Standard Poodle Dog Breed Information
If you're looking for a dog that's loyal, intelligent, and easy to care for, then look no further than the Standard Poodle dog breed. This breed is beloved by many owners because of its intelligence and devotion. However, you will need to consider some things before bringing a Poodle home. The following guide will give you everything you need to know about standard Poodles so that when it comes time to decide if they're the right dog breed for you, you can make an informed decision.
Standard Poodle Dog Breed Rundown
Height: Over 15 inches
Weight: 45-70 lbs. (males),45-60 lbs. (females)
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Origin: Germany
Personality: The Standard Poodle is a playful, intelligent breed that makes an excellent family dog. These dogs are very popular in the United States due to their intelligence, beauty, and hypoallergenic fur. They are loyal and affectionate with their owners and are highly intelligent and trainable. Standard Poodles are also skilled at many jobs, including as guide dogs for the blind, as search and rescue dogs in disasters, as hunting dogs, and even as circus performers.
Standard Poodle Appearance
The Standard Poodle is a medium- to large-sized dog that stands about 18 to 24 inches at the shoulders. These versatile dogs have curly coats, which can be black, white, brown, red, gray, or any mixture of the preceding colors. Their long coat often requires extensive grooming and frequent brushing to prevent matting. They need to be bathed weekly and trimmed every two-four months.
The Standard Poodle dog breed's thick coat is hypoallergenic, making them great for people with allergies. They can also be found in both curly and wavy varieties, but the most common type is curly - typically standard among most Poodles regardless of size.
Standard Poodle History
The Standard Poodle dog breed is currently one of the most popular breeds in the United States and has been for years. With its long coat, curly hair, and compact body, this breed has attracted admirers from all over the world.
There are many theories about the origin of the Standard Poodle. Some say they came from Germany, while others believe they may have originated in France. It's generally agreed that they were bred as working dogs and used for hunting, retrieving, and guarding. They were first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1887. Poodles have been a family favorite for a long time. In fact, they're one of the oldest breeds in existence and date back to the 15th century.
They were bred as water retrievers—the job of retrieving items thrown into bodies of water—and as guard dogs to protect livestock on farms and estates. They also served as companions for aristocratic families in Europe. Now you will find Standard Poodles competing in dog show competitions, assisting disabled humans to perform tasks, and living at home with their loving families.
Standard Poodle Personality Traits
The Standard Poodle dog breed makes for a very loyal companion. They will follow you around the house and want to be with you as much as possible. It's also not uncommon for them to become jealous if someone else is getting attention, so they may try to steal the spotlight if they get a chance.
The Standard Poodle has a reputation for being good with children. They tend to be gentle and playful with kids, but that doesn't mean they should be left unsupervised around them. Like any dog breed, the Standard Poodle can have its limits when it comes to how much activity your child can handle at one time.
In general, the Standard Poodle dog breed is easy to train because of their intelligence level—but just because this breed is easy doesn't mean it's going to be an instant success in every situation. You'll need patience when working with your dog, or else she may give up trying altogether (and no one wants that).
Standard Poodles are generally very vocal and will bark quite a bit in addition to having high levels of energy and needing mental stimulation. Consider getting your Poodle some training games and activities like a licking mat to challenge their mind.
Training the Standard Poodle
Training a Standard Poodle is easy and fun, but it's important to remember that this breed tends to be very sensitive. They need an owner who is firm and consistent but fair, firm, and committed.
The Standard Poodle dog breed is known to be very intelligent and trainable. They can learn commands quickly, and they have a great memory. They can also be trained to do tricks, which makes them great companions. Consistency, firmness, and fairness are essential in training your Poodle. When you train your dog using the same commands and the same rewards, he will learn more quickly. Consistently reinforcing positive behaviors will also help to make them habits for your dog.
Standard Poodles are very popular among disabled people because of their ability to assist with daily tasks that would otherwise be difficult for the person who is disabled (such as opening doors). Search-and-rescue organizations rely on these dogs for their intelligence and trainability as well.
Famous Standard Poodles
Just like humans have celebrities, dogs do too! Throughout history, there have been many remarkable standard Poodles, including the following:
Charles le Chien: Better known to Americans as Charley or Charles, this French-born Poodle was a traveling companion of the world-famous author John Steinbeck. Charley only spoke French and traveled across the world with his loving owner, who later documented their travels in a Nobel Prize-winning book "Travel with Charley: In Search of America."
Duchess Disney: Known as Dee Dee to the Disney family, the Standard Poodle Duchess used to accompany Walt Disney to the studio as he made his rounds to check on his award-winning films and animations. When not touring with her famous dad, Dee Dee would spend time with Walt Disney's young children.
Rufus Churchill: Proud pup of Winston Churchill, Standard Poodle Rufus made a mark on not only his famous dad but the nation of England, who mourned his loss when he was tragically killed.
Many celebrities also own or have owned standard Poodles, including:
Betty White
Katharine Hepburn
Grace Kelly
Ellen Degeneres
Barbara Streisand
Jackie Kennedy
Jack Lemmon
Kirk Douglas
Mike Tyson
Robin Williams
Standard Poodle Dog Breed Health
Most Poodles enjoy long, happy, and healthy lives with little cause for concern as long as they are the result of a thoughtful breeder. However, as with all dog breeds, the Standard Poodle dog breed is susceptible to some of the below common illnesses and diseases:
Hypothyroidism - This condition is a hormone deficiency that can lead to weight gain, lethargy, and hair loss. It is common in older dogs and can be treated with medication.
Cancer - Though the risk isn't as high as it is for other large breeds (such as Rottweilers or German Shepherds), Standard Poodles are still susceptible to cancerous tumors in their skin and joints.
Eye Diseases - Standard Poodles are at risk of developing glaucoma or cataracts in their old age due to their protruding eyes; check with your vet regularly if you have one of these breeds so they can catch any problems early on before they become life-threatening ones.
Hip Dysplasia (HD) - HD affects both hips at once when there's an uneven distribution of weight between them which makes movement difficult because one side carries more than its share.
If you are ever concerned about your Standard Poodle's health, the best thing you can do is to contact your vet.
Where To Get a Standard Poodle
If you're interested in adopting or purchasing a Standard Poodle, you can choose from a variety of wonderful rescues, which often have purebred puppies and adult dogs. For a full list of rescues and breeders, you can check with The Poodle Club of America. We have compiled a list of rescues and Poodle organizations below:
Carolina Poodle Rescue, located in South Carolina, CPR is a no-kill private rescue that is open to Poodles, Poodle mixes, and other small dogs. They do allow out-of-state adoptions, but potential dog parents need to meet the dogs and volunteers before final approval.
Poodle Rescue of New England is located in Massachusetts but is open to assisting Poodles all over New England, including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. They are an all-volunteer organization that helps foster and rehome Poodles.
Florida Poodle Rescue is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, but will help with volunteers to rescue Poodles across the state. They help rehome Poodles after providing them with professional veterinary care, including spaying/neutering when needed and rehabilitation care.
The Poodle Club of America is the national Poodle club in the United States and is recognized by the American Kennel Club. The Poodle Club of America offers a full list of breeders and resources for Poodle parents, including care and breed information.
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of what to expect when bringing a Standard Poodle into your home. These are great dogs and make wonderful companions, but they do have some unique needs that should be taken into consideration when deciding whether or not to include them in your family. If you're looking for more information on adopting, check out our 10 Tips to Prepare Before Adopting a Dog.
