The Standard Poodle is an intelligent and good-looking dog that is loved by many, but if you want an even more attractive pet, you should consider going for the Phantom Poodle. So, what is a Phantom Poodle?
The Phantom Poodle is a variety of poodle that comes with a distinct color pattern on its coat, rather than a solid coat. Except for the color differences, the Phantom Poodle has similar characteristics to the Standard Poodle, including the same bodily appearance, same personality, and same level of intelligence.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the crucial information that anyone interested in the Phantom Poodle needs to know, including how long they live, health issues that affect them, their dietary and exercise needs, their grooming requirements, as well as whether they are hypoallergenic. Before getting into that, however, let’s answer one critical question – are Phantom Poodles considered to be purebreds?
Are Phantom Poodles Purebred?
Despite having a multi-colored coat, the Phantom Poodle is still a purebred that is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club. Therefore, Phantom Poodles are not allowed in conformation shows.
Still, Phantom Poodles can participate in agility and obedience competitions. Phantom Poodles are very rare, which makes them more expensive.
What Does Phantom Mean In Poodles?
The term phantom refers to Poodles with a bi-colored coat, with the coat colors appearing in a very specific pattern. One color is usually dominant, acting as a background, while the second color appears as distinct markings on areas like the eyebrows, chest, throat, chin, paws, legs, and the tail.
So, what color are Phantom Poodles? Phantom Poodles can be black with red, silver, apricot, brown, or cream markings, red with apricot markings, brown with apricot markings, or silver with cream markings. This means that what makes a Phantom Poodles is not the color, but the coat pattern.
Phantom Poodle Appearance
Aside from the differences in coat patterns, there are no other differences in physical appearance between Phantom Poodles and solid-colored Poodles. Phantom Poodles have a long neck, a long muzzle, droopy eyes, and a straight back, just like any other Poodle.
Just like solid-colored Poodles, Phantom Poodles come in three distinct sizes – toy, miniature, and standard. Toy Phantom Poodles do not exceed 10 lbs. in weight, while miniature Phantom Poodles weigh between 15 and 25 lbs. Standard Phantom Poodles, on the other hand, weigh between 45 and 70 lbs.
How Long Do Phantom Poodle Live?
Since the only difference between solid-colored Poodles and Phantom Poodles is their coat color and pattern, you can expect your Phantom Poodle to have the same lifespan as any other Poodle.
Generally, your Phantom Poodle will live for about 12 to 15 years.
One of the reasons people love Poodles is because they are generally healthy dogs. That said, there are some health issues that are common to all Poodles, including Phantom Poodles. Some of these health issues include…
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a congenital condition that results in the abnormal development of the retina, which is responsible for the perception of light. Progressive Retinal Atrophy leads to blindness if left untreated.
The best way to avoid Progressive Retinal Atrophy is to conduct DNA tests confirming that both parents of your Phantom Poodle did not have the condition.
Cataracts
Aside from Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Phantom Poodles are also at a high risk of developing cataracts, another condition that affects the eyes. While cataracts cannot be tested at birth, you can minimize the risk by ensuring that your Phantom Poodle’s parents had eye examinations before being bred.
Addison’s Disease
Phantom Poodles are also highly prone to Addison’s Disease, a condition that is caused by inadequate production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Dogs with Addison’s Disease will exhibit symptoms like low body temperature, gastrointestinal problems, lethargy, vomiting, and so on.
Without medical attention, Addison’s Disease can be potentially life-threatening for your four-legged buddy. While the condition is incurable, it can be managed with medication.
How To Take Care Of Phantom Poodles?
Dietary Requirements
Phantom Poodles are highly active canines with high energy requirements, and therefore, they need food with high calorific content.
To keep your Phantom Poodle energized and at the same time ensure good coat health, it is advisable that you feed your Phantom Poodle with foods containing whole meats such as beef, turkey, chicken, or lamb.
This is why we recommend Pet Plate for your Phantom Poodle. Pet Plate’s dog food is not only rich in calories, but you also get to choose between beef, lamb, turkey, and chicken.
For better health and increased levels of immunity against common illnesses, it is advisable to supplement your doggie’s diet with multivitamin treats or chews.
You should also invest in dental water additives for your doggo. Adding these into your Phantom’s drinking water will prevent the accumulation of tartar and plaque, which are major causes of dental issues in dogs.
Exercise Requirements
Since Phantom Poodles are highly active dogs, you need to meet their needs for physical activity if you want to keep your fido fit, healthy, and happy.
Fortunately, Phantom Poodles enjoy a wide range of activities, which means you don’t have a shortage of options when it comes to exercising your Phantom. You can take them for long walks or jogs, play fetch in the yard, take them through obstacle courses, and so on.
Since Poodles were bred to help retrieve ducks and waterfowl, they’re good swimmers, so you can also take your Phantom Poodle to the beach and allow them to swim to their heart’s content.
Do Phantom Poodles Bark A Lot? Temperaments Of Phantom Poodles
Like any other Poodle, Phantom Poodles love the sound of their voices, and therefore, this is something you need to be prepared for before getting a Phantom Poodle.
If you’re a person who enjoys their tranquility, or if you live in an apartment where continuous barking will disturb your neighbors, the Phantom Poodle is not a good option for you.
Temperament
Phantom Poodles are loving doggies that also have a very high degree of loyalty. Due to their high energy levels, they’ll enjoy playing with you and the kids, but they can also get protective if they think something is a threat to you or other family members. Despite their social skills, however, Phantom Poodles can be a bit reserved towards strangers.
Intelligence
One notable thing about Poodles in general, including Phantom Poodles, is that they are very intelligent dogs. They are actually said to be the second smartest dog breed. The high intelligence means that Phantom Poodles are highly social and easy to train.
However, the high intelligence levels also mean that your Phantom Poodle will easily get bored, and therefore, you need to provide them with multiple toys to keep them mentally stimulated.
At What Age Do Phantom Poodles Calm Down?
Once your Phantom Poodle gets to about two years, you’ll start noticing that they’ve become more mature. Their playfulness, their level of activity, as well as their need for attention will decrease significantly compared to when they were a puppy.
Do Phantom Poodle Shed? Grooming Tips For Phantom Poodle
Are Phantom Poodles Hypoallergenic?
Like all Poodles, the Phantom Poodle is as hypoallergenic as any dog can get.
This is not to say that they are completely devoid of allergens. However, their coat hair is very effective at trapping dander, rather than shedding it. This makes Phantom Poodles one of the best dog breeds for people with dog allergies.
Brushing
Phantom Poodles shed very little. However, they still need regular brushing to keep their coat healthy, and to prevent the coat hair from tangling. Since Poodles have hair, rather than fur, you need to brush their coat with a brushing tool that is designed to handle such coats.
Based on our experience, we recommend the FURminator Undercoat Tool, which is designed for doggos with long hair, such as the Phantom Poodle.
Bathing
You can give your Phantom Poodle a bath every now and then whenever you notice that their coat is getting too dirty. To avoid causing damage to their coat, wash your Phantom Poodle using dog-friendly conditioners, such as Might Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner. This shampoo and conditioner are devoid of any harsh ingredients that could be harmful to your Phantom’s coat.
Sometimes, the markings on your Phantom’s coat start fading with time, which could leave you wondering if Phantom Poodles change color, or if your dog is just dirty. In reality, this happens due to the fading gene in Poodles, which causes the bright markings on your Phantom to start graying as your pooch grows older.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Phantom Poodle Cost? The price of a Phantom Poodle puppy falls between $1,000 and $2,000, though sometimes it can get as high as $3,000. This is significantly higher compared to the price of regular Poodles. The higher price is due to the fact that Phantom Poodles are rarer than other Poodle colors.
What Is The Difference Between A Parti Poodle And A Phantom Poodle? While Parti Poodles and Phantom Poodles both have multi-colored coats, the difference between the two lies in the coat pattern. In Parti Poodles, the secondary color can appear in any pattern, while in Phantom Poodles, the secondary color has to appear in a specific pattern and in specific areas of the body.
What Is The Rarest Color Of A Poodle? The rarest colors of Poodle are red and apricot. The rarity of these Poodle colors can be attributed to a specific recessive gene that is present in these Poodles. Being a recessive gene, this means that if the Poodle has another dominant gene, they’ll take the dominant color, rather than red or apricot.
