Poodles are a group of formal dog breeds -- the Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle. Poodles can be clipped into shorthaired, normal -looking dogs who are a snap to brush. Poodles also have the advantage of being the lightest-shedding, most hypoallergenic of all coated breeds. They are also elegant, energetic athletes who move with a light, springy gait. They excel in advanced obedience competition, where retrieving and jumping skills are required, and in agility (obstacle course) competitions, where they fly over and under and through the obstacles with a strength and grace that is breathtaking to watch. Even better, a Poodle is one of the smartest and most trainable of all breeds, second only to the border collie. He is a "thinking" dog who pays rapt attention to his owner, learns quickly, and responds eagerly to positive training methods. Indeed, Poodles do well with some sort of mental stimulation in order to be happy -- obedience classes, agility classes, or challenging games such as hide 'n seek, or fetching a variety of toys. This intelligent breed cannot simply sit in the backyard and be ignored. Most Poodles make great watchdogs and some even have mild (and sensible) protective instincts, but this is not an aggressive breed. Their attitude toward people varies from friendly to politely reserved. Early socialization is important to avoid excessive watchfulness or timidity. With other dogs and cats, Poodles are usually peaceful and accepting. Poodles need a lot of daily companionship. They suffer from loneliness and separation anxiety if left alone too much. Most Poodles are sensitive dogs, sometimes hypersensitive. Similarly, Poodles can get emotionally upset if there's too much activity or conflict or roughhousing in your household -- they prefer peace and harmony and lots of attention.