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Poodle Standard

General
Other Names
Dog Group Kennel Club		Utility
Breed Classification		Standard Poodles belong to the utility group and are now used as companions and performance dogs. They are spectacular show dogs.
Cost of Ownership
Average Food Cost		£4-7.50 per week
Feeding Requirements		Large, deep chested dogs should be fed carefully to avoid bloat. Two meals per day is safer than one large meal.
		Try Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food
Other Expenses		After the initial purchase price of a puppy, around £700 - £800, it must be remembered that there will be regular grooming expenditure every 6 weeks.
Average Puppy Price		£500-800
Lifespan		9 - 15 years The Standard can be expected to live between 10 and 14 years.
Average Litter Size		7 Standard Poodles normally have litters of around 6 to 8 puppies.
General Physical Description		This is a noble elegant and well balanced dog with a slender muzzle and long neck The coat is profuse and curly and is often styled The gait should be graceful and prancing with plenty of drive coming from well developed and muscular thighs
Height Min Max Bitch 38cm (15") 0cm (0") Dog 38cm (15") 0cm (0") Weight Min Max Bitch 21kg (46lbs) 32kg (71lbs) Dog 30kg (66lbs) 35kg (77lbs)
Size Category		Large
Weight Height Range		The Standard Poodle is a minimum height of 38cms at the withers and weighs in between 20.5 to 32kgs. Most Standards are considerably taller than the official minimum height. Please note there is no maximum height limit for this breed.
Ailments		All poodles are prone to eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. Epilepsy is another disease that plagues all the varieties.Standards are also subject to bloat, as any deep chested large dog is. Addison’s disease is another problem in Standard Poodles. Standard Poodles are also subject to Granulomatous sebaceous adenitis.
Common Ailments		Bloat, Iris atrophy, sensitivity to rabies vaccine
Susceptibility To Illness		Medium
Other
History		The Standard Poodle is the oldest of the three poodle sizes, with the miniature and toy varieties developing later. The exact origin of the poodle is unknown, some say they originated in France and others say that they come from Germany. It is thought they may have been taken to France and other countries with the German troops during the 1400’s. They evolved into their present form in France. They were used in Germany as a water retrieving dog and today some still have the hunting instinct.
Intelligence		The Poodle is an extremely intelligent and eager to please dog, thus he is inordinately easy to train. As a result, the Poodle has a history of performance, appearing in circus and street acts for hundreds of years. Poodles are unusually sensitive to vocal intonation, probably one of the reasons they are so easy to train. Many pet owners, using gentle and consistent training methods,have seen their poodles excel in obedience trials, flyball and agility.
Show Characteristics		The Poodle standard asks for a moderately rounded skull with a slight but definite stop. The cheeks are flat and the muzzle is long and fine with slight chiseling under the eyes. The muzzle should show the strength of the retriever but still have an aristocratic outline. The teeth should be set in a scissor bite. Oval, wide set eyes must be dark and full of intelligence. The ears are set low on the skull and hang close to the head. The earflap is long, rather wide and well feathered. A proud dog with a haughty head carriage, the poodle needs a long, strong neck, with a smooth deep throat. Muscular shoulders slope back from their point of angulation at the upper foreleg. Well-sprung ribs support a deep and moderately wide chest. The back is short and slightly hollow, fitting with a short, well muscled loin area. A gaily carried tail, set high, is docked to be in proportion with the body. The forelegs are straight from the shoulder and should be parallel, with strong pasterns (ankles.) The hindquarters must be very muscular with well bent stifles and hocks well let down. The thigh should still appear wide at the stifle joint. Facing forward, the small feet should be oval, with well arched, close toes. The pads should be thick and hard. T
Country Of Origin		Germany
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics
Energy		High
Overall Exercise		80 - 100 minutes per day. Standards need a good deal of exercise and space. Most of them love to swim and to retrieve so do take care when near water to ensure their safety.
Distress Caused if Left Alone
Personal Protection		High
Suitability As Guard Dog		High
Risk of Sheep Worrying		Medium
Tendency to Bark		High
Ease of Transportation		Low
Level of Aggression		Medium
Compatibility With Other Animals		Medium
Suitable For Children		Medium
General Character And Temperament		Getting along with the kids, the cat and the guinea pig is no problem for the poodle. Lively and affectionate, they make wonderful companion dogs. They can be good guard dogs, announcing visitors but never being aggressive. Poodles are unusually sensitive to vocal intonation, probably one of the reasons they are so easy to train. They are high-spirited, happy dogs who love a busy life and being involved in all family matters.
Grooming
Coat Length		Medium/Long
Grooming Requirement		> Once a week
Trimming
Requires Professional Groomer		True
Grooming		Poodles do not shed and are often tolerated by allergic people. Their coats do take a great deal of care though, generally requiring professional grooming, as well as regular combing and brushing at home. The poodle should be taken to a groomer about every six weeks for a clip of your choice. Only three clips are allowed in the show ring, however, pet owners can allow for more creativity on the part of the groomer. The poodle’s ears need frequent cleaning or they will become infected and, especially in the smaller poodles, daily teeth brushing is recommended or tartar will build up rapidly and lead to gingivitis.
Colour		This breed comes in black, white, blue, gray, silver, brown, café-au-lait, apricot and cream. The colour will fade on all coats (apart from the whites) on reaching the age of 4 to 5.
Shedding		None
Suffers From Allergies		True
Tendency to Cause Allergies

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