Poodle (Standard)

Coat and looks how to spot one

curly or corded, single, non-shedding hair

A tall, squarely built athlete with a long, fine head, dark almond eyes and a proud carriage. Its coat is a thick layer of fine, springy curls that keeps growing, or it can be left to form long cords of 20 cm or more. The high-set tail and light, springy trot give the Standard its elegant, confident outline.7892

Personality what they are like

Clever, cheerful and eager to please, the Standard Poodle pairs dignity with a playful, clownish streak. It is deeply loyal, gentle and very affectionate with children, and it learns fast when training is positive and varied. Well-bred Standards are known for steady, calm nerves.97610

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A true sporting dog at heart: give it one to two hours of exercise a day plus mental work. It excels at swimming, retrieving, agility, obedience, dock diving and flyball.635

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The coat never stops growing and tangles readily, so brush it thoroughly every day with a slicker brush (or keep it short) and plan a professional clip every 6-8 weeks. Bath about monthly and dry the coat fully. Show dogs wear the Continental, English Saddle or Puppy clip; most pets wear a practical sporting clip.6358

Home where they are happiest

Happiest in a home with room to move and ideally a secure garden, though it adapts to town or country life when well exercised. It is a people dog that should live indoors with its family.3109

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete dog food formulated for large breeds, fed as two meals a day; a slow-feeder bowl helps it eat calmly. Very active dogs may need a higher-calorie sport diet. Adjust portions to body condition and keep treats modest.6510

Company who they like around

Needs plenty of human companionship and close involvement in family life; it does not enjoy long periods alone. Usually sociable with children and other dogs when raised with them.956

The story where it all began

Dogs of poodle type appear in Roman tomb carvings from around AD 30 and in European paintings from the 15th century on. The Standard is the original form: a curly-coated water dog that retrieved ducks and other waterfowl, and even recovered arrows and bolts for hunters. Its German name Pudel refers to splashing, the French Caniche to ducks, and the FCI traces it to the Barbet, from which it had split by the 1740s. Hunters trimmed the coat to help it swim while keeping joints and chest warm, which gave rise to the famous clips; French fashion later added rosettes and pom-poms. In England early Standards worked as 'Rough Water Dogs', and Prince Rupert of the Rhine took a hunting poodle to the English Civil War. From the 18th century the breed also shone in circuses, and breeders scaled it down into the Miniature and Toy. The Kennel Club recognised the Poodle in 1874 and the AKC in the late 1880s; the Poodle Club of America formed in 1931. After the Second World War the Poodle became America's most popular breed for more than 20 years. Today the Standard works as a gun dog, service and therapy dog and sport competitor as well as a family companion.9122734

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard No. 172 (Caniche), Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs, Section 2 Poodle; country of origin France; definitive acceptance 1 Jan 1955; current standard published 20 Mar 2024; no working trial. Four sizes: Standard, Medium, Miniature and Toy.1

The Royal Kennel Club

Utility Group; Standard, Miniature and Toy sizes share one breed standard. Wikipedia gives 1874 as the year of Kennel Club recognition.3

AKC

Non-Sporting Group (Standard and Miniature). AKC's own history article says Standard and Miniature were recognised in 1887; Wikipedia gives 1886. Current standard approved 14 Aug 1984; Toy variety added 1943.12

FCI (size)

Standard (Grand): height at withers over 45 cm up to 60 cm, with a 2 cm tolerance7

UKC

Poodle recognised 1914; since 1 Jan 2000 a separate breed, 'Standard Poodle', placed in the Gun Dog Group. Over 15 in at the withers.9

AKC (size)

Standard: over 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulders8

Popularity Poodle (Standard, Miniature and Toy combined) ranked No. 6 among AKC-registered breeds in the US, dropping out of the top five as the Dachshund moved up14