Want a Doodle? Get a Poodle!

Personality:

From my experience the Standard poodle is a calm and intelligent large breed dog. They are very intelligent, which is good in that they have wonderfully different unique personalities, but can be bad for training because they can be somewhat stubborn! This is why you can hear people say that intelligence does not always equate trainability. This is a reason I love them though!!

They aren't always looking to you to entertain them, rather they make up their own fun games that can lead them to trouble. In comparison to other large breed dogs, I find they seem the calmest. They do enjoy all the same games as other large breeds, such as fetch and tug. They also make good jogging companions, Odyssey can go for more than 30 minutes jogging with her human dad.

Standards have some goofiness to them that is hard to explain. They like to run up to each other and get them to play by doing something that will get the other dog's (or your) goat!

They are very different from their smaller counterparts- they are calmer and dont get "yappy". They are however, considered good guard dogs due to the propensity to bark at strangers at the door.

Energy level:

My poodles really enjoy their exercise, and if not allowed to play at all during the day they would probably be unhappy (ie- if constantly caged the Standard poodle would be unhappy). They can however get out their energy by playing around the house and backyard. They really can range in their energy activity levels to adjust to their human. For instance, sometimes we jog them and take them to the dog parks for hours. Other days I feel lazy (who doesn't?) so they play around the house. I really feel they adjust very well to their owner's needs, although they DO need activity!

Coat:

The coat of a standard poodle is harsh with a very defined curl. The colors can be a kaleidoscope of colors. If allowed to grow long without care it is very likely to get matted, thus grooming requirements are quite high. We cut our own dogs and groom them ourselves and can help new owners get started doing so if wanted.

Otherwise they will need to be groomed every 5 weeks or so, and a standard poodle would do well to own a pin brush, comb, and some shears to do some at home grooming between professional groomings.

I recommend Andis pro clippers for those who want to groom at home.

Weight/Size-

The standard poodle is generally "measured" by their height at their shoulders, and not in weight. The lowest height at the shoulders that is allowed to be considered in competition is 15". Most of our dogs are in the 20" range or higher. Males generally weigh from 50-70 lbs and females 45-60 lbs although there can be greater variation.

Life Span:

12-15 years

A little history:

The standard poodle originated somewhere in europe for at least the last 400 years— France is considered the most likely location for its origin, some say Germany. The breed seemingly resulted from combining the barbet, french water dog, and possibly the hungarian water dog. Originally the dog was used as a gun dog, which interesting enough is not recognized in dog trials today where the poodle is shown in the non-sporting group.

Coloring:

When poodles were imported to the United States, breeders considered solid colors more desirable to the parti markings that had been in existance for many years. Thus they systemically removed dogs with the undesirable markings. Now, people believe that "partis" and "phantoms" should not be allowed to be shown, when in fact they were the original colors!!! Seems ironic to me!

"Parti" pups are dogs with at least 50% white on the pup and patches of another color (or more). Tuxedo parti pups are dogs that look like they are wearing a tuxedo. Tuxedos aren't considered parti without the requirement of 50% white on the body. Tuxedo is considered very desirable for people who are interested in their markings. Narci and Athena are both parti standards, and Athena is considered an Irish Tuxedo.

"Mismark" standard poodles are mostly solid with patches of white located on some or all of their chest, chin, forehead, and paws.

"Phantom" markings are also very rare, with markings like a rottweiler. However, the marking's COLOR dont have to be the same as the rottweiler's. Libra is our resident "phantom".

Colors in both solid and parti dogs consist of chocolate, cafe au lait, red, black, apricot, cream, white, silver, and blue. Blue and Silver colors are actually lightened blacks that have a recessive gene that results in lightening- or fading. Blues have on recessive lightening gene, whereas silvers have two.

There is also a marking called "Brindle", in which the dog's coat can take on a boxer type of appearance (although they can have different coloring like a silver brindle) of stripes.

"Sable" markings are an interesting type: they change their coat type over a year or so and generally lighten to almost white, although their ears stay dark, or their color can remain a multicolor as they are born. I like the way they look as pups, usually all brown mottled with black and white.