Poodle Information
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Standard Poodle Overview
Average Weight: 45-70 pounds (20.41 to 31.8 kg)
Average Height: Over 15 inches (38.1 cm)
Pronounced: STAN-derd Poo-duhl
Group: Non-sporting
Life Span: 14 Years
Average Litter: 7
Origin: Germany | Developed in France
Appearance
Many are surprised just how large a Standard Poodle is, as they think of a Poodle as being the toy (6-9 pounds) or the miniature (15-17 pounds). The Standard sized Poodle is a rather large dog who can reach an adult weight of 45-70 pounds (20.41 to 31.8 kg) even though there is no weight requirement per AKC standards. This sized Poodle will be over 15 inches at the shoulder. Add to that a thick, high topknot and you have one big dog!
It is this sized dog which was developed first, before the smaller toy or mini. Appearance is the same and size is the only difference.
This breed is very elegant and this dog carries itself with confidence and pride. Its body is well proportioned and considered "squarely" built.
Most will have dark oval shaped eyes, however amber eyes can sometimes be found with brown, cafe au lait and silver beige dogs. If blue eyes are present, as adults, it is considered to be a fault.
The muzzle is long with a slight chiseling under the eyes. The ears are thick with hair (technically not fur) and hang down close to the face. The tail is customarily docked (in countries in which it is legal, including the United States) to a medium length.
The dog's coat is the feature which stands out the most. A Poodle has hair as opposed to the fur that most dogs have and it is naturally curly and very dense.
Many people mistakenly believe that dogs with hair are hypoallergenic and will not cause any issues with allergy sufferers. However, all dogs produced dander, the element which normally can cause sneezing and other allergy symptoms. The element which makes the Standard Poodle (and other sized Poodles) seem to be hypoallergenic is the fact that this dog does not shed in the customary sense. The hair does fall out, but not to the floor or furniture...it falls into itself. This is one of the reasons that daily brushing is important, as loose, dead hairs left in the coat can produce hard to get out tangles.
While the Standard Poodle is known for it's intricate clips (the possibilities are endless), the coat can be corded if an owner chooses, this is achieved by not clipping the coat and allowing the hair to grow. The cords will then begin to develop when the dog is between 8 and 17 months old. Learn about coat issues here.
Colors
Standard Poodles may be solid, parti colored (a mix of colors) or phantom colored. Colors are: Apricot, Black, Blue, Brown, Cafe Au lait, Cream, Gray, Red, Silver, Silver beige and White. Learn much more about Poodle colors here.
Care Information
Standard Poodles, while very graceful and elegant are large enough to handle long walks and hard play. When they are still puppies, care must be taken of course, to prevent injury from rough play and jumping from heights.
Daily dental care along with yearly professional care is very important as is grooming and clipping of the coat. Proper feeding will help to ensure a happy and healthy dog and prolong the miniature Poodle's life span.
Temperament
This breed is known for its intelligence and generally does very well with house training and command training. This breed can be a great watchdog by alerting you to the presence of unwanted visitors on the property with its sharp bark.
Standard Poodles usually get along very well with children, however because they are very small when puppies, children must be taught how to proper handle them during care and play. This breed is a great companion for any sized family.
Health Issues
Even though the toy, miniature and standard Poodles are considered the same dog breed, they do have different health issues. The standard size is more prone to Epilepsy, hypothyroidsim, hip dsyplasia, Sebaceous Adenitis, luxating patella, bloat, Addison's disease, von Willebrand's disease and PRA. Learn about health issues here.
It is this sized dog which was developed first, before the smaller toy or mini. Appearance is the same and size is the only difference.
This breed is very elegant and this dog carries itself with confidence and pride. Its body is well proportioned and considered "squarely" built.
Most will have dark oval shaped eyes, however amber eyes can sometimes be found with brown, cafe au lait and silver beige dogs. If blue eyes are present, as adults, it is considered to be a fault.
The muzzle is long with a slight chiseling under the eyes. The ears are thick with hair (technically not fur) and hang down close to the face. The tail is customarily docked (in countries in which it is legal, including the United States) to a medium length.
The dog's coat is the feature which stands out the most. A Poodle has hair as opposed to the fur that most dogs have and it is naturally curly and very dense.
Many people mistakenly believe that dogs with hair are hypoallergenic and will not cause any issues with allergy sufferers. However, all dogs produced dander, the element which normally can cause sneezing and other allergy symptoms. The element which makes the Standard Poodle (and other sized Poodles) seem to be hypoallergenic is the fact that this dog does not shed in the customary sense. The hair does fall out, but not to the floor or furniture...it falls into itself. This is one of the reasons that daily brushing is important, as loose, dead hairs left in the coat can produce hard to get out tangles.
While the Standard Poodle is known for it's intricate clips (the possibilities are endless), the coat can be corded if an owner chooses, this is achieved by not clipping the coat and allowing the hair to grow. The cords will then begin to develop when the dog is between 8 and 17 months old. Learn about coat issues here.
Colors
Standard Poodles may be solid, parti colored (a mix of colors) or phantom colored. Colors are: Apricot, Black, Blue, Brown, Cafe Au lait, Cream, Gray, Red, Silver, Silver beige and White. Learn much more about Poodle colors here.
Care Information
Standard Poodles, while very graceful and elegant are large enough to handle long walks and hard play. When they are still puppies, care must be taken of course, to prevent injury from rough play and jumping from heights.
Daily dental care along with yearly professional care is very important as is grooming and clipping of the coat. Proper feeding will help to ensure a happy and healthy dog and prolong the miniature Poodle's life span.
Temperament
This breed is known for its intelligence and generally does very well with house training and command training. This breed can be a great watchdog by alerting you to the presence of unwanted visitors on the property with its sharp bark.
Standard Poodles usually get along very well with children, however because they are very small when puppies, children must be taught how to proper handle them during care and play. This breed is a great companion for any sized family.
Health Issues
Even though the toy, miniature and standard Poodles are considered the same dog breed, they do have different health issues. The standard size is more prone to Epilepsy, hypothyroidsim, hip dsyplasia, Sebaceous Adenitis, luxating patella, bloat, Addison's disease, von Willebrand's disease and PRA. Learn about health issues here.
