Standard Poodle

Who is it for?

Overview

The largest of the four Poodle sizes, at 45 to 60 cm at the withers, the Standard Poodle is an elegant, proud and athletic dog with a woolly coat, curly or corded, that hardly sheds at all. Very intelligent, playful and easy to train, it makes a remarkable family companion, gentle with children and sensitive to the mood at home. Originally a waterfowl hunting dog, it still has a real need for physical and mental activity.

History and origins

The Poodle’s French name, Caniche, comes from “cane,” the female duck: it was originally used to hunt water birds and descends from the Barbet, whose traits it has largely kept. The Standard Poodle is the original form of the breed, from which the Medium, Miniature and Toy sizes were later bred. A French breed under the patronage of the Société Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club), the Poodle is recognized by the FCI under no. 172, with a standard revised in 2024 that now allows many solid, parti-colored or tan-marked coat colors. In France, the Standard Poodle remains rarer than the smaller sizes, with about 170 LOF registrations in 2025.

Health

Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years, and the breed is hardy. The most common health problems in the breed:

• Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism)
• Gastric torsion (bloat)
• Sebaceous adenitis
• Hip dysplasia
• Progressive retinal atrophy

Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.

Coat and care

Medium-length, curly coat. Almost no shedding, very high coat care. Coat colors: black, white, brown, gray, fawn (from apricot to red fawn), parti-color (white and black, white and brown…), black and tan, brown and tan, tricolor, brindle.