Standard Poodle Breed Description

An Owner's Standard Poodle Description
We never had a clue that Curls was a natural retriever until he showed up on the porch one day with a bird in his mouth. We have since discovered that the Poodle breed are great water dogs and retrievers and we were just ignorant. We rescued him from a local shelter, and didn't know a thing about the breed's traits.

Unfortunately for the retriever in him, we don't hunt. But we knew we could work with and accentuate his inborn love for water. We have a good-sized natural pond on our property, so we decided to build a small dock so we could walk out into the center and see if we could teach him to jump in and retrieve.

It didn't take any time at all and almost no 'teaching' to get Curls into his new game. Once we saw how much he loved it, we made several fowl-like decoys and rigged up a fowl 'thrower' to shoot these decoys over the water. He is absolutely crazy about this game and will literally 'beg' us to play. If we are busy with something, he'll find one of his decoys and bring it to us, swat us with it if necessary to get our attention, just to drop the hint. He'd play that game all day if we'd let him.

We've even had a few friends bring their dogs over and have enticed them into a friendly game of competitive distance jumping and timed retrieving. It's one of the fun things of summer that we really look forward to. Curls is the reigning champion and star of these summer games and has quite a reputation locally, even getting a small article in our local paper.

 

 

Introduction

The oldest of the three varieties of poodles, the Standard is widely known throughout Europe as a retriever of waterfowl. Its origin is debated, but seems likely that they began in Russia or Germany. This breed measures an average of 25 inches at the shoulder and is available in black, brown, blue, silver, apricot, cream and white. The poodle is a great family pet for both city and country living. Contact the dog breeders below for your next family friend.

History

The English name 'Poodle' is derived from the German word 'pudelhund,' referring to its development from a water dog. What we know as the stylish 'poodle cut' was actually meant to aid his hunting capabilities as it helped him wade through water with ease. The patches of hair left on the body had the specific purpose of protecting his vital organs and his joints from cold.

General Description

The breed's various solid colors include black, gray, white and apricot. The Standard Poodle never has patches colored differently. The poodle has a single coat of dense curly fur. A Poodle's fur is referred to as hair just like humans, because he does not have a plush double undercoat like other dogs. Curly fur is harsh and dense throughout. It may also be sometimes corded in tight even cords of different lengths. At the skin the coat is of even solid color, the fur however, may show varying shades of the same color. This natural variation in color, due to darker feathering of the ears and/or a tilt of the ruff, is not considered to be a fault in the breed. Their neck is well proportioned and strong and the length of the neck allows the head to be carried high and with dignity. These dogs walk effortlessly without making a sound in a straightforward trot with head and tail carried up. The Standard Poodle carries itself proudly and with dignity, standing out among other breeds in an identifiably distinctive manner.

Temperament

The Poodle is considered to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds. They are extraordinarily smart and respond very well to obedience training. As very active dogs, they can even be skillful herders. The Standard poodle has a characteristically keen sense of instinctive behaviors, especially in marking and hunting drives. Highly energetic, they bore easily; probably why they are known to be creative in finding mischief. On the other hand, the Standard is people-friendly and generally shows an intense desire to please. They tend to be good to children and easily adaptable. Generally, Standard Poodles live well into their teens if they are provided with adequate nutrition and cared for properly.

The common serious health issues for Poodles are Addison's disease, gastric dilatation volvulus (abnormal twisting of the intestines), thyroid problems, tracheal collapse, epilepsy, sebaceous inflammation, retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, and cancer. Ear infections, though too minor to report at the registry, are a common problem with Standard Poodles. These can be avoided with proper ear care and regular grooming otherwise it can turn into a major problem. Home care involves learning how Standard Poodles should be groomed. Responsible owners also need to gather information regarding physical and behavioral symptoms and their implications. As a general rule, regular grooming and keen observation along with periodic visits to the veterinarian should be enough for your Standard Poodle to live his full life healthily.

Colors

Many different solid colors are accepted in confirmation including black, white, brown, sliver, blue, apricot, and red. Some breeders have also started breeding

Living Area

Recently Poodles have gained a reputation as

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

Pets4You offers listings of Standard Poodle breeders with puppies for sale.