The country that “invented” the poodle is debatable. Despite its connection with France, it is widely assumed that the poodle originated in Germany. The standard poodle, a big dog measuring more than 15″ at the shoulder, glides with grace and elegance that is breathtaking to witness.
The standard poodle breed’s initial job was to retrieve ducks in frigid water.
Something their coat is ideal for. In fact, the German term “pudeln” implies “to splash around in water.” Some standard poodles are still employed as adaptable hunting dogs today. Poodles thrive on company and are unhappy when ignored or left alone.
Standard poodles make excellent family pets and get along nicely with youngsters and the elderly. Poodles are recognized for their intelligence, trainability, and loveable, gentle demeanor. That just some things that define this adorable breed. Now, let’s take a deeper dive into the characteristics of the Standard Poodlef
Characteristics Standard Poodles
Intelligent, affectionate, loyal, and mischievous are four characteristics often used by Poodle lovers to characterize the breed’s disposition. The Poodle is also recognized for what his supporters refer to as “an air of distinction”: a dignified demeanor that is difficult to explain but simple to detect in the dog.
Despite his royal demeanor, the Poodle has a mischievous side and enjoys playing – he’s always up for a game of any type. He also has a strong desire to satisfy others. When you combine it with his famous intellect, you get a dog that is extremely trainable.
A well-trained Poodle with good manners has a calm demeanor, especially if he receives frequent exercise to burn off his inherent energy. Some owners and breeders believe that Toy and Miniature Poodles are more high-strung than Standard Poodles; however, some breeders and owners disagree.
The Poodle is fiercely protective of his home and family, and if outsiders approach your home, he’ll bark to alert you. And, while he is devoted to his family, he may take some time to warm up to new individuals.
The cleverness of the Poodle is one of his most notable characteristics. He is reported to have human-like intellect, astounded by his masters’ brilliance. Of course, intelligent canines can be challenging to live with. They learn quickly – both good and bad behaviors — and remember everything.
What’s Good and What’s Bad About Standard Poodles
Many people have the notion that Poodles appear and act like “sissy” dogs.
That is one of the most common misconceptions in the dog world.
First and foremost, disregard the ridiculous show-ring footage. Poodles may be trimmed into shorthaired, normal-looking canines that are easy to groom. Poodles also have the distinction of being the least shedding and most hypoallergenic of all coated breeds.
Second, Standard Poodles are graceful, athletic athletes with a light, springy stride. They thrive in advanced obedience contests, where retrieving and leaping abilities are necessary, as well as agility (obstacle course) competitions, where they soar over, under, and through the obstacles with incredible strength and elegance.
Even better, a good Standard Poodle is one of the most intelligent and trainable breeds. He is a “thinking” dog who listens intently to his master, learns fast, and readily responds to positive training methods. Indeed, in order to be happy, Standard Poodles require some form of cerebral stimulation, such as advanced obedience lessons (not just basic), agility classes, or demanding activities such as hide ‘n seek or fetching a variety of named toys. This clever breed cannot easily be ignored in the garden.
The majority of Standard Poodles make excellent watchdogs, and some even have moderate (and reasonable) protective tendencies, but this is not a violent breed. Their demeanor with others ranges from cordial to politely reserved. Early socialization is critical to avoiding excessive vigilance or timidity.
Standard Poodles are typically calm and tolerant of other dogs and cats.
This breed, however, is far from ideal or low-maintenance. They require daily activity in addition to regular trimming (every 4-6 weeks). Their energy levels range from moderate to high, and they need brisk walks, running, swimming, and/or active play sessions to be healthy, content, and quiet indoors.
Standard Poodles require a lot of everyday company as well. If they are left alone for an extended period of time, they experience loneliness and separation anxiety.
The majority of Standard Poodles are “soft” and sensitive canines, with some being hypersensitive. They flinch when they are touched suddenly or startled by a sudden loud sound. Even the most sensitive people are not excellent with tiny children.
Similarly, Standard Poodles can become emotionally distressed if there is too much activity, conflict, or roughhousing in their environment; they want calm and tranquility.
You must be careful with your lines: some Standard Poodle lines are high-strung, anxious, and even neurotic.
If you want a dog, who should you get?
- Is medium to big, with strength and athleticism balanced with elegance and grace.
- Has a short, curly coat that is almost non-shedding (poodles of any size are the best dog breed for people with allergies)
- It is available in a range of hues.
- Is vivacious and fun
- Is one of the smartest and most attentive breeds, with such a keen sense of body language and expression that he frequently looks psychic.
- Is simple to train and housebreak.
- Is typically polite to strangers and kind to other animals.
A Standard Poodle might be ideal for you.
If you prefer not to deal with…
- A thorough search to avoid high-strung lines
- Exercising vigorously is required.
- Excessive leaping, romping, and bounding around, particularly while young
- Skittishness in certain lines, or when not sufficiently socialized
- Sensitivity to stress, tension, and loud noises
- Every six weeks, the curly coat is clipped.
- Barking
- Potentially serious health concerns
You might not be a good fit for a Standard Poodle.
Keep in mind that temperament heredity is less predictable than physical features such as size or shedding. Raising and training also influence temperament and behavior.
You can prevent certain undesirable characteristics by getting an ADULT dog from a shelter or rescue group. With an adult dog, it’s easy to see what you’re getting, and many adult Standard Poodles have already shown that they don’t have any bad qualities.
If you desire a puppy, you may prevent certain undesirable characteristics by selecting the proper breeder and puppy. Unfortunately, you can’t always determine if a puppy has inherited temperament or health issues until he’s older.
Finally, you may prevent certain undesirable characteristics by teaching your Standard Poodle to respect you and following the 11-step care regimen outlined in my book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy.
More things to consider before getting a poodle
If I were thinking about getting a Standard Poodle, I would be most worried about…
Providing adequate physical and mental stimulation. If you want a poodle but have limited room in your house and yard, buy a Miniature Poodle rather than a Standard Poodle. The amount of exercise that standard Poodles like and need varies from dog to dog. However, in order to keep them active and healthy, you should be able to offer a large yard in which they may run, as well as regular play sessions in the park. Some Standard Poodles require even more chances to let off steam and do exciting things; otherwise, they will get boisterous and bored, which they will generally show through hyperactivity, barking, and destructive chewing.
It saddens me to see these highly clever and talented canines restricted to homes where the owner only desired a companion animal. It’s a squandering of a wonderful breed. I strongly advise you to enroll your Standard Poodle in advanced obedience and agility (obstacle course) lessons at your local dog club. These dogs have earned it.
Bounciness. Young Standard Poodles (up to around two years old) frolic and jump with incredible enthusiasm, and anything, even young children and the elderly, can fly.
Providing adequate socializing. Standard Poodles are naturally reserved and require early socialization as well as exposure to unexpected sights and sounds. Otherwise, their inherent prudence might turn into skittishness or suspiciousness, which can be difficult to deal with.
The Breed’s Sensitivity to emotions.
Is there conflict in your household? Are people yelling or crying? Poodles are highly sensitive to stress and can get actually sick to their stomachs with digestive disturbances and neurotic behaviors if the humans in their home are experiencing family troubles. Poodles are calm, sensitive canines who require a calm, harmonious environment.
Grooming Tips.
Standard Poodles require frequent brushing and trimming every 4 to 6 weeks to maintain their curly coat short and clear of mats. Do you dislike the frou-frou appearance of most Poodles? Simply clip him to resemble a regular dog, with a short coat and no pompoms.
Barking. Because standard Poodles are attentive dogs, they may be quick to raise the alarm at every new sight or sound. You must be as quick to stop them so that it does not become a habit.
Serious health issues when breeding is highly common in Standard Poodles, which has resulted in a slew of health issues getting ingrained in the gene pool. Standard Poodles are susceptible to eye problems, skin diseases, digestive diseases, immune system diseases, seizures, and other health issues. More information about Standard Poodle Health may be found here.
A Dive Into The History Of Standard Poodle
The Poodle is one of the oldest breeds, designed specifically for waterfowl hunting. Most historians think that the Poodle originated in Germany but evolved into its own breed in France.
Many people think that the breed was created by crossing numerous European water dogs, including Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hungarian, and Russian water dogs. Other historians believe that the North African Barbet, which was transported to the Iberian Peninsula, is one of the Poodle’s progenitors. Following that, the breed made its way to Gaul, where it was used for his hunting ability.
Poodles are also said to have originated from Asian herding dogs before traveling with the Germanic Goth and Ostrogoth tribes to become a German water dog. Another hypothesis holds that the Poodle descended from dogs carried out of the Asian steppes by invading North African Berbers and finally made his way into Portugal with the Moors in the 8th century.
This is a very old breed, regardless of its provenance. Poodle-like dogs are seen on Egyptian and Roman artifacts and tombs going back to the first century B.C. The paintings and statues depict dogs that resemble modern-day Poodles collecting game from marshes, hauling in game nets, herding animals, and recovering game from marshes.
Although some claim that Miniature and Toy Poodles appeared soon after the Standard, many think that it wasn’t until the 1400s that breeders began making smaller versions of the Poodle — first the Miniature, then the Toy — to please the Parisian bourgeoisie. Toy and Miniature Poodles were produced by mating little Poodles to one other, rather than breeding Poodles to smaller breeds.
The bigger Standard Poodle was employed for duck hunting, whereas the smaller Miniature Poodle was utilized to sniff for truffles in the woods. The major function of the small Toy Poodle, on the other hand, was to accompany the royalty and affluent merchant class. In the Renaissance, well-to-do owners frequently carried their Toy Poodles in their long shirtsleeves, giving rise to the moniker “sleeve dogs.”
Poodles thrived in another canine vocation that gypsies and itinerant entertainers discovered: circus dog. To enhance their theatrical attractiveness, they taught Poodles to do tricks, putting them in costumes and shaping their coats into creative forms. Rich customers took notice and began trimming, decorating, and even dyeing their own Poodle companions.
The first Poodle was registered by the Kennel Organization in England in 1874, and the first British club for Poodle fanciers appeared two years later. It is unknown when Poodles originally came in the United States, however the American Kennel Club registered their first Poodle in 1886. The Poodle Club of America was formed in 1896, but it folded soon after. In 1931, poodle aficionados resurrected the club.
Poodles were very uncommon in the United States until after World War II. However, by the mid-1950s, the Poodle had risen to become the most popular breed in the country, a position he kept for more than two decades.
Size
Poodles come in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. These are not distinct breeds of dogs, but rather various sizes of the same dog. The Toy Poodle may grow to be up to 10 inches tall and weighs between six and nine pounds. The Miniature Poodle measures between 11 and 15 inches tall and weighs between 15 and 17 pounds. The Standard Poodle is 15 inches or taller (often 22 inches); males weigh 45 to 70 pounds, and females weigh 45 to 60 pounds.