Standard Poodle

Standard Poodles 2024 – Breed Information and Characteristics

If you want to know about standard poodles, their history, prices, food, grooming needs, coat, temperaments, lifespan, size, weight, and characteristics, then you are in the right place. Here, you will get the complete information about these poodles.

Standard poodles are not sassy, although they are very athletic and intelligent. They first served as water retrievers but gained popularity in France as family-friendly pets. They have a curly coat that sheds little. Let us dive deeply into the world of standard poodles and explore much more exciting information!

Standard Poodles Overview

Common Name

Standard Poodle

Parti Poodles

Chronic hepatitis, patellar luxation, and Cushing’s disease

Merle Poodles

Progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and bloat

Phantom Poodles

Hypothyroidism, Dyschondroplasia, and Addison’s disease

Mismark Poodles

Sebaceous adenitis, cardiomyopathy, Von Willibrand’s disease

Common Name	Standard Poodle
Average weight	44 – 71 pounds
Average size	16 inches and up
Lifespan	12 – 15 years
Energy	High
Temperament	Very friendly

History of Standard Poodles

Standard poodles originated in Germany and were often used by duck hunters as water retrievers. In the 15th century, they became very popular in France, where royal and noble families owned them as pets. These poodles became the national dog of France.

Standard poodles were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1887. These poodles were further bred into other poodles, such as toy, miniature, and Moyen poodles. Among all these poodles, large-sized poodles are present in all over the world. These poodles are included in the list of top 10 dogs in the world.

Appearance of Standard Poodles

Poodles have long, curly coats with dark eyes. Those poodles that are used in circuses or dog shows have a mostly continental clip to look more attractive and unique. However, regular grooming is required to prevent mats. These continental clips were used in the past as poodles swam; their hair became heavy, so these clips helped them to swim easily

Colors of Standard Poodles

Poodles are available in many attractive and unique colors. Some are solid-colored, while others are multicolored. Both solid and multicolored are beautiful; however, it depends on your choice of which poodle color suits you the most.

Solid poodle colors are as follows:

Black
Sable
Brown
White
Gray
Apricot
Silver
Blue
Cream
Red

The multicolored poodles are as follows:

Parti Poodles
Tuxedo Poodles
Phantom Poodels
Mismark Poodles
Merle Poodles
Moyen Poodle

Size

Standard poodles have larger sizes compared to other poodles. Their size is around 16 inches and up. The poodles under 10 inches are toy poodles, while poodles between 10 – 15 inches are miniature poodles. All toy, miniature, and moyen poodles are bred of standard poodles.

Weight

The weight of poodles depends on their health and diet. Their average weight is around 44 – 71 pounds. However, if the poodles suffer from any health issues, they become weak and lose weight.

9 Best Poodle Haircut Styles

The Lion Cut

This style is beneficial for those who want to reduce their poodle’s regular maintenance. In this haircut, hair on the top of the head is left while the rest on the body is short-trimmed, resulting in a mane-like appearance. This style makes your poodle popular among people.

Puppy Cut

In this style, all the poodle hair is trimmed to an equal size, typically around 1 – 2 inches. This style reduces the need for regular brushing and bathing. This cut is beneficial for poodles in the summer season as this style makes poodles cool and comfortable.

Teddy Bear Cut

In this style, hair on the face is trimmed to normal size while the rest body hair is trimmed shorter. The poodle’s face looks full of hair which gives them a teddy bear-like appearance.

Continental Cut

This style is beneficial for those poodles who perform in dog shows. In this style, hair on the face, legs, and tail is left while the rest are trimmed to a shorter size. Regular brushing and proper care are required to maintain this style.

Summer Cut

In summer, it is very difficult to maintain a poodle’s hair. Poodles feel uncomfortable on hot days due to long hair. In this style, hair on the tail and ears is left while the rest on the body is trimmed very short. In this way, poodles feel happy and comfortable.

Dutch Cut

This style is beneficial for those poodles who perform in dog shows as this gives an attractive look. In this style, the hair on the top of the head is kept long while the sides and tail are trimmed shorter giving a “Mohawk” appearance. Regular bruising is required to prevent tangles.

German Trim

This style reduces the regular need for brushing and bathing. In this style, hair on the legs and head is kept long while the rest of the body is trimmed short. This style also prevents poodles from mats and tangles.

Lamb Clip

This style is beneficial for those poodles who are uncomfortable with long hair. In this style, hair on the face, body, legs, and tail are trimmed to a shorter length. However, the hair on the ears is left long giving the poodle a lamb look appearance.

The Miami Vice Cut

This style is very unique compared to other dog styles. In this style, hair on the face, legs, and tail is left long while the rest is trimmed to normal length. It gives the poodle a celebrity look. As they have long hair, regular grooming is essential.

Coat of Standard Poodles

Poodles have long, curly coats that shed little. This coat traps the loosened hair and doesn’t let it fall. The other reason for low shedding is that poodles are single-coated and shed yearly. It is a misconception that poodles have fur, although they have hair that grows continuously for a longer period. This continuous hair growth results in low shedding.

Hypoallergenic Coat

Poodles have a hypoallergenic coat, that sheds little and causes few allergies compared to other dogs’ coats that cause severe allergies. The major allergy-causing agent in their hair is dander. Dander is a mixture of hair, dust, coat oil, and dead skin cells that affects protein-sensitive persons.

Another allergy-causing agent is the saliva present in the dog’s urine. As poodles shed little, the chances of causing allergy decreases. AKC adds the poodles to the list of dogs bred that shed little.

Reasons for Coat Shedding

Many people ask, “Why do poodles shed?” or “What factors lead to poodle shedding?” The answer to these questions depends on the poodle’s condition and health. Health plays an important role in developing and maintaining poodles’ coats. If a poodle is suffering from any disease, it starts shedding more.

Some health issues that lead to the poodle shedding are as follows:

Stress
Fleas
Sebaceous adenitis
Allergies
Pregnancy
Cushing’s disease
Infections

The other factors that lead to poodle shedding are low maintenance and negligence in regular grooming needs. Professional grooming is essential for poodles.

Temperaments

Poodles are smart, active, and loyal pets. They are very energetic and have friendly behavior that makes them unique compared to other dog breed. Let us discuss their temperaments in detail.

Friendly Manners

Poodles are considered to be the most intelligent dogs, as they are very sensible and have friendly manners. They obey their owners and work according to their instructions. They realize the body language of owners and tend to make them happy. They play happily with children.

Hypersensitive

Poodles are sensitive and unable to tolerate strictness. Strict behavior affects their mental and physical health. It is recommended not to shout at poodles in case they make a mistake. Instead, try to deal with them with polite behavior.

Energetic

Poodles are highly energetic. These athletes are used in dog shows to perform many tasks. They play energetically with children and with other dogs. However, proper nutrients such as carbohydrates are essential to maintain their energy.

Training of Standard Poodles

The training of poodles is as follows:

Training of Basic Commands

First, train basic commands to your poodle, such as to sit, stand, run, and heal. This training is very essential as it increases the poodle’s understanding. You can also teach these commands during playing. If the poodle performs well, then treat them with a meal. In this way, they always try to perform well and learn these commands quickly.

Daily Stroll

Daily strolls of around 2 – 3 hours are essential for humans as well as for poodles. Regular walking maintains blood flow and the functioning of other organs, so try to make them habitual to daily walks. This not only makes them physically fit but also socializes them as they interact with other people and dogs.

Brain Stimulation

Trainings that maintain and stimulate brain health are essential for poodles. For this purpose, you can use puzzle toys and IQ quests. Some agility courses are available in the market to perform this task.

It is recommended to have short training sessions of around 30 minutes, or if your poodle is weak, then 5 – 10 minutes is enough. Do not burden your poodles with lots of exercise. Train them calmly.

Housetraining

Potty training is essential for poodles so that they adopt good habits. For this purpose, a separate bathroom in the backyard should be constructed, and the children should be trained to go to the bathroom at the time of elimination. If they obey you, then treat them with a meal; otherwise, don’t shout at them.

Socialization

To make poodles social is very important. This training makes them friendly otherwise they start barking when some new person comes to them. You can make your poodle social by interacting with new people and puppies. It becomes possible only when you take them to dog parks and other places. Daily walks also make poodles social.

Health Issues in Standard Poodles

Poodles are highly active and energetic, but they are prone to many diseases. Some diseases are genetic, which means that the disease is present in their parents and transfers to them, or some are caused by improper care and checkups. According to the Poodle Club of America, Poodles are prone to the following diseases.

Bloat
Cancer
Addison’s Disease
Cushing’s Disease
Heart Problems
Joint Problems
Epilepsy
Kidney Disease
Diabetes

Let us discuss some of the diseases and their treatments so that you can treat your poodle in case of any disease.

Bloat

Standard poodles mostly suffer from this disease. In this disease, the stomach rotates about 180 degrees, cutting off the blood supply to the spleen and trapping a gas inside it. It results in the death of a poodle in some minutes if proper treatment is not given. This disease is called gastric dilation and sometimes referred as volvulus.

Symptoms of the disease are as follows:

Sudden distress
Painful abdomen
Expanded stomach
Pacing and panting
Excessive drooling
Restlessness
Vomiting motions
Rapid breathing

If you see any of the symptoms in your poodle, take them to the emergency hospital without wasting time. Gastropexy procedure and probiotics are commonly used in the treatment of this disease.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

It is a life-threatening heart disease in which degeneration of heart muscles occurs, leading to the enlargement of the heart, making it thin and weak. The heart loses the ability to pump blood to all parts of the body, resulting in the death of the poodle. It is caused by infection or transfer from parents.