The Standard Poodle is a noble, elegant and well-balanced dog, with a slender muzzle and long neck. The famous coat is dense and curly and often styled, but beneath that is a lean, athletic and sporting dog.
The Standard Poodle breed is prone to:
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastric dilatation volvulus
- Progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.
- Von Willebrand's disease which is where a dog produces insufficient or faulty clotting factors which can result in uncontrolled bleeding.
- Hereditary cataracts which is a condition where the lens in the eye becomes cloudy and this can result in blindness.
- Addison's disease¹ a condition where a dog's body is unable to produce a normal level of natural steroid (called cortisol).
- Intervertebral disc disease a condition where there us abnormality in the discs which act to cushion the bones in the spine.
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca³ (dry eye) which is a painful condition where the tear gland stops working properly.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Hip dysplasia breeding scheme
- Eye screening scheme
¹A. M. Oberbauer, 'Genetic evaluation of Addison's disease in the Portuguese Water Dog', 2006, BMC Veterinary Research
²J. H. Rossmeisl, 'Acute adverse events associated with ventral slot decompression in 546 dogs with cervical intervertebral disc disease', Veterinary Surgery 2013
³N. Rees, 'Diploma Case Study: Parotid Duct Transposition for Dry Eye', 1998, Taylor and Francis
Do not underestimate the Standard Poodle, despite gaining a foppish and silly reputation due to the exaggerated hair-cuts of the show dogs, the Standard Poodle is a clever, quick-witted and athletic dog. They are high-spirited and fun loving, make great watch dogs and will adore taking part in any activity their owners choose to indulge in!
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
| Easy to train: | 5/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 1/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 1/5 |
The Standard Poodle is the oldest of the three Poodle sizes and the original, but their exact origins are unknown. Some say they originated in France but it is far more likely that they come from Germany. Their ancestors were the old water dogs of Europe who were famous for their intelligence and skill, and we do know that despite their glamourous appearance, the Poodles original function was as a hard-working water retrieving gundog, and they are still more than capable of doing a day’s work, with some retaining more hunting instinct than others.
Their intelligence and trainability also saw them co-opted into European circus troupes where they thrived – and it was in this capacity that the two smaller sizes of Poodles were developed.
Their flamboyant haircuts were originally practical with the aim of clipping off all unwanted coat that would get waterlogged, but still keeping hair where needed to protect joints and keep internal organs warm.
The ideal Standard Poodle owner is someone who really enjoys walking, training and grooming. Whilst Poodles can be clipped out, you’ll still need to brush daily to keep the coat soft and mat free. Standard Poodles fare best in homes that take part in dog sports (the Standard Poodle is capable of them all, from Schutzhund to Heelwork to Music and everything in between) or who enjoy training as a hobby rather than just a means to a well-behaved dog. A well exercised, well trained Standard Poo is easy to live with and a great companion for the whole family.
Standard Poodles take a great deal of exercise and want room to run. Expect an hour to two hours per day of walking and running, plus extra time to train or take part in dog sports and competition. The Standard Poodle may well enjoy swimming, so choose walking routes carefully if you don’t want to deal with a very soggy Poodle!
Although the breed standard specifies a minimum height, in reality the Standard Poodle is now a fairly tall dog and takes up a reasonable amount of space. You will need dedicated space to bath and groom if you intend on keeping them in a full coat and grooming yourself.
A secure garden with good, tall fencing is a must, ideally a flagged or paved yard as a wet lawn will be rapidly turned into a muddy racetrack! Town or country living will be fine as long as there are plenty of places to provide an interesting variety of walks and secure space to run off lead.
Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. Standard Poodles are also prone to bloating and stomach problems; smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk.
Standard Poodles do not shed and are often (though not always) tolerated by allergic people. Their coats do take a great deal of care, though, generally requiring professional grooming, as well as regular combing and brushing at home. The poodle should be taken to a groomer about every six weeks to be clipped, or you can learn how to do it yourself and this can be as simple as a 'sheep' style clip. Home grooming the standard poodle in full coat will require some specialist equipment!
The Standard Poodle is very intelligent and quick to learn. They love to learn and perform, in fact they are a bit of a show-off, one reason they do so well in the show-ring. They also can excel at all the dog sports – and have a lot of fun doing them too (although owners need a sense of humour as they can also be clownish!).
A bored Poodle means trouble, so aim to keep their minds occupied with a variety of training exercises, games and puzzle solving. The Standard Poodle is not hard to train, but you will need to be quick, engaging and fun to work with!
The Standard Poodle can make an excellent family pet, however the space, time and exercise requirements may mean this is not a suitable pet for a busy family with young children. With older children or teens who can help with training, walking and grooming however, they are a fun and active companion.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
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