A well trained and properly socialized Poodle makes an excellent family pet. A poodle is considered to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds and even possesses a sense of humor. The Poodle was originally bred to work closely with humans, in the capacity of a water retriever and also as a hunter, herder, and guardian. They are easy to train and have an overwhelming desire to please their family, and many of these characteristics have made Poodles very good watchdogs. They are not an overly aggressive breed by nature, but do have protective tendencies. Most, like your Poodle, will bark a lot and not bite.
Poodles are very quick to bond with their family and those bonds are strong and lifelong. Poodles become very loving family pets and out of affection for their owners and other animals they have been raised with; While they are not naturally aggressive towards strangers or other animals, they can be very wary of new situations and surroundings, they will let their family know when they spy, hear or smell something new. Poodles are also experts at sensing new things, they are highly alert dogs and in tune with their surroundings. With their heightened sense of perception, they can tell when something is wrong and are very obvious in communicating this feeling to their family. Because poodles are also prone to barking and are easy to train, an owner can have the dog bark in certain instances to alert the family to new occurrences in the yard and around the house.
With their highly developed instinctive behavior, their guarding and hunting history is often very apparent. Poodles are very territorial dogs and are wary of any stranger who comes near their home; Because they’re so smart, they’re able to tell who doesn’t belong there and they’ll be very vocal about it. If an owner gives the Poodle a reward for sounding the alarm, the Poodle will quickly feel the owner’s approval and satisfaction. Again, keep in mind that poodles have a strong, innate desire to please their owners and will likely repeat any behavior that garners a positive response. When a Poodle is not properly trained, it can start to bark excessively and become a real pain. To prevent this from happening, use consistent, firm, and positive training and reinforcement methods to make sure the poodle knows when to bark. Never, ever, harshly punish a Poodle because he is very sensitive and can develop neurotic behavior if he pushes the dog too hard.
The qualities of a Poodle guardian also include a strong protection towards his family; the female tends to be a bit more protective compared to the male, because her maternal instincts are displayed towards her human family. A Poodle’s lack of aggression can prevent it from being a vicious watchdog, however, while a Poodle may sound an alarm, it is generally friendly and polite towards strangers. However, this non-aggressive nature also allows them to be a great family, even to those with small children.