Standard Poodles were bred as water retrievers centuries ago in Germany. They were further refined in France and earned the nickname “water dog” due to their ability to work well in water.
Later on, they were frequently used as circus dogs because of their high intelligence and trainability. Today, they are popular as loyal companions that excel in many canine sports and competitions.
| Weight (pounds) Male: 60-70 Female: 40-50 | Height (inches) Male: 17-22 Female: 15-18 | Lifespan (years) 11-15 | Dog Breed Group Non-Sporting |
Characteristics Ratings
We rate 19 characteristics for each breed, divided into three categories:
Highest Rated – Characteristics for which this breed is rated 4 or 5 stars (on a 5 star scale).
Neutral Rated – Characteristics that rated 3 stars.
Lowest Rated – Characteristics that rated only 1 or 2 stars.
Highest Rated
- Good Family Dog
- Kid Friendly
- Good With Other Dogs
- Low Shedding
- Low Drooling
- Friendly to Strangers
- Likes to Play
- Protective Nature
- Handles Change Easily
- Easy to Train
- High Energy Level
- Suitable for Small Yards/Apartments
- Good for Novice Owners
- Tolerates Hot Climate
- High Intelligence
Neutral Rated
- Tolerates Cold Climate
Lowest Rated
- Low Amount of Barking
- Tolerates Being Left Alone
- Good General Health
General Overview
With their playful, affectionate, and loyal nature, Standard Poodles make outstanding family dogs. They are very trainable and eager to please their owners. Combined with their high intelligence, they make great companions.
They are also patient and gentle with children and their playful nature can keep them occupied for hours. That said, they are also easy to startle, so you should teach younger children to approach them gently and calmly.
As a plus, Standard Poodles do not bark excessively, so when they do you know something is likely wrong and needs to be investigated.
Although they are not highly aggressive, Standard Poodles bond strongly with their owners and have a high sense of loyalty. As a result, they are known as a protective breed and will bark and confront anything and anyone they sense as a threat to their family.
In this respect, they are very good watchdogs.
With other dogs, Standard Poodles generally get along well, although this can vary by individual personalities. They can tend to show a bit of dominance towards other dogs, but this is easily correctible with proper socialization and training.
Overall, they will be fine in households with multiple dogs.
They are also a breeze to maintain when it comes to shedding and drooling. Standard Poodles are known as one of the few breeds that are hypoallergenic, which means their short curly coat doesn’t shed and is ideal for people with allergies.
They also seldom drool, so if you do see excessive saliva it could be a sign of a health issue.
The bottom line is you won’t be cleaning up either dog hair or slobber when you own a Standard Poodle. Your rugs and clothes will love you!
Standard Poodles are highly social animals with a great love for their families, so they do suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for long periods. This is not unusual, as most dogs of all breeds have a low tolerance for being alone.
Unlike many of the larger breeds, Standard Poodles can adapt to apartment living or houses with small yards. When given enough exercise, they can be pretty laid back when inside and they won’t need a lot of space.
And since they are hypoallergenic and shed very little if at all, your small space won’t be overwhelmed with dog hair.
When we say “given enough exercise”, we mean given a lot of exercise! These are high-energy, athletic dogs that were originally bred as hunters. They enjoy running and swimming and need at least an hour or more of vigorous exercise each day.
They also excel in canine sports such as obedience, tracking, and agility. These are all good outlets for their excessive energy.
With all their positive traits (and very few negative ones!), Standard Poodles are an excellent fit for first-time dog owners. They are friendly, sociable, smart, and easy to housebreak. Combined with their eager-to-please personalities they are an ideal choice for novice dog owners, perhaps more so than almost any other large breed.
Plus, they are ranked as the number two most intelligent dogs by most dog experts (just behind the Border Collie and just ahead of the German Shepherd). They easily learn new tricks and commands and are eager to please their trainer.
Since they were bred to retrieve waterfowl, this required them to be highly alert and responsive to commands. The result is they are one of the easiest dogs to train, which also explains why they do so well in agility and other canine competitions.
When it comes to health, they only get an average score, even though their life expectancy is a respectable 11-15 years.
Some common ailments they are prone to include joint problems, allergies, bloat, and epilepsy.