Poodles make great family dogs. No matter which size you select, your new poodle will wiggle her way into the hearts of all your family members. If you're getting a dog because your kids want one, you can certainly involve them in the care of your new dog, but please be sure an adult takes the ultimate responsibility for your poodle's care. Being responsible for a living, feeling creature is a lot of responsibility for a child, and you owe it to your dog to see that her needs are fully met. A parent who thinks the children will take care of the dog will likely be disappointed, and the dog will be the one that suffers. That said, there are plenty of dog-related tasks that your children can take on, depending on their age.

Small children, for example, can help fill a food bowl and put it down for your dog. Older kids can exercise the dog — and even little ones can toss a toy for a poodle that has been trained to retrieve it. Poop pickup in the yard is a perennial favorite chore to assign to a kid. Particularly motivated older children can be the primary trainer in a dog-training class, provided the instructor allows it. Regular brushing can be part of a gentle child's routine responsibilities, though an adult must make sure that this important chore is done properly.