Poodle Information
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Standard Poodle Temperament
Let's 1st have a quick overview of the Standard Poodle:
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
The Standard Poodle Temperament
It is true that there is no difference in the appearance of the Standard Poodle VS the Toy or Miniature other than the size, of course. There is also no different in intelligence or capability to be properly trained. However, many owners and potential owners want to know if the Standard Poodle temperament is different than with the smaller variations of the Toy or Mini. While some may be surprised at the answer, the answer is a big YES.
And there is a logical reason for this... Over the many generations that breeding has been progressing, the Toy and Mini versions of this breed have been bred down in size...Why? Well, this has to do with temperament. All Poodles originated as hunting dogs....they are fantastic swimmers and were used mainly for sport hunting...They would jump into water without hesitation to go after prey. (This is the reason that the pon-pon on the tail is customary...as it was once thought to allow the dog to be able to swim faster)....While they were wonderful at this, they were not generally inside companion, family dogs.
Then, as time went on, there was public demand for this fantastic dog to be available in a smaller size. Therefore, over time the Mini and the Toy were developed into the dogs that we know of today. Why was there such a demand? Because for owners, a smaller dog = a companion dog (also referred to a a lap dog). And that equals a small dog who can easily live indoors with their human family members.
When a dog is integrated into the family as a member....and not used for hunting, etc....This allows the canine to develop traits that are sought after...one who loves to snuggle, be patted, can easily be carried around, and just as "lap dog" refers to, they can sit right on top of your lap without causing discomfort and keep you company.
Therefore, as time has gone by, the hunting traits of the smaller Toy and Mini were slowly taken away from them. (While some may have the instinct to chase, it is far less than their larger counterparts). The Standard Poodle temperament will include that strong hunting instinct and ability.... Even if the dog is not used for such activities, the characteristics of such a dog will exist....
So what does this mean to an owner?
For one thing, being a larger, stronger dog, they are able to withstand play with children better than the smaller versions... For example, a Toy can easily be injured by a child who does not know better and plays too rough. Being friendly, they will be able to play and even rough house a bit with older children and not be at risk of developing luxating patella, hip dysplasia or other injury induced medical issues. Therefore, in a home with multiple children, the Standard Poodle temperament is a good fit...they are, in general, more tolerable to youngsters.
Another element is that while all 3 variations are rather active canines, the Standard Poodle will need to be exercised more often and for longer periods of time. It is not recommended to overdue exercise while they are puppies...the bones are still developing...however, once they are adult canines it is highly recommended to offer at least 2 daily walks, roughly lasting 30 minutes long. Alternatively, one may wish to offer 1 daily walk that lasts approximately 1 hour.
Colors, Grooming and More
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.
Grooming will be quite the same as with any size, however, of course there is more body to cover! For this reason, owners will want to be sure that they have the time to perform grooming as necessary to keep the dog healthy can clean.
Heat
Another issue that owners sometimes do not think about when choosing size, is the element of the heat cycle of the dog. Very small dogs such as the Toy will enter heat however due to their size sometimes it is not even noticeable to an owner. Discharge is often very little and and is true for many Mini's as well. With the Standard Poodle, the discharge from this can be quite noticeable and cause quite a mess for some. Some owners prefer to handle this by using doggie diapers for this time so that blood and other substances do not stain the sofa, bed, carpeting and other objects in the household.
Anal Glands
While this is an issue that owners of ALL sized Poodles should be aware of, because the Standard is larger, the anal glands will be as well. You can read more about anal glands here.
It is true that there is no difference in the appearance of the Standard Poodle VS the Toy or Miniature other than the size, of course. There is also no different in intelligence or capability to be properly trained. However, many owners and potential owners want to know if the Standard Poodle temperament is different than with the smaller variations of the Toy or Mini. While some may be surprised at the answer, the answer is a big YES.
And there is a logical reason for this... Over the many generations that breeding has been progressing, the Toy and Mini versions of this breed have been bred down in size...Why? Well, this has to do with temperament. All Poodles originated as hunting dogs....they are fantastic swimmers and were used mainly for sport hunting...They would jump into water without hesitation to go after prey. (This is the reason that the pon-pon on the tail is customary...as it was once thought to allow the dog to be able to swim faster)....While they were wonderful at this, they were not generally inside companion, family dogs.
Then, as time went on, there was public demand for this fantastic dog to be available in a smaller size. Therefore, over time the Mini and the Toy were developed into the dogs that we know of today. Why was there such a demand? Because for owners, a smaller dog = a companion dog (also referred to a a lap dog). And that equals a small dog who can easily live indoors with their human family members.When a dog is integrated into the family as a member....and not used for hunting, etc....This allows the canine to develop traits that are sought after...one who loves to snuggle, be patted, can easily be carried around, and just as "lap dog" refers to, they can sit right on top of your lap without causing discomfort and keep you company.
Therefore, as time has gone by, the hunting traits of the smaller Toy and Mini were slowly taken away from them. (While some may have the instinct to chase, it is far less than their larger counterparts). The Standard Poodle temperament will include that strong hunting instinct and ability.... Even if the dog is not used for such activities, the characteristics of such a dog will exist....
So what does this mean to an owner?
For one thing, being a larger, stronger dog, they are able to withstand play with children better than the smaller versions... For example, a Toy can easily be injured by a child who does not know better and plays too rough. Being friendly, they will be able to play and even rough house a bit with older children and not be at risk of developing luxating patella, hip dysplasia or other injury induced medical issues. Therefore, in a home with multiple children, the Standard Poodle temperament is a good fit...they are, in general, more tolerable to youngsters.
Another element is that while all 3 variations are rather active canines, the Standard Poodle will need to be exercised more often and for longer periods of time. It is not recommended to overdue exercise while they are puppies...the bones are still developing...however, once they are adult canines it is highly recommended to offer at least 2 daily walks, roughly lasting 30 minutes long. Alternatively, one may wish to offer 1 daily walk that lasts approximately 1 hour.
Colors, Grooming and More
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.
Grooming will be quite the same as with any size, however, of course there is more body to cover! For this reason, owners will want to be sure that they have the time to perform grooming as necessary to keep the dog healthy can clean.
Heat
Another issue that owners sometimes do not think about when choosing size, is the element of the heat cycle of the dog. Very small dogs such as the Toy will enter heat however due to their size sometimes it is not even noticeable to an owner. Discharge is often very little and and is true for many Mini's as well. With the Standard Poodle, the discharge from this can be quite noticeable and cause quite a mess for some. Some owners prefer to handle this by using doggie diapers for this time so that blood and other substances do not stain the sofa, bed, carpeting and other objects in the household.
Anal Glands
While this is an issue that owners of ALL sized Poodles should be aware of, because the Standard is larger, the anal glands will be as well. You can read more about anal glands here.
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