Other names: Carniche, Barbone
Origin
The Standard Poodle is the oldest of the three poodle sizes, with the miniature and toy varieties developing later. The exact origin of the poodle is unknown, some say they originated in France and others say that they come from Germany. It is thought they may have been taken to France and other countries with the German troops during the 1400’s. They evolved into their present form in France. They were used in Germany as a water retrieving dog and today some still have the hunting instinct.
Description
This is a noble, elegant and well balanced dog with a slender muzzle and long neck. The coat is profuse and curly and is often styled. The gait should be graceful and prancing with plenty of drive coming from well developed and muscular thighs.
| Size | Large |
| Colour | This breed comes in black, white, blue, gray, silver, brown, café-au-lait, apricot and cream. The colour will fade on all coats (apart from the whites) on reaching the age of 4 to 5. |
| Coat Length | Medium Long |
| Weight/Height Range | The Standard Poodle is a minimum height of 38cms at the withers and weighs in between 20.5 to 32kgs. Most Standards are considerably taller than the official minimum height. |
| Ailments | All poodles are prone to eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. Epilepsy is another disease that plagues all the varieties. Standards are also subject to bloat, as any deep chested large dog is. Addison’s disease is another problem in Standard Poodles. Standard Poodles are also subject to Granulomatous sebaceous adenitis. |
| Breed Classification | Standard Poodles belong to the utility group and are now used as companions and performance dogs. They are spectacular show dogs. |
Feeding & Ownership
Large, deep chested dogs should be fed carefully to avoid bloat. Two meals per day is safer than one large meal.
| Food Cost | $15 to $20 |
| Other Expenses |
After the initial purchase price of a puppy, it must be remembered that there will be regular grooming expenditure every 6 weeks. |
Personality
Getting along with the kids, the cat and the guinea pig is no problem for the poodle. Lively and affectionate, they make wonderful companion dogs. They can be good guard dogs, announcing visitors but never being aggressive. Poodles are unusually sensitive to vocal intonation, probably one of the reasons they are so easy to train. They are high-spirited, happy dogs who love a busy life and being involved in all family matters.
| Intelligence | The Poodle is an extremely intelligent and eager to please dog, thus he is inordinately easy to train. As a result, the Poodle has a history of performance, appearing in circus and street acts for hundreds of years. Poodles are unusually sensitive to vocal intonation, probably one of the reasons they are so easy to train. Many pet owners, using gentle and consistent training methods,have seen their poodles excel in obedience trials, flyball and agility. |
| Energy | High |
| Suitability for Children | Medium |
| Tendency to Bark | High |
| Overall Exercise Requirement | Standards need a good deal of exercise and space. Most of them love to swim and to retrieve so do take care when near water to ensure their safety. |
| Suitability as a Guard Dog | High |
| Ease of Transportation | Low |
| Level of Aggression | Medium |
| Other Animal Compatibility | Medium |
Grooming
Poodles do not shed and are often tolerated by allergic people. Their coats do take a great deal of care though, generally requiring professional grooming, as well as regular combing and brushing at home. The poodle should be taken to a groomer about every six weeks for a clip of your choice. Only three clips are allowed in the show ring, however, pet owners can allow for more creativity on the part of the groomer. The poodle’s ears need frequent cleaning or they will become infected and, especially in the smaller poodles, daily teeth brushing is recommended or tartar will build up rapidly and lead to gingivitis.
| Grooming Requirements | More than once a week |
| Amount of Hair Shed | None |
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