The Standard Poodle

The standard poodle is an obedient and playful breed. Poodles are smart and learn tricks easily.

Standard poodles are large and weigh between 60 and 100 pounds when fully grown. The standard poodle has black, grey, white, brown, cream, or red curly hair. This dog will grow up to 24 inches tall and has a life expectancy of up to 15 years.

Families with young children and people with allergies will do well with a standard poodle. However, standard poodles do have separation anxiety, which makes them the wrong pets for busy people.

Poodle Quick Summary

Poodle Appearance

Standard poodles have curly hair, long tails, and pointed noses. These dogs have small, round eyes that are dark brown in color.

Size & Weight

A full-grown standard poodle measures between 16 and 25 inches tall. Standard poodles weigh between 60 and 100 pounds when fully grown. A standard poodle’s height varies depending on the parent dog’s genetics.

Coat

Poodles have long, curly coats that need frequent care and attention. Standard poodles need their hair trimmed regularly to prevent it from becoming matted and scruffy.

Standard poodles can have their hair cut in various styles. Some groomers will shave the dog’s body, leaving a mane of hair on the dog’s head and fur socks on the dog’s feet.

Standard poodle coats are usually a block color. It’s rare to find a standard poodle with more than one color on its coat. Poodles can have either black, grey, white, brown, cream, or red coats.

Because poodles have such thick hair, their skin can become dry and flaky. Using a gentle shampoo and conditioner at home will prevent the dog’s skin from becoming irritated or developing uncomfortable skin conditions.

Facial Features

Poodles have pointed noses and small, beady eyes. Poodle eyes and nose shapes are classic for the breed and make the dogs easy to identify. Most poodles have slim necks that are proportional to the dog’s head shape and size.

Origins of the Standard Poodle

The standard poodle originated in Germany, but the poodle is the national dog of France, which is why the origin of the breed is often confused.

The name “poodle” comes from the German words “pudel” or “pudelin”, which translates to “splash in the water”. This description suits the breed, as poodles are water dogs.

Poodles were originally bred as hunting dogs. Today, poodles are still natural water retrievers and can hunt ducks and birds.

Poodle Personality and Temperament

Standard poodles are sensitive dogs that make connections easily with their owners. 1

Because standard poodles can make deep connections with humans, they’re ideal dogs for people with children and anyone looking for a loyal companion. Standard poodles are affectionate and can be emotional helper dogs for people going through hardships.

Pet owners should be aware of the standard poodle’s tendency to develop separation anxiety. When poodles are left on their own, they will often become agitated. Dogs suffering from loneliness will misbehave for attention. House-trained poodles will start to refuse to go to the toilet in the garden. The stress of separation anxiety may also cause your poodle to chew on furniture, clothes, and other personal belongings.

Standard poodles are not suitable for pet owners who spend a lot of time out of the house. These dogs need constant care and loving attention that busy working people are unable to provide.

Taking Care of a Standard Poodle

Standard poodles are easy to care for as long as their owner can spend time with them for most of the day.

Poodles are playful and need at least an hour of exercise every day. The standard poodle is an intelligent breed, and easy to train. These dogs have long hair that needs constant upkeep. Making sure your standard poodle is well-groomed and presentable is essential.

Food Needs

The food required by a standard poodle depends on the dog’s height, weight, and activity level. Standard poodles need two and three cups of high-quality dry dog food per day. Poodles that eat wet food should eat three meals per day. Most wet dog food companies will calculate the amount of food that dogs the size of a poodle should eat daily, making portion control easier.

Grooming Needs

Standard poodles have high-maintenance grooming needs. Adult dogs need professional grooming every three to six weeks. Standard poodles have long curly hair that mats easily. If you don’t groom a standard poodle appropriately, your dog may end up with poor hygiene, a scruffy appearance, and skin problems that will occur frequently.

The standard poodles’ hair doesn’t shed; however, its fur becomes untidy easily. You should brush the standard poodle’s hair daily to prevent dreadlocks from forming and to boost blood circulation around the dog’s body. This will also exfoliate the poodles’ skin.

Exercise Needs

Standard poodles need one hour of light exercise per day to stay happy and healthy. Taking a standard poodle for a long walk or two short walks every day will boost the dog’s mood. This should also ensure that your poodle is calmer and easier to control at home.

Poodles can live in small and large-sized homes. Standard poodles living in small city apartments will need more daily exercise than a poodle living in a large home. If you have a small home, you should give your poodle one and a half hours of exercise per day.

Mental Needs

Standard poodles need plenty of mental stimulation and lots of love and affection. These dogs are intelligent and emotional and can become easily bored. Standard poodles benefit greatly from playing with challenging toys.

Loud noises will startle standard poodles. Poodles become uneasy when there is lots of noise in the room. Avoid arguing around your standard poodle, as it will cause the dog deep distress.

Common Health Concerns

Standard poodles are prone to a number of health conditions. Some of the common health conditions affecting the standard poodle breed are:

Cancer– Squamous cell carcinoma of the digit (SCDD) is aggressive cancer that affects standard poodles. SCDD can occur more than once and causes bone disease.

Hip dysplasia– This hereditary condition occurs when the hip bone and the pelvis don’t align. Some dogs will need an operation to correct the condition.

Thyroid problems– Hypothyroidism is a common thyroid problem affecting standard poodles. Poodles suffering from hypothyroidism don’t make enough thyroid hormones. This condition is treated with prescription medication.

Skin conditions– Poodles are prone to sebaceous adenitis. This condition can be treated with special shampoos and by ingesting oral fatty acid supplements.

Ear infections– Malassezia overgrowth is a common standard poodle health concern. This condition is caused by a commensal yeast and may occur as a result of allergic disease, skin infections, or endocrine diseases. You should treat Malassezia overgrowth orally or with topical medications. Specialized shampoos are a good option for treating and preventing the condition.

Training a Poodle

Standard poodles are easy to train. These dogs are loyal and strong and look to please their owners. These traits make standard poodles obedient dogs.

Poodles will pick up bad habits from other dogs, so make sure your poodle is kept separate from untrained dogs in the home, as this could confuse it. Standard poodles are also incredibly stubborn. Old poodles are hard to train because of their stubborn tendencies.

Poodle puppies are the easiest to train. Poodles are obedient and intelligent at any age, and it shouldn’t take you more than a few weeks to master basic training. Standard poodle puppies will learn new tricks faster than mature dogs. There are plenty of puppy training tips for your poodle.

Poodle Price

Standard poodles are expensive dogs. Their initial purchase price is high, and their monthly maintenance costs and potential veterinary fees can also be costly.

How Much is a Poodle?

A standard poodle costs $700 to $1100. Prices vary depending on the age of the dog, whether it has pedigree status, and its health background.

Pedigree standard poodles will cost upward of $1000. These dogs will also cost their owners over $3000 in their first year for vaccinations, grooming, and other expenses.

Standard poodle puppies are more expensive than adult dogs. Dog adoption is an option to consider and can mean that you get a standard poodle puppy or adult dog without paying thousands of dollars. However, standard poodles are rarely put up for adoption.

How Much Does it Cost to Raise a Poodle?

Standard poodles will cost between $1500 to $2500 to look after per year. The first year of a dog’s life is the most expensive. Health care, grooming, supplements and medicine, and specialist shampoos are pricey. Standard poodles will cost their owners about $200 per month.

Dogs with health conditions can have high monthly healthcare rates. Medicine and health care costs can amount to more than $2000 per year, especially if the dog suffers from an ongoing health condition.

Other Types of Poodles

Standard poodles, miniature poodles, toy poodles, and poodle mixes are all popular poodle types. Some dog owners find it difficult to know the difference between poodle breeds.

The main difference between each poodle breed is size. Poodles all have striking hair and a unique build, but there are some obvious differences in size and body shape.

Toy Poodle

Toy poodles have short snouts and small faces. They are petite, measuring up to 10 inches wide at their shoulders. The toy poodle’s small size is the key feature that makes it different from the standard poodle.

Miniature poodle

Miniature poodles have long necks and a slim muzzle. They are smaller than standard poodles, but not as small as toy poodles. Miniature poodles are playful and intuitive, like the standard poodle breed.

Should You Get a Standard Poodle?

Standard poodles are wonderful dogs. They’re loyal, friendly, and energetic, making them fun to interact with and easy to form connections with. Standard poodles aren’t suitable for everyone’s lifestyle, so you should think about your own lifestyle before introducing a standard poodle into your home.

Poodles are Suitable for:

Standard poodles are suitable for families with young children or people in need of an emotional therapy dog. Standard poodles are loving dogs that show care and strong emotions towards their owners.

These dogs are intelligent, so households looking for a dog with watchdog qualities will benefit from keeping a standard poodle in the house. Poodles have not guarded dogs, but standard poodles are intuitive and will warn their owners if they sense danger.

Because of their emotional intelligence and hypersensitivity, standard poodles need to be treated as part of the family and included as much as possible.

Poodles are NOT Suitable for:

Standard poodles are needy and suffer from separation anxiety. These dogs are not suitable for busy working people. They also shouldn’t be placed in homes where there is a lot of loud noise and high energy levels, which can make poodles uneasy.

The standard poodle can live in small city apartments and in large country houses. Standard poodles need an hour of physical activity per day. If your standard poodle lives in a small home, it will need up to two hours of exercise. The standard poodle isn’t suitable for an owner that doesn’t have the free time to take the dog for daily walks.

Poodles are not suitable for people who spend a lot of time away from the house. Standard poodles will become depressed and develop physical signs of illness when they feel lonely.