Standard Poodle – Full Dog Breed Info

The standard Poodle is an “elegant” breed who moves with a light springy gait and these dogs have a great place in the heart of everyday families. They are considered athletic, energetic, loyal, and active. It is a common misconception that Poodles are sissy dogs. The Standard poodle is also called
Chien Canne
Caniche
Grosse Pudel
Barbone
French Poodle

They are recognized by;

Dog Registry of America
Canadian Kennel Club
American Canine Association
American Canine Registry
American Kennel Club
American Pets Registry
New Zealand Kennel Club
National Kennel Club
United Kennel Club
Kennel Club of Great Britain
Continental Kennel Club

History of the Standard Poodle

Poodles is a dog breed which comes in three varieties;
Miniature Poodle
Toy Poodle
Standard Poodle

The origins of the breed is disputed, some believe it originated in Germany as a type of water dog and were bred to hunt waterfowl while some believe it originated from the French Barbet. Many believe the breed is a result of crosses between several European water dogs such as German, Russian, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Hungarian water dogs. Historians think that one of the ancestors of the Poodle is the North African Barbet which was imported into the Iberian Peninsula after which the breed arrived in Gaul where it was used for its hunting abilities.

It is also believed that the Poodles descended from Asian herding dogs and then went with the Germanic Goth and Ostrogoth tribes to become a Herman water Dog. Another theory is they descended from dogs which were brought out of Asian steppes by the conquering North African Berbers and eventually found its way into Portugal with the Moors in the 8th century.

The Standard Poodle is one of the three Poodle variations, all the Poodle varieties share the same breed standard but differ in size. The characteristic “Poodle Clip” was developed by hunters to aid the dogs to swim a lot more efficiently while leaving hair only over the joint to protect them from the cold seasons.

Appearance and size

The standard poodle is a medium to large dog breed. They have a square appearance with a moderately round skull with a slight but definitely stop. This breed has a straight, long muzzle. They are approximately the same length as the height at the withers – the height of a dog’s measurement is done from the ground up to its withers, the withers is also known as the highest point of a dog’s shoulder blade.

Measuring taken from the withers to the ground is a standard measurement for all dogs and it gives an accurate measurement every time. The Standard Poodle have dark, oval shaped eyes which are set a little bit apart, their eyes are brown or black. The ears of this breed hangs close to the head and are flat and long. The back and front legs are in proportion to the size of the dog.

They have their tails set and carried high, the tails are sometimes set to half its length or less than half its length to make the dog to look more balanced. Their cute oval-shaped feet are small with arched toes. This breed has either a corded coat or a curly coat, the coat comes in all solid colors including cream, silver, apricot, red, white, blue, black, brown, gray or milk coffee. Male Standard Poodle weighs about 45-70 pounds while the females weigh 45-60 pounds, dogs of this breed are 15 inches tall.

Grooming

This breed requires extensive grooming, Standard poodles must be bath led at least once a week and clipped every 6-8 weeks. Their ears must be cleaned and checked frequently for bacteria buildup, ticks and fleas, wax, mites, or infections, also hairs growing in the ear should be pulled out. Due to their vulnerability to dental disease, their teeth require regular cleaning to avoid tartar buildup.

Since they are not shedders, they are perfect for allergy sufferers, their coats don’t need to be clipped which is also called Poodle clips. There are different kinds of poodle clips, the most common is and easy care clip called “pet clip”, “puppy clip” or “lamb clip”, where the coat is cut short all over the Poodle’s body. The most popular show clips are the Continental clip and the English saddle in which the rear half of the body is shaved, bracelets are left around the ankles and pom-Poms are left on the tails and hips.

Temperament

Poodles are quick to learn and have a handful of personalities; although The Standard Poodle is the calmer of the two varieties. The Standard Poodle is lively, loyal, intelligent and obedient. They are fiercely loyal to their family companions, they are patient enough to tolerate babies and can learn to be gentle around babies although their interactions with the babies will have to be supervised, they will learn to respect them.

The Standard Poodle is a noble, good nurtured, graceful, proud and cheerful breed, they are highly intelligent. Standard Poodles are generally calmer and have. This breed is not the type to live outside in a dog kernel, it enjoys being with family members, other dogs and animals, they dislikes being left alone. It is friendly towards strangers and are a favorite among children.

This breed makes good guard dogs for their family. The Standard Poodle is energetic, fun-loving and friendly, they require lots of love and companionship. This breed tends to suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long.

Health

We love our four-legged friends and their health takes priority, we care so much for them and want to give them the best care possible which is why we need to know about the health concerns affecting the life of our Poodles. By knowing about health concerns specific to this breed, you can formulate a health plan to aid in prevention of health risks. Many health conditions affecting this breed are genetic, some of which include;

Dental Disease: This is the most persistent problem in pets, dental disease affects 80% on average of dogs by age two. It can last for a long time and be difficult to cure, unfortunately, the Standard Poodle is the most likely of all dogs to suffer from problems related to their teeth. This disease starts with issues like tartar buildup on the teeth and goes on to be an infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. If steps and measures are not taken to avert this disease, the Standard Poodle may loose their teeth and also be in danger of damage to their heart, liver, kidney and joints. It can also reduce your Poodle’s lifespan by 1-3 years.

Infections: this breed easily fall prey to viral and bacterial infections such as rabies, parvo and distemper. Thankfully, many of these infections are preventable through vaccination which can be recommended based on their age, diseases that are common in that area and other factors.

Obesity: Obesity can be an outstanding health problem in Standard Poodles, it can cause or worsen joint problems, back pain, digestive problem, heart disease and metabolic disorders. Instead of overfeeding your dog, giving her left overs or doggies treats when she looks at you with those irresistible dog eyes, it would be best to play games with her or take her for walks as this is the healthier choice.

Parasites: The Poodle’s body can very easily be invaded by all sorts of bugs and worms, things like fleas, ticks, ear mites can infest their skin and ears. Heart worms, hookworms, roundworms and whipworms can get into their system through walking on contaminated soil, being bitten by an infected mosquito and drinking unclean water. Some of these parasites can unfortunately be transmitted to members of the family. For the dogs, the parasites can cause discomfort, pain and in extreme cases, death. Which is why it is important to test them regularly and get them preventive medication to help keep them healthy.

Spay or Neuter: The best thing you can do for male Poodles is to have them spayed— Neutered, which means to surgically remove his sexual organ (their testicles). And in females, you can also surgically removed the ovary and the uterus. Neutering will decrease the chances of specific types of cancers and eliminate the possibility of pregnancy or unwanted puppies. During this surgery, while your pet is under anesthesia, diseases which are likely to develop can be easily identified. For example, if your pup needs a puppy tooth extracted or hip x-rays, this would be the best time to have this issues addressed as well as be more convenient for you and your furry friend. Routine blood testing before surgery also helps to identify and prevent common problems that would lead to surgical risk.

Heart Disease: Standard Poodles are prone to a life threatening heart condition known as Dilated Cardiomyopathy also know as DCM. This causes the heart to become weak, thin and large making it no longer effective in pumping blood to the body. As the problem advances, the dog may become weak or tired, experience difficulty breathing , collapse or cough. A yearly electrical heart screening (ECG) or an echocardiogram, sometimes both, at a young age can help look for abnormalities in the heart rhythms at an early stage. If found, it can be treated with medication and a dietary supplements.

Thyroid Problems: Poodles can very easily fall victim to a common condition called hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurs when the body doesn’t make adequate thyroid hormone. Signs of hypothyroidism can include dry coat, dry skin and hair loss. They are defenseless against other skin diseases, weight gain, aggression, fearfulness and other behavioral changes. An annual blood test can screen for this disease.

Dogs of this breed are generally healthy with an average lifespan of 12-15 years and a litter size of 3-8 puppies. In a bid to help them keep their weight in check, they should be served 1.5 cups of food a day. This breed has a variety of serving size of food depending on age, activity, the type of food, overall health status and individual metabolism of the dog.

Adult Standard Poodles need less calories that ranges from 70 to 99 calories per kg as they have slower metabolism. Two meals per day is safer than one large meal.

It’s recommended to have regular trips to the veterinarian clinic to keep a close eye on their health and well-being

Training and exercise

This breed is highly intelligent and is one of the most trainable dog breeds, some of which can be trained to hunt, this breed has lower energy and can become agitated if they do not get the proper amount of exercise and training they require to stay healthy.

This variation is sensitive to the tone of their owner’s voice and can be stubborn as well, it does not respond well if it senses that its will is stronger than that of its owner but also won’t respond well to harsh discipline. In training, this dog, patience and calmness are required with an air of authority. This breed is good with other dogs.

This breed needs to be taken on walks on a daily basis, they adore water and love going for walk and will keep in good spirits if given regular opportunities to play and run off the leash in a safe area.

Like all dogs they require daily exercise, they need a well-established routine that stimulates them physically and mentally which should last between 40-60 minutes.

Why you should get a Standard Poodle

If you are looking for a breed that is playful, lovable, sociable and adorable, the Standard Poodles are the way to go, they are very clever, intelligent and they are quick thinkers. They’re also full of fun, part of its many appeals is that a Standard Poodle can very easily become your best friend. This breed is joyful and enjoy being the center of attention. They provide endless amounts of love and attention, they more they get….they more they give back.

Where to get a Standard Poodle and price

A Standard Poodle costs from $700 to $1,200 in Australia and in some areas it costs $5,000