Standard Poodle

Standard poodles are an athletic, intelligent, active, and friendly breed of dogs. They make excellent buddies due to their positive character and being a peacekeeper around other pets. They love pleasing their owners and enjoy spending activities with them. They are easy to train, shed less than other coated breeds, and have fewer odors. 

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Standard Poodle Appearance

These breeds' unique appearance is their frizzy coat, eyes that are small and dark, with noses that are long and pointed. They are known for their decorative grooming style, called the "shrubbery continental clip," which makes their hair into frizzy pom-poms around their chest and joints but is usually seen during dog shows. But as pets, they are typically more refined, shorter cut, and simple style. 

The Standard Poodle coats are different colors, but most usually black, brown, or white. They are 18 to 24 inches tall and weigh 50 to 70 lbs. 

Standard Poodle Personality

Despite their elegant hairstyles, these breeds are solid, sporty, playful, and wacky dogs. They enjoy solving problems and having to learn new tricks to showcase. They can be aloof with unfamiliar faces but are very loving and committed to their human family.

The Standard Poodles will do anything at their best to make their human family happy. They are a very clever breed and are aware of their owner’s expressions and body language. 

These breeds are also highly emotional and hypersensitive and can quickly get frightened by sound or touch. 

So, it is recommended for owners to look out for anxiety attacks. 

Standard Poodle Living Needs

These breeds are generally good with families and other pets and gentle with children. However, due to their hypersensitivity, they get overwhelmed easily by small, noisy kids and might need some time to relax. If your house is regularly frantic, loud, or prone to conflicts, this breed might create anxiety problems since they desire a quiet, calm living environment. With this, Standard Poodle can perfectly fit families with no or older kids. 

Concerns with separation anxiety might also surface for these breeds if their owners are away for too long or are not given adequate attention. 

Standard Poodle Care 

Though these breeds are hypoallergenic and do not shed heavily, they require frequent grooming since their coats keep growing. 

Regular brushing will be best to prevent their coats from being tangled. You can bring your Poodles to a professional groomer or learn to trim their coat short.

Standard Poodle Health 

Generally healthy dogs, Standard Poodles can live for 12 to 15 years. But, like any other breeds, they are also prone to health problems. 

According to the PCA (Poodle Club of America), these breeds can have eye issues, hip dysplasia, bloat, and problems with their adrenal glands.

You should discuss with your vet important checkups during different parts of their life and the special care they might need to avoid health problems.

Standard Poodle Exercise Requirements

These breeds require much exercise; ideally, a big backyard will be perfect for roaming around. But if you do not have one, ensure that you give them ample time for walking, jogging, running, or playing. If you enjoy outdoor activities, these breeds can make excellent outdoor buddies because they want the water and are inherently adventurous. 

But it will be best to only over-exert them when jogging or running once they are all grown up, around 12-18 months, since it can potentially harm their growing bones and cause pain and joint concerns. 

Standard Poodle Training

These breeds of intelligence and eagerness to their owners make them easy to train. They enjoy learning tricks and playing dog sports. Early training is recommended to avoid unpleasant actions and behaviors when they are still a puppy. Employ positive reinforcement training activities to build the bond and trust between you and your Poodle. 

Mental stimulation is also essential for this breed. 

You can enroll them in training classes or give them solving puzzles, activities, or interactive toys, which can all help keep them happy and healthy.

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Standard Poodle History 

The name "poodle" probably comes from the German word "pudelin," which means they love water, according to the AKC. These dogs originally came from Germany, where they were used for duck hunting and fetching things from the water.

The fancy poodle haircut you often see has a practical reason behind it. Since these dogs had to jump into cold water to retrieve stuff during hunts, too-thick fur would weigh them down. So, intelligent owners would trim the fur on their legs to let them move freely while swimming. They left longer fur around their vital organs and joints to keep them warm in the cold water.

Poodles' friendly nature and adorable appearance caught the eye of French nobles, and they soon became famous all over Europe. Their natural grace and ability to learn tricks made them stars in European circus shows. Eventually, the standard Poodle was bred to become the miniature and toy poodles we know today. Poodles are unique because they come in three different sizes.

Standard Poodle Fun Facts 

The Poodle is France's national dog, even though it originally came from Germany. In France, they call it "caniche," which means "duck dog."

You can spot standard poodles in movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Birds, and even in animated form in The Secret Life of Pets.

Nintendo created a character based on this famous breed, a dog named Pappy Van Poodle, who you can find in the game Rusty's Real Deal Baseball.

In 2020, a black standard poodle named Siba won the Best in Show title at the Westminster Dog Show. This 3-year-old pup, officially named GCHP CH Stone Run Afternoon Tea, is the fifth standard Poodle to win the top prize at this prestigious event.