Standard Poodle Breed Information
Poodles are popular. You probably see tiny, medium and large Poodles everywhere. Today, let’s discuss the less common Standard Poodle, which is the largest variety of Poodles. Standard Poodles are part of the AKC non-sporting group with their original function being water retrieving dogs and their current day function being a companion. This dog breed is versatile, can easily be trained as military and guide dogs, and is wicked smart too!
Standard Poodle Temperament
General Characteristics
The Standard Poodle stands 15’’ at the shoulder (on average) and weighs between 45 and 65 pounds with a lifespan of anywhere between 10 to 13 years. Don’t let their good looks and flashy haircuts fool you though. They’re extremely smart and full of zest, so they’re not all business. Standard Poodles are usually very friendly with dogs and people alike. They’re also tolerant, making them good with children so long as they were socialized positively as puppies and adults.
Standard Poodle Grooming Needs
Yup, you guessed it, Standard Poodles require a lot of grooming. Poodles don’t shed like most dogs. Their loose hair gets caught in their curly hair, which causes matting really quickly. To minimize grooming your Standard Poodle, ask the professional dog groomer to give your dog a pet clip. Pet clip haircuts are stylish, yet shorter than most Standard Poodle clips, and only require maintenance every four to six weeks. You should still thoroughly brush your dog every couple of days or she’ll mat like mad.
They need weekly nail trims (or nail grinding) to prevent overgrown nails, which can be painful and break. Also, make sure to brush your Standard Poodle’s teeth every day. This will keep yearly veterinary dentals at bay.
RELATED: How to Train Your Dog to Play Fetch
Standard Poodle Training & Exercise
Standard Poodles require daily mental and physical stimulus. You can provide this by practicing polite behavior cues in short sessions, playing fetch (they’re amazing retrievers!), taking them on daily walks and joining a water sport. Not only are they smart, but they’re also extremely agile. This means they can excel in agility, competition obedience, rally obedience, nosework, tracking, dock diving, field trail (hunting and retrieving) and any other dog sport out there. Again, don’t let all their fabulous hair fool you. Standard Poodles are serious workers that love jobs!
With any dog breed, you have pros and cons, so it’s important to ensure the Standard Poodle’s characteristics and needs meet your lifestyle. If you’re interested in adding a Standard Poodle to your family, I encourage you to visit Standard Poodle Club of America for additional information on finding a responsible dog breeder or rescue in your area.
