Top Activities For Poodles

Top Activities For Poodles

Poodles are very intelligent breeds who take very well to activities like agility training, dog shows, and tracking. If you feel that one could say Poodles were born for those particular types of activities, you’d be right as rain; Poodles were, in fact, initially bred for the express purpose of hunting people or other animals as well as tracking individuals and objects through the use of its exceptional sense of smell. Poodles were also some of the first dogs to be used by the United States military, with a number of Poodles having served in World War I and World War II respectively.

Tracking Training

Activity description

To the average person, a Poodle is just that one dog with the fluffy coat and the funny haircut. But as it turns out, the Poodle is actually one of the world’s oldest and most reliable hunting dogs that’s also still alive and well in the modern era. While it’s not entirely clear when the Poodle was first bred into existence, or even where the Poodle exactly originated from, what has become clear after this dog’s decades in the limelight is their incredible ability to follow a scent and find someone or something that’s well hidden. It doesn’t take much equipment to refine a Poodle’s tracking skills, but it is hard work. Read ahead for a brief overview of the process.

Choose a method

As it happens, there aren’t a lot of training courses for tracking; for the most part, dog owners who are looking to help their Poodles improve their tracking abilities are encouraged to do it themselves. So you must decide how you’re going to train your Poodle as well as how often.

Make adjustments

Tracking is all about a dog’s ability to find something based purely off of its scent. So if you’re trying to hone your Poodle’s ability to do that, you may need to make adjustments throughout the course of training; consider waiting until your Poodle starts to show progress with their tracking before trying to train in a forest or the like.

Keep at it

The Poodle’s ability to track things down is one of their most valuable abilities; as you begin to take pride in your pup’s ability to track things down, so will they. However, they can only reach that level of competency with constant practice and support from you. Keep at it, no matter how difficult this activity may seem.

Obedience Training Course

Activity description

Some dogs take to obedience training more so than others but the Poodle is a breed that greatly benefits from the structure and discipline obedience training courses offer. Simply put, Poodles are very intelligent and energetic breeds that are always looking for new ways to test their brains and bodies. Incidentally the Poodle’s relatively high energy level, combined with this breed’s objectively high intelligence, can make this specific type of dog come off as quite a handful to the unprepared dog owner. So if you haven’t completed an obedience training course with your Poodle, or if you’re still on the fence about giving it a try, read ahead to learn how your Poodle can benefit from a course.

Find the right course

There are a number of obedience training courses out there that you and your dog can enroll in, each with their own focuses and their own prices. In order to avoid enrolling in the wrong course, consider what your goals are for your dog; would you like your Poodle to become a show dog or are you looking to help them become more obedient?

Be encouraging

Obedience training courses are quite difficult by nature, and a dog may become discouraged if they feel that they aren’t succeeding at the tasks assigned to them. Perhaps more than anything else, this is why your presence during obedience training is paramount; act as a constant source of morale for your Poodle and encourage them not to give up.

See the course through

In line with the last step, obedience training courses can seem daunting – insurmountable even – but the experience of going through the ringer with your dog will serve as an invaluable cornerstone in your relationship with your Poodle, provided you two see it through.

Weighted Walking

Activity description

Weighted walking is exactly what it sounds like; you and your Poodle have likely gone on a number of walks together, but weighted walking adds a new degree of challenge to the mix by requiring your dog carry a certain amount of weight with them during the walk. There are a few ways you can add some weight to your dog’s walk; you can either purchase a dog weight vest that was specifically made for these types of exercises or you can get a dog backpack, fill it up with a certain amount of items, and then go for a walk. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of both methods below.

Weighted vest or dog backpack?

First and foremost, you’ll need to figure out if a weighted vest or a packed up backpack is the right for your dog. Weighted vests help build muscle quickly but they can also be a bit pricey. We’d say weighted vests are better for show dogs whereas a dog backpack is better for companion dogs.

When to add or take away weight?

After a period of time wearing a weighted vest or carrying items around in a backpack, your Poodle will eventually adjust to the weight and will likely need more added on. If you have a dog weight vest, you may need to order a heavier one. If you’re using a backpack, however, you can just fill it up with a bit more stuff.

Where to walk and how long?

A weighted walk will be more strenuous than a weight free walk, even if a large amount of weight isn’t involved. Remember that your dog will be carrying a set amount of weight to and from a certain distance, so we’d recommend keeping the trip short and restricted to even ground.

Walk Along a Beach

Walking exercises are generally the best types of exercise for a Poodle, so you’ll likely be out and about quite a bit. To keep things from getting stale too soon, you’ll want to find new and varied vistas to go walking along with your dog. We suggest walking along a different beach every few weeks to mix things up from time to time.

Visit A Dog Park

Poodles love to socialize and they love to run around and burn off all of their excess energy. You can kill two birds with one stone by taking your Poodle to the dog park and letting them play and interact with other dogs while also getting in their workout for the day.

The 14 Best Activities For Poodles

  • Swimming
  • Tug-of-war
  • Dog puzzles
  • Jumping rope
  • Playing fetch
  • Chasing games
  • Going for a hike
  • Game “Go around”
  • Going for walks
  • Making new friends
  • Game “Hide and seek”
  • Poodles are diggers
  • Games with different balls
  • Follow the leader – the best and simple activity for all the poodles
Going for a hike
Going for a hike
Follow the leader – the best and simple activity for all the poodles
Follow the leader – the best and simple activity for all the poodles

Final Thoughts

Poodles are quite sophisticated dogs but they also love to play and will mix and mingle with any other breed of dog, if given the chance. Some Poodles love getting a chance to strut their stuff at dog shows and pageants more than others, while some love getting down and dirty while tracking a target. Either way, Poodles can make excellent pets if they’re being cared for by an experienced and loving caretaker. Whether you’re caring for a Miniature Poodle, a Toy Poodle, or a “classic” Poodle, as some dog enthusiast have taken to calling them, always to strive to help your dog be the best they can be.

Edward Hollon is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Edward has been writing for petdii for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners. Edward has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Edward knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.