Standard Poodle
The original, full-sized Poodle: a large water retriever with a working brain. Sheds almost nothing, but grooming a big coat is expensive, and the dog needs both physical and mental work daily.
- Weight
- 20–32 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
Weight and lifespan are reference ranges from the breed guide. They vary by sex, lineage and individual dog and do not predict your dog’s ideal weight or lifespan. Read the care descriptions alongside the individual dog’s history.
Background and characteristics
The Standard is the Poodle the smaller varieties were bred down from — a water retriever sent into cold water after downed birds. Even the show trim has practical roots, since leaving hair over the chest and joints while clipping the rest made swimming easier. At fifteen inches and up, typically forty-five to seventy pounds, this is a full-sized dog, and prospective owners who picture a bigger version of a Toy Poodle are usually surprised by the athlete that arrives.
Exercise and play
Budget sixty to ninety minutes of real exercise daily. Walking alone rarely satisfies a Standard; running, swimming, and repeated retrieving work much better. Add fifteen minutes or more of thinking work on top.
The breed excels at agility, obedience, scent work and retrieving games, and without an outlet it invents one: patrolling the house, barking at the door, and carrying off anything portable. High intelligence here means the dog will find a job if you do not supply one.
Coat and everyday care
The curly single coat sheds very little, which suits households that hate dog hair, but it mats where it grows and there is a lot of surface area. Comb to the skin three or four times a week and book a professional groom every four to six weeks; expect a large-dog price, often $90 to $150 in the US or £60 to £100 in the UK. After swimming or bathing, dry the coat thoroughly — a wet Poodle coat holds water for hours and invites hot spots and ear infections.
Health considerations
The health item to understand first is gastric dilatation-volvulus. Deep-chested dogs are at risk, so split meals, avoid hard exercise around mealtimes, and learn the signs — a distended abdomen, unproductive retching, restlessness — because it is a surgical emergency measured in hours. Also discuss hip dysplasia, Addison's disease, progressive retinal atrophy, sebaceous adenitis and thyroid disease with a breeder, and keep repetitive jumping and long runs off the schedule until the growth plates close.
Home environment and care planning
In a house with a garden this breed is straightforward. In a flat it is workable but demanding: slick floors are hard on hips and knees, so lay runners along the dog's routes and keep the paw pad hair trimmed, and plan on getting outdoors regardless of weather. Some landlords and insurers cap dog weight rather than breed, which is worth checking before you commit.