STANDARD POODLE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAN MY STANDARD POODLE LIVE OUTSIDE?
Any dog can live outside if they have to but with Standard Poodles it is advisable not to. They are very much a family orientated breed and enjoy human contact and life style. You will break the spirit of the Standard Poodle if you do.

CAN MY STANDARD POODLE SLEEP OUTSIDE?
Once again any dog can adapt sleeping outside but with Standard Poodles it is advisable not to. The Standard Poodle likes the comfort of a comfy bed somewhere in proximity of owners sleeping quarters, usually the masters bedroom.

HOW BIG DO STANDARD POODLES GET?
As a rule of thumb with most breeds, the males tend to be larger than the females. A Standard Poodle is anything over 15 inches from shoulder and the average size for a male would be around 25 inches and a female 22 inches. However, there are of course exceptions for the individual to be smaller or larger than this. If someone uses the term "Royal" or Giant"  it usually means that the Standard Poodle is on the larger size. There is no such thing as a registered "Royal or Giant" Standard Poodle

WHAT COLORS DO STANDARD POODLES COME IN?
Standard Poodles come in a variety of recognized solid colors from black, blue, silver, white, cream, apricot, red, brown, silver-beige and the various degree in shading and multi colored  like the parti, phantom, mismark, brindle, sable, abstract and tuxedo patterns.

DO STANDARD POODLES SHED, AND DO THEY SMELL?
The Standard Poodle is a non-shedding breed and they seem not to have that "doggy" odor like some breeds have.

ARE STANDARD POODLES NON ALLERGENIC?
This all depends on the person and how allergic they are to dogs. Sometimes it is not just the coat factor but the saliva of the dog which causes allergies. The Standard Poodle can be an ideal pet as their coat does not usually irritate the skin or cause allergies. Do remember though a dirty unkept Standard Poodle coat can be a major contributor to allergies.

DO STANDARD POODLES REQUIRE MUCH GROOMING?
YES - standard poodles are a high maintenance breed and need regular grooming every 5 odd weeks. Your Standard Poodle should be brushed and combed at least once a week. There is no excuse for an unkept Standard Poodle. Without regular grooming and clipping you could end up with a Standard Poodle who will have skin complaints, ear infections, weepy eyes, swollen feet. Air needs to circulate through the hair right down to the skin and if it is matted, this cannot happen.

ARE STANDARD POODLES INTELLIGENT?
Standard Poodles are among the most intelligent of breeds. They do learn very quickly and need to be taught young basic manners. Standard Poodles tend to be quite sensitive to their owners moods.

WHAT AGE DO STANDARD POODLES LIVE TO?
The Standard Poodle can be expected to live between 12 and 14 years. In my opinion, anything over 10 years is a bonus. We all want our beloved pets to live a full, healthy lifetime but we do need to be realistic.

FOR A PET, SHOULD I GET A MALE OR FEMALE?
This is a personal choice whether you want your Standard Poodle to squat or lift his leg when relieving. When neutered on the young side, the differences in male and female personalities is minimal. The females can be a little more headstrong than the males. For a pure pet, I personally love the Standard Poodle males.

HOW MUCH EXERCISE DOES A STANDARD POODLE REQUIRE?
When Standard Poodles are young exercise should be limited as their little bodies grow at an alarming rate and too much exercise can cause serious harm to the joints leading to lifetime troubles. Once standard poodles are fully matured they require moderate exercise. If you do not have time to walk around the block each day you can exercise your standard poodle by throwing a ball for about 15 minutes

WHERE DOES THE NAME POODLE COME FROM?
The name originates with the Old German word “pudel,” which means “to splash about.” The Poodle was originally bred to be a gun dog or water dog, for retrieving game. In France, this breed is known as the caniche.