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Standard Poodle

Standard Poodle

Standard Poodles in flower garden

Stat Information

Pronounced: STAN-derd Poo-duhl
Alternative name: French Poodle
Original name: Pudelhund; meaning "to splash about" and "dog"
Size class: Large
Average Weight:  45-70 pounds (20.41 to 31.8 kg)
Life Span: 10-14 Years
Average Litter: 7 
Origin: Germany | Developed in France
Personality Traits: Proud, active, intelligent
Bred for: Water retriever

AKC Info:
Group: Non-sporting
Recognition: 1887
Height: Over 15 inches (38.1 cm)

FCI Info: 
Alternative name: Caniche
Name origination: comes from the french word 'cane' which means 'duck'. 
Utilization: Companion Dog
Size: Over 45 cm (17.71 inches) up to 60 cm (23.62 inches) with a tolerance of +2 (.78 inches)

KC info:
Group:Utility 
Size: 38 cm (15 inches) 

CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) info: 
Group: Sporting
Size: Must be over 15 in (38 cm) in height; however, most average 22-26 in (56-66 cm)

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 that 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!  Other dogs similar in size to a standard Poodle are the Golden Retriever, Greyhound and English Setter.

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. After 6 to 15 months, the hair will mat into cords which are then separated and evened out. 

Learn about coat issues.

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.

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.


Since this breed is prone to tooth decay, dental care at home along with yearly professional care. Even so, it is not uncommon for a senior, old standard to have one or two missing teeth. Proper feeding of wholesome foods for both main meals and snacks will help to ensure a happy and healthy dog and that is able to reach his expected life span of 10 to 14 years. Learn more about: Poodle Care Tips.

Temperament

This breed is known for its intelligence (in the top 5 most intelligent) and generally does very well with house training and command training. This breed can work well as a watchdog by alerting you to the presence of unwanted visitors on the property with its sharp bark.  The Poodle is not however, known for being overly aggressive or having biting issues. 

Standard Poodles usually get along very well with children, however size issues may come into play. Very young puppies are small enough to be injured if not handled properly young young kids... And at the same time they grow quickly and and 18 month old Standard will be much larger than little toddlers which means the dog will need to be careful around the young child. 

Loyal, emotional and eager to be included in everything, this breed is a great companion for any sized family looking for a large sized pet.

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.

Related Article:

Comparison of Toy Poodle vs Miniature vs Standard Poodle: A helpful summary comparing the 3 sizes of Poodles (AKC recognized) including temperament and health. And a summary of what the three sizes have in common.

Articles:

Poodle Feeding Guidelines: This extensive article covers all important aspects including scheduling, wet vs dry, grain vs grain-free, homemade food vs kibble, meals, snacks and treats, and more. This is for Poodles of all sizes and ages. 

Poodle Car Seats and Seat Belt Restraints: If your Poodle has trouble being comfortable in the car or you're not sure of the safest way to transport your Poodle, this article is for you. This covers both car sickness, along with treatments, and the best car seats and seatbelt restraints. 

The Best Toys for a Poodle: From chew toys for rambunctious teething puppies to toys to help Poodles with separation anxiety, we have an great list for Poodles of all sizes and ages. 

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