Training a Miniature Poodle: what works and what to expect

Miniature Poodles learn fast, which works in both directions. A new cue can stick after five or six rewarded repetitions, but so can a bad habit, such as barking at you until dinner arrives. Short sessions of 5 to 10 minutes, ending while the dog is still keen, work far better than long drills.

Food, praise and play all motivate them, and many will work purely for the chance to do something new. Their weak spot is repetition: ask for the same sit twenty times and a Mini starts offering creative alternatives. Rotate exercises, teach a trick a week, and put effort into alone-time practice from puppyhood, starting with a few minutes behind a baby gate and building up gradually.