The miniature poodle is a square-proportioned dog with proud carriage and elegant appearance. It should move with a light, springy, effortless stride. The poodle stems from working retriever stock, and its conformation should reflect its athletic background. The coat is curly, harsh and dense; if corded, it should hang in tight even cords. The traditional clips stem from functional and decorative tradition; acceptable clips for show purposes are the puppy (for puppies only), English saddle, Continental and sporting.
The miniature poodle puppies are lively, amiable, playful, eager to please, responsive, smart and obedient — small wonder that it has remained one of the most popular varieties of dog for so long. It is sensitive, tending to be devoted to one person, and initially reserved with strangers. It is good with children, other pets and dogs. Some tend to bark a lot.
