Is a Standard Poodle right for you?
Standard Poodles are active, outgoing, friendly but observant, protective, driven, family centered dogs. They are great at everything EXCEPT being total couch potatoes. Don't get me wrong, I don't know a Poodle who doesn't like to lounge on the couch from time to time but they are still active family members. They need mental and physical stimulation and therefore, need daily exercise. Just like with any new puppy or new dog, when left to their own "devices", he may decide your potted plants need repotted, or that your fence needs a lookout window, or maybe the side of your house needs some new chew work performed. So, I always tell everyone to walk their puppy or new dog daily at the least.
How will my Standard Poodle act?
Poodles are extremely people-oriented. They love learning new tricks, making them extremely easy to train. Many circuses use Poodles because of their intelligence. A favorite game of most Poodles is a good ole' game of fetch. With lots of positive reinforcement, your Poodle could be your next star! They easily excel in tracking, retrieving/hunting, agility, rally and obedience.
How big should my Standard get?
From the shoulder, standard poodles are 18-20 inches tall. They typically weigh 60-70 pounds for males and 40-50 pounds for females.
If that's too big for you, keep in mind there are two other varieties (sizes) of poodles. Toy poodles are no more than 10 inches, and miniature poodles are under 15 inches tall.
What should I expect my Standard Poodle to look like?
Poodles are known for their curly hair with bodies well-proportioned and muscular, making them incredibly athletic. Many people overlook the full bred Poodle and decide to go with a Doodle instead. However, keep in mind that the coat of a full Poodle is easier to maintain and is also predictable. You may also decide to groom your Poodle to look like a Doodle.
Grooming
As puppies, Poodles need a bath once every few weeks and brushing daily. The daily brushing will primarily serve as a good foundation to desensitize your Poodle for the grooming expected for the rest of his life. As they get older, however, their coats may need more specific grooming attention. We prefer a sporting clip for when our Poodles are going to be in the field more. We like a longer coat if we know we can dedicate the time and attention it will need.
You may decide to groom your Poodle on your own, or you may decide to take him to a professional groomer. Grooming normally needs to be done every 4-6 weeks. If you decide to do this on your own, be sure to take a look at our recommendations for grooming tools/equipment.
What health considerations are there with Standard Poodles?
Poodles are generally a healthy breed due to the attention and health tests performed by responsible breeders. However, there are also puppy mill breeders who have entered in sub-par models of the breed. Please remember this when you are looking for a puppy, regardless of the breed. However, to ensure diseases such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders, epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis, von Willebrand’s disease, and immune-mediated disorders aren’t present, there are genetic tests and exams to be performed and then evaluated. The toy and miniature varieties are more likely to have orthopedic problems, such as Legg-Calve-Perthes and luxating patellas. The life expectancy of a Standard is around 10-16 years.
Some helpful websites, articles, books we recommend:
1. Any of Richard A. Wolters books, such as The Family Dog, or The Water Dog
2. The Poodle Savvy Website
3. Our Shopping List page
4. Our Blog has tons of info too