Poodles come in a wide variety of good looking colors, which can make choosing a favorite color a tad difficult. However, one of the most stunning and eye-catching Poodle colors is the Red Poodle.
What exactly is a Red Poodle? A Red Poodle is a purebred Poodle whose coat has a reddish-brown coloration, caused by reddish yellow pigments, called Pheomelanin, in the skin and hair. Red Poodle has an intense amount of these pigments to give them their beautiful reddish glow, and it is due to a mutation in the MC1R gene.
If you’re interested in the Red Poodle, the first thing you need to do is to learn everything there is about this adorable pooch. In this guide, we’ll go over all the important information about the Red Poodle, including their health profile, how to take care of these dogs, the color changes they go through, their personality and temperament, and so on. Before that, however, let’s answer one important question – are Red Poodles rare?
Are Red Poodles Rare?
Red Poodles are one of the rarest recognized Poodle colors. In fact, Red Poodles only became officially accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1980.
Due to the rarity of Red Poodles, acquiring a Red Poodle is usually more expensive compared to acquiring a poodle with a more common color.
Red Poodle Appearance
The Red Poodle is as easily recognizable as any other poodle. Red Poodles have long, droopy ears, a straight muzzle, a long neck, a lean body with a flat back, and long legs.
Like with other poodles, the defining feature of the Red Poodle is their coat. The Red Poodle has a long haired coat that can either be curly, coarse, or corded.
Red Poodle Size
There are three distinct sizes of Red Poodle – Standard, Miniature, and Toy. Standard Red Poodles get to about 17 to 25 inches in height, with a weight of 45 to 60 lbs.
Mini Red Poodles have a height of 10 to 15 inches, while their weight falls between 15 to 17 lbs.
Finally, we have Toy Red Poodles, which weigh between 6 to 10 lbs and do not exceed a height of 10 inches.
Do Red Poodles Make Good Pets?
Red Poodles are very friendly and social doggos that make great pets. Their non-demanding nature makes them good for singles, families, as well as seniors who are looking for a companion to ward off loneliness.
On top of that, Red Poodles are highly intelligent, according to Stanley Coren’s list and are good at performing various duties.
How Long Do Red Poodles Live?
The Red Poodle is a generally healthy canine with an average lifespan. Generally, you can expect your Red Poodle to live for about 12 to 15 years.
While studies have shown that there is a link between a dog’s coat color and their risk of developing genetic conditions, the Rufus gene that is responsible for the coloration of Red Poodles has not been linked to any birth defects or health conditions.
Despite not facing a health risk because of their coat color, the Red Poodle is still susceptible to the health conditions that affect other poodles. Some common health issues that could affect your Red Poodle include…
Epilepsy
Standard poodles are prone to epilepsy, and there is a chance that your Red Poodle could also be affected by the condition. Symptoms of epilepsy in dogs include seizures and sudden unconsciousness, confusion, pacing, drooling, breathing difficulties, unresponsiveness and stiffening of the limbs.
Epilepsy is believed to be an inherited condition, so you should confirm that your Red Poodle’s parents and grandparents did not have this condition.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This is a condition that affects the development of the retina, eventually leading to blindness if the condition is not addressed. Some signs that your Red Poodle can be affected by Progressive Retinal Atrophy include a glassy look in the eyes, problems with vision in the dark, dilated pupils, and bumping into objects.
Addison’s Disease
This is a condition that affects the adrenal glands, leading to insufficient production of cortisol. Without treatment, Addison’s Disease can potentially lead to death.
How To Take Care Of Red Poodles?
Dietary Requirements
To keep your Red Poodle healthy, you need to provide them with food that contains lots of protein and is rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants.
If you’re wondering the best food to feed your Red Poodle, we recommend food from Pet Plate. Their food is grain free, and it contains a high amount of both proteins and antioxidants, and the best part is that there are several different recipes to choose from.
When feeding your Red Poodle, you should divide its daily ration into 2 or 3 meals, rather than giving the whole ration at once. Doing this will help reduce the likelihood of bloat.
Buying multivitamin treats and chews to supplement your fido’s diet will help to boost their immunity and promote better coat health.
Poodles are also at a high risk of developing dental issues, so it is also important to invest in dental water additives to keep their mouth clean and keep dental infections at bay.
Exercise Requirements
Poodles were bred to be working dogs, and therefore, they are high energy dogs that require lots of exercise.
The amount of exercise needed to keep your Red Poodle healthy will depend on their size. Standard Red Poodles are big dogs and will therefore require about one hour of physical activity every day.
Toy Red Poodles, on the other hand, can do with about 30 minutes of exercise every day. Their small size also means that Toy Red Poodles can get enough physical activity within a small space.
Are Red Poodles Good With Kids? Temperaments Of Red Poodles
Personality
Red Poodles are highly intelligent and social dogs that are perfect for families with kids. Their high energy means that they’ll enjoy playing and running around with children.
However, Toy Red Poodles are not good for families with very small children, since children can easily injure the tiny dogs.
Red Poodles are also great for seniors living alone. Their desire for love and attention makes them great companions, while they don’t require lots of maintenance that would be tiring for seniors.
Intelligence
Red Poodles have a high level of intelligence, which makes training them very easy. They’ll quickly learn commands and can even perform advanced tricks with the right kind of training. They are also easy to potty train.
Why Are Red Poodles So Needy?
One notable thing about poodles in general, including Red Poodles, is that they constantly need your attention. They don’t do well when left alone, and can easily get depressed or resort to destructive behaviors to deal with loneliness.
This means that you should get a Red Poodle if your lifestyle allows you to spend lots of time with them. Whenever you are not around, you’ll need to get a sitter for your Red Poodle, rather than leaving them alone.
Do Red Poodles Bark A Lot?
Like regular colored Poodles, Red Poodles will bark at the slightest trigger, which can be annoying if you’re not used to the noise. Fortunately, their high intelligence level means that you can easily train your Red Poodle not to bark constantly.
Do Red Poodles Shed? Grooming Tips For Red Poodles
Are Red Poodles Hypoallergenic?
One notable thing about poodles is that they have hair on their coats, rather than fur. This means they don’t shed as much as other dogs, making them a great hypoallergenic choice for dog lovers who are allergic.
Brushing
Since their hair grows continually with minimal shedding, your Red Poodle requires regular brushing to prevent tangling and matting. Red Poodles with clipped hair can do with once-a-week brushing, but those with long hair will require daily brushing.
Investing in a good brushing tool will make the task of brushing your Red Poodle easier, while at the same time reducing the risk of injury. We recommend brushing your Red Poodle using the Furminator Undercoat Tool.
The Furminator Undercoat Tool is fitted with a skin guard that ensures that the brush will not accidentally dig into your dog’s skin, while the ergonomic handle makes it easy for you to use.
Bathing
To keep your furry buddy’s coat healthy and vividly colored, it is also important to give them a bath about once a month. For this, I recommend using dog shampoos with color enhancing capabilities, such as Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner.
Why Is My Red Poodle Turning White?
It’s good to note that Red Poodles also carry a fading gene that can cause lightening of the red coloration as your Red Poodle grows older, resulting in a whitish coloration. This is totally natural and should not be a cause for concern.
Related Questions
How Much Do Red Poodles Cost? The price of a Red Poodle puppy will typically fall between $1,000 and $2,000. The price will be affected by factors like size (Standard, Mini or Toy), the reputation of the breeder, the pedigree of the parents, as well as things like the current demand for Red Poodles in your area.
What Is The Difference Between Red And Apricot Poodles? The difference between Red and Apricot Poodles lies in the richness and depth of their coat color. Red Poodles have a much darker and deeper shade, while apricot poodles have a lighter shade that sometimes borders on cream. It’s good to note, however, that Red Poodles were developed from apricot poodles.
What Is A Teddy Bear Poodle? The Teddy Bear Poodle is a designer breed that is a cross between a Toy Poodle and a Bichon Frise or a Shih Tzu, resulting in a tiny dog that has the appearance of a teddy bear. The color coat of a typical teddy bear poodle bears some resemblance to that of a Red Poodle.
