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Brindle Poodle: Care Guide, Pictures, Info, and FAQ

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By Nicole Cosgrove

poodle closeup

Height: 15 – 17 inches
Weight: 40 – 70 pounds
Lifespan: 12 – 15 years
Colors: Cream, brown, white, apricot, black, blue, gray, red, or silver with a dark, tiger-striped pattern
Suitable for: Active individuals and families looking for an allergy-friendly dog
Temperament: Intelligent, loyal, friendly, easy to train, gets along with kids and other pets

The Poodle is one of America’s most popular dog breeds that’s known for being intelligent, friendly, and easy to train. Poodles come in several colors, including cream, brown, apricot, gray, red, silver blue, or black. Poodles also come in three varieties including the Standard Poodle, which is the biggest of the lot, including the Miniature Poodle, and the Toy Poodle.

A brindle Poodle is simply a Poodle with a dark, tiger-striped pattern to its coat that results from layered black hair intermingling in areas of the base coat color.  This is the same color pattern often seen in Great Danes, Boxers, Greyhounds, and other breeds.

If you’d like to own a Poodle and want one that will turn heads whenever you’re out walking, consider getting a brindle Poodle because they’re beautiful dogs! The unique color is always present on a brindle Poodle, regardless of how often or how short the coat is taken down. Even if a brindle Poodle is shaved down to the skin, the brindle pattern is still present.

It should be noted that while this article is focused on the Standard Poodle, the brindle coloring can also be found on the smaller Miniature and Toy Poodles.

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Brindle Poodle Puppies

Brindle poodle puppy carried by a man
Image By: PNW Production, Pexels
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

The brindle Poodle, like other Poodles of varying colors, is a social and friendly dog that’s always ready for fun. While a brindle Poodle may readily join you on the couch for a love fest, this dog would prefer spending most of its time outdoors having fun.

If your goal is to find a calm lap dog, you shouldn’t get any type of a Poodle because these dogs are lively and always ready and willing to go on outdoor adventures big and small! If you have a dog fur allergy, you’ll be happy to know that Poodles of all colors, including those with the more uncommon brindle coloring, are considered hypoallergenic due to their non-shedding hair. Despite their allergy-friendliness, these dogs still need regular grooming to keep their coats beautiful and healthy.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Brindle Poodle

1. The Brindle Pattern Won’t Fade

You may know that it’s common for a Poodle, or any dog for that matter, to change color as it ages due to fading of the main color.  However, this fading doesn’t happen with a brindle Poodle, as the dark and striped pattern won’t fade as the dog grows older. This means once you buy a brindle Poodle with a tiger-like striped pattern on its body, it will retain that unique pattern for life.


2. The Brindle Color Doesn’t Affect the Health of a Poodle

The brindle color pattern does nothing to affect the health of a Poodle, so you don’t have to worry about that. The striking tiger-like pattern is just one of the many distinctive traits that make your dog unique.


3. It Can be Tough Finding a Brindle Poodle for Sale

Because brindle Poodles are not common, you may find it difficult to find a breeder in your area with puppies for sale. If you’re finding it hard to locate a breeder in your vicinity, consider looking a bit further away. With a little luck, you may stumble across a breeder with pups for sale that’s willing to meet you halfway.

Brindle poodle portrait
Image By: Skyler Ewing, Pexels

Temperament & Intelligence of the Brindle Poodle🧠

Like all poodles, the brindle Poodle is a smart and even-tempered dog with a great personality. A brindle Poodle is loving and affectionate toward their family but not so friendly to strangers. When someone new comes along, this dog will likely back off until it senses all is OK.  However, it doesn’t take a brindle Poodle long to make friends with someone new once the dog realizes they’re not a threat.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-train, obedient dog, a brindle Poodle may be the right pick for you. Just remember that this dog loves being outside so be ready to take several walks each day.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

A Poodle of any color, including a brindle Poodle, makes a fantastic family dog. This dog thrives on attention, and it can sulk if it feels neglected. Therefore, any family thinking of getting a brindle Poodle should be sure they have time to spend with the dog doing things like taking it outside regularly for fun in the yard and nice long neighborhood walks.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Yes, brindle Poodles can be around other pets with no problems, as long as they’re introduced in the right way. A brindle Poodle can live in harmony with other dogs, cats, and even birds as long as the dog is properly socialized and trained. If you happen to have chickens or ducks living on your property, be careful because Poodles don’t always obey when they see winged creatures running about.

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Things to Know When Owning a Brindle Poodle:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

You can expect a Standard Poodle to eat about 3 cups of food a day. To ensure your dog stays healthy, provide them with high-quality dog food that will meet all their nutritional needs. It’s up to you whether you feed your brindle Poodle kibble or wet dog food. If you decide to go with wet food, get your dog some bully sticks or something similar to chomp on to remove built-up tartar on their teeth.

Exercise 🐕

A brindle Poodle needs lots of exercise because this dog has plenty of energy. And since Poodles are intelligent, it’s important to mix up your dog’s activities a bit to keep them interested.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a hot summer day or freezing cold in the winter months, a brindle Poodle will want to get outdoors to have some doggie fun. This adventurous dog is loads of fun to own and is always willing to join you on all your outdoor adventures, regardless of the time of year.

Brindle poodle puppy sitting on stairs
Image By: Laura Arroyo-Bonney, Pexels

Training🦮

A brindle Poodle is a bright canine that takes to dog training as a duck takes to water. It’s important to do some obedience training with this dog when it’s young. This will help the dog learn that you’re the boss and that what you say goes. Give your dog a yummy treat and lots of praise whenever they do a great job during training, so they know what’s expected of them.

Grooming ✂️

Even though a brindle Poodle doesn’t shed much, this dog still needs regular grooming to keep their coat healthy and shiny. You should bathe your dog whenever they get dirty. Use a good dog shampoo and be sure to rinse well after shampooing.

This dog needs a trimming every 6 weeks or so. You can hire a professional groomer to do the job or pick up some grooming tools so you can save money by doing it yourself. You’ll need clippers, a brush, and a pair of nail trimmers for dogs or a nail grinder to keep those nails short and manageable.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The brindle Poodle is an overall healthy dog that lives a good long time. However, like other breeds, Poodles are susceptible to a few health concerns you should be aware of. If you think your brindle Poodle may be ill, get to the vet right away, as time is always important when it comes to health care.

Minor Conditions
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease
Serious Conditions
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Glaucoma
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Addison’s Disease

Male vs. Female

There’s no big difference between a male and female brindle Poodle, so it’s up to you to pick the gender you want. Just remember that it does cost more to have a female dog spayed compared to neutering a male, so if money’s an issue, there’s that to consider.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for an eye-catching dog that’s a joy to have around, you should consider the gorgeous brindle Poodle. While it may prove challenging to find a breeder near you, the payoff is huge when you do get lucky. The brindle Poodle is intelligent, loyal, silly at times, and a dog that gets along well with kids and other family pets.


Featured Image Credit: Alexas_Fotos, Pixabay

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