| Standard Poodles: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Standard Poodle personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Standard Poodle, including these excerpts:
"One of the smartest, most capable, and most trainable of all breeds, the proud, sensible Standard Poodle Poodle is both elegant and athletic.
He is a thinking dog who pays rapt attention to his owner, learns quickly, and responds eagerly to positive training methods. He is so sensitive and intuitive, and such a skilled reader of body language and expression, that he often appears telepathic.
Energy level varies from moderate to high, so a good amount of exercise (brisk walks, jogging, hiking, play sessions) is needed to keep him fit, satisfied, and calm indoors.
Even more important is mental exercise: advanced obedience exercises, obstacle course, field work, retrieving. The highly intelligent Standard Poodle cannot simply sit in the backyard and be ignored.
Most Standard Poodles are polite with strangers and some have sensible protective instincts. Early socialization is important to avoid excessive watchfulness or timidity.
You do have to watch your lines: some Standard Poodles are rather dainty, even high-strung, while others are confident and outgoing. Most get along well with other pets."
History
The oldest and largest of the three Poodle varieties, the Standard Poodle originated in Germany as a retriever of ducks. Pudelin means "to splash in the water." France developed him later into a circus and show dog.
Size
16-26 inches and 45-80 lbs |
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Standard Poodles
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Standard Poodles, and placid Standard Poodles.
- Hard-headed Standard Poodles, and sweet-natured Standard Poodles.
- Serious Standard Poodles, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Standard Poodles, and Standard Poodles who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Standard Poodle puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is medium to large, combining sturdiness and athleticism with elegance and grace
- Moves with a light, graceful, springy gait
- Has a curly coat that doesn't shed (one of the best breeds for allergy sufferers)
- Is lively and playful
- Is one of the brightest and most attentive of all breeds, so intuitive, and such a skilled reader of body language and expression, that he often appears telepathic
- Excels at obedience and agility competition
- Is usually polite with strangers and sociable with other animals
A Standard Poodle may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- A careful search to avoid all the highstrung, neurotic Poodles
- Vigorous exercise requirements
- Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young
- Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough or left alone too much
- Skittishness or suspiciousness in some lines, or when not socialized enough
- Emotional sensitivity to stress, tension, or loud voices
- Monthly clipping of the curly coat
- Barking
- Lots of serious health problems
A Standard Poodle may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Standard Poodle... |
My major concerns would be:
- Unstable temperaments. Poodles are a dime a dozen, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who don't have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs. Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see LOTS of Poodles with neurotic behaviors, including aggression, extreme fearfulness, and hyperactivity.
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Standard Poodles MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Standard Poodles can make a shambles of your house and yard.
| If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or tracking, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. They must have productive outlets for their high energy level. |
- Bounciness. Young Standard Poodles (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people.
| If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend Standard Poodle puppies. The temptation to play roughly is too strong in many young Standard Poodles. |
- Providing enough socialization. Poodles need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become shyness or suspiciousness, which are difficult to live with and could even lead to defensive biting.
- Emotional sensitivity. Be honest...is there tension in your home? Are people loud or angry or emotional? Are there arguments or fights? Poodles are extremely sensitive to stress and can end up literally sick to their stomachs, with digestive upsets and neurotic behaviors, if the people in their home are having family problems. Poodles are peaceful, sensitive dogs who need a peaceful, harmonious home.
- Grooming. To keep their curly coat short and free of mats, Standard Poodles require regular brushing, and also clipping and trimming every 4 to 6 weeks. Please don't have your Poodle clipped into the ridiculous patterns worn by show dogs. Standard Poodles can simply be trimmed short, with short ears, a rustic whiskery face, and no pompoms on their head or feet or tail. Poodles definitely don't have to look like sissies.
- Barking. Standard Poodles are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. For the same reason, Poodles should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised.
- Serious health problems. Eye diseases, skin diseases, digestive problems, seizures, immune system disorders -- LOTS of health problems in Standard Poodles.
| If you're considering an adult Standard Poodle... |
There are plenty of adult Standard Poodles who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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