What is a Lap Dog?
A lap dog is typically defined as a small dog that was bred to be a companion and enjoy sitting on their owner’s lap. Lap dogs tend to exhibit certain traits that make them well-suited for this role:
- Small Size: Lap dogs are diminutive in stature, usually weighing less than 25 pounds. Their small size allows them to fit comfortably on an owner’s lap.
- Bred to be Companions: Many lap dog breeds have been selectively bred as companion dogs over hundreds of years. This has ingrained a strong desire for closeness and affection in lap dogs.
- Enjoy Physical Closeness: Lap dogs relish being in close physical contact with their owners. They often seek out opportunities to sit on or cuddle up next to their owner’s lap.
So in summary, the defining traits of lap dogs are their small size, breeding as companion dogs, and clear enjoyment of sitting on their owner’s lap as a way to bond and show affection.
History of Poodles
Poodles originated as a duck hunting dog breed in Germany, where the word “pudel” refers to splashing in water. They were bred as water retrievers to assist hunters by swimming after downed waterfowl. Their thick, curly coats acted as insulation in cold water, but were later clipped into distinctive styles to increase their swimming ability and speed. Though originally a working dog breed, Poodles were later bred to be smaller companion dogs popular among the upper classes in 18th century France and England. The Poodle became celebrated as a national dog breed of France, despite its German origins.
According to the American Kennel Club, Poodles likely descended from the now-extinct French Barbet breed. Barbet were water dogs used as hunting companions and share many physical traits with Poodles. German hunters then helped develop and standardize the Poodle breed in the 15th and 16th centuries. Poodles were soon bred in three sizes – Standard, Miniature, and Toy – and their coat styles were clipped into fanciful shapes for dog shows. Though still used for hunting and retrieving into the 20th century, Poodles became more renowned as companion dogs and circus performers.
Size Variations of Poodles
Poodles come in three size variations – standard, miniature and toy. The sizes are based on the dog’s height measured from the top of the shoulder blades down to the ground.
According to the Poodle Club of America, the size measurements are:
- Standard Poodle – 15 inches or taller at the shoulder
- Miniature Poodle – 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder
- Toy Poodle – 10 inches or under at the shoulder
In terms of weight, the size ranges are:
- Standard Poodle – 45 to 70 pounds
- Miniature Poodle – 15 to 17 pounds
- Toy Poodle – 4 to 6 pounds
The size difference is quite significant between the largest and smallest types of poodles. Standard poodles stand over 2 feet tall while toy poodles are less than 1 foot in height!
Temperament of Poodles
Poodles are known for having an extremely intelligent, energetic, and eager to please temperament. According to Hill’s Pet Nutrition, “Poodles are notorious for their intelligence and ease of training.” This high level of intelligence makes them very responsive to training. The AKC describes Poodles as “agile and graceful as well as smart.” Their energetic nature makes them lively and fun-loving dogs.
In addition to their high intelligence and energy, Poodles tend to be very affectionate and gentle dogs. The AKC states that they have a “sense of the ridiculous” meaning they can be playful and silly. Their gentle temperament combined with intelligence makes them great family dogs and good with children. Petplan notes that “The Poodle temperament is friendly, playful, responsive and fun – making them ideal family dogs for households with lots going on.” Given their affectionate nature and playfulness, Poodles make excellent companion dogs.
Poodles as Companion Dogs
Poodles are one of the most popular family pets. Their affectionate and playful nature makes them excellent companions for people of all ages.
Poodles thrive when they can be with their owners. They form strong bonds and become very attached to their families. This devotion and happy-go-lucky attitude is part of what makes them such pleasurable housemates.
Poodles are adaptable dogs that can live happily in apartments or small homes. Despite their regal appearance, they don’t require a massive house or yard. Their moderate exercise needs and polite demeanor allow them to adjust well to close quarters living.
According to Dreamy Doodles, poodles are “great for families” due to their intelligence, trainability, and hypoallergenic coats. With proper training and socialization, poodles can be wonderful companions in any home.
Toy Poodles as Lap Dogs
Despite their active, energetic nature, toy poodles actually make great lap dogs. This is due to their small size, as toy poodles typically weigh between 4-6 pounds and stand 8-10 inches tall at the shoulder according to the American Kennel Club. Their petite frames allow them to easily curl up on their owner’s lap, making them a popular companion breed among the elderly.
While toy poodles have high exercise needs overall, they are still content to relax and cuddle for periods of time. In fact, toy poodles were originally bred in Germany specifically as companion dogs for laps due to their affectionate nature and clever personality. Their loving temperament paired with convenient lapdog size has earned toy poodles a reputation as excellent lapwarmers.
Training Miniature Poodles
While Miniature Poodles are lively, intelligent dogs, they are also eager to please and respond very well to training. Their high intelligence means they need mental stimulation, but they pick up new commands quickly and can master advanced obedience skills.
With positive reinforcement training methods, Miniature Poodles can be taught to sit calmly for petting and even sit on their owner’s lap on command. Their smaller size makes this more feasible than with Standard Poodles. However, owners will still need to teach them to settle down through training before expecting them to sit still for long periods.
According to the AKC, key training milestones for a Miniature Poodle puppy include house-training, socialization, and basic obedience. With continued training, adult Miniature Poodles can learn to enjoy sitting with their owners and being lap dogs despite their energetic nature.
Standard Poodles and Laps
Despite their large size, Standard Poodles often enjoy being close to their owners and acting as lap dogs. With males averaging 45-70 pounds and females averaging 45-60 pounds, Standard Poodles are too large to fully sit in most people’s laps (1). However, they are very affectionate dogs who bond strongly with their owners and enjoy physical closeness (2).
Standard Poodles will often try to sit in their owner’s lap or lean against them heavily. While they may be too big to sit fully in a lap, they will enjoy having their chest and front legs in their owner’s lap and leaning the weight of their body against the person. They often solicit petting and enjoy resting their heads in their owner’s lap while their body sprawls on the floor or furniture (1).
Even though Standard Poodles are too large to be considered true lap dogs, their affectionate nature and enjoyment of physical closeness with their owners leads them to exhibit lap dog behaviors. Their desire for proximity and contact shows their strong bond with their owners.
(1) https://www.poodleforum.com/threads/lap-dog.267789/
(2) https://www.reddit.com/r/StandardPoodles/comments/lw961k/anybody_elses_spoo_think_theyre_a_lap_dog/
Poodle Grooming
Poodles require regular grooming and maintenance of their coat, regardless of their size. Their fur is dense and curly, which means it can easily become matted if not brushed and trimmed regularly.
Frequent grooming is especially important for poodles that owners want to cuddle and hold on their lap. Certain clip styles, like the popular teddy bear cut, are designed specifically for poodles to be huggable and soft for petting. According to the American Kennel Club, trims and grooming should be done as often as every 4-8 weeks to maintain the coat (source).
To keep a poodle well-groomed for lap dog duties, owners should commit to regular brushing, bathing, nail trims, ear cleaning, and professional grooming appointments. Many poodle owners learn to use clippers and scissors themselves to trim the face, feet, and body hair themselves in between full grooming sessions.
Maintaining the coat will help ensure the poodle stays snuggly and comfortable to have on your lap for petting and cuddling.
The Verdict
When it comes to lap dogs, toy and miniature poodles are often considered ideal choices due to their small size. Weighing less than 10 pounds, toy poodles can comfortably sit on their owner’s lap without any issues. Miniature poodles, which weigh 10-15 pounds, are small enough to be lap dogs as well.
While standard poodles love spending time with their owners, their larger size of 40-70 pounds makes them too big to be true lap dogs. They enjoy being close to their owners but have a harder time fitting on a lap.
Overall, poodles of all sizes have an intelligent and trainable nature that makes them excellent companion dogs. Their affectionate personality and eagerness to please makes them loving pets. So while toy and miniature poodles are the best fits as lap dogs, poodles of any size can be wonderful companion dogs thanks to their sweet temperament.
