
Yet, you need to socialize the dog from a young age and include many people and pets in their lives to keep them on their best behavior.
What Are the Unwanted Behaviors of the Red Poodle?
Luckily, the Poodle is a highly obedient breed that rarely shows unwanted behaviors if you train them properly.
However, as hunting dogs, poodles are quite active and require daily exercise. Without it, your dog will get bored and start displaying signs of anxiety and restlessness. These behaviors are usually quite destructive, such as:
- Chewing on upholstery
- Soiling the carpets
- Compulsive licking
- Extra protectiveness
Red Poodle Price and Expenses
Since Red Poodles are quite rare, they’re typically more expensive than other common colors. Additionally, the size of the Poodle often impacts its price range.
For example, Toy Red Poodle puppies are usually the most expensive ones, which may cost up to $1,500 to $3,000.
On the other hand, you can find Standard Red Poodle puppies starting from $800 to $2,000. Of course, Pedigree poodles and puppies from a champion bloodline will cost a lot more, regardless of the size.
Besides buying from reputable breeders, you can adopt Red Poodles from dog rescues, which cost as little as $300 to $500 (adoption fee).
Red Poodle Annual Expenses
Red Poodles are not only expensive to buy, but they’re also high-maintenance dogs. In other words, their annual expenses are also high.
Ideally, the larger the dog, the costlier its food and grooming bill. For instance, standard Red Poodles may cost up to $1,800 per year to keep while smaller varieties cost between $1,000 to $1,200.
However, the initial expenses of owning a Red Poodle are close for all sizes, ranging from $800 to $1,500. This includes basic necessities and initial vet checks.
Red Poodle Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Red Poodle is around 12 to 16 years. However, like most dogs, smaller breeds tend to live slightly longer on average.
For example, Toy and Miniature Red Poodles have a long lifespan of around 14 to 16 years while Standard Red Poodles typically live up to 14 years.
However, combined with good genetics, taking good care of your Red Poodle can extend its life quite a bit!
Red Poodle Common Health Issues
The Red Poodle is a relatively healthy dog. Yet, like all dogs, it still has some common health problems that you should be aware of. These diseases include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Seizures and epilepsy
- Collapsed trachea
- Hypoglycemia
- Digestive problems like bloating and gastric torsion
- Addison’s disease
- Eye problems like Progressive retinal atrophy
- Some forms of cancer
These diseases are common among all types of Red Poodles, whether they’re Toy, Miniature, or Standard breeds.
Red Poodle Care Tips
Poodles might be slightly high-maintenance, but taking good care of them goes a long way in sustaining their well-being.
It also has a deep impact on the dog’s behaviors and psychological health. Here are some quick care tips:
How Much Exercise Does Red Poodle Need?
Similar to other Poodles, Red Poodles are highly active and enjoy all kinds of physical exercises.
To keep your dog healthy and happy, you need to keep them active for a total of 60 minutes every day.
You can either take your dog on a one-hour walk daily or split it into 2 or 3 sessions of bonding games, such as fetch, tug of war, ball catch, hide and seek, etc.
How Much Does Red Poodle Shed?
Although Poodles are known for their long, dense hair, they only have one coat, so they don’t shed as much as other dogs.
Also, the shedding rate of Red Poodles isn’t affected by seasonal changes. This makes them perfect for people with minor allergies since they don’t spread a lot of dander around.
How Often Do You Need to Groom a Red Poodle?
Thanks to the Red Poodle’s long and curly hair, grooming them is very important to keep them in good shape. Ideally, you should brush your Red Poodle every day or every other day.
You should also bathe your poodle every 4 to 6 weeks because their hair can pick up a lot of dirt particles. This bath is often accompanied by a nice grooming session to trim the Poodle’s hair and nails.
Red Poodle Training
Poodles are generally very easy to train, and Red Poodles are no exception to this rule. The trainability of the Red Poodle is somewhat similar across all sizes.
Some people may find standard Red Poodles a little more responsive to training, but the difference between Poodles depends more on individual distinctions than size, color, or variety.
Ideally, you should start training your Red Poodle from the early age of 1.5 to 2 months. The training should include obedience and basic commands.
Red Poodle Diet
Food is very important for your Poodle’s health, and it also has an impact on the quality of their long hair.
Of course, size is the biggest factor when it comes to Poodle rations. For instance, a Toy Poodle needs around 1/4 to 1/2 cups of quality food daily. Miniature Poodles also need around 1 cup of food daily.
On the other hand, a full-sized Standard Poodle needs around 1.5 to 3 cups of food daily. All the previous daily rations are split into 2 meals.