The standard poodle is not called the king poodle for nothing: there is something majestic and proud about its springy gait.
No wonder, then, that the breed has been one of the most popular dogs in Western Europe for centuries!
In fact, it has much more to offer than just a pretty exterior. What exactly? Find out in this article!
standard poodle profile
Size Male: 45 to 60 cm, female: 45 to 60 cmWeightMale: up to 30 kg, female: up to 25 kgColorsblack, white, grey, brown, apricot, red dunLife expectancy12 to 15 yearsOriginFrancecharacter/temperamentloyal, cheerful, intelligentFCI groupGroup 9: Companion and companion dogs
Section 2: Poodle
Look
The most distinctive thing about Standard Poodles is their coat texture: they are famous for their curling curls.
The fur is surprising fine and woolly and feels very soft with good care.
Because they no seasonal change of coat subject, but king poodles must shorn regularly become.
This is how the typical poodle hairstyles are created, in which the hind legs and the belly are shaved, but the chest is still covered.
Just as typical as the curly fur is the springy gear of dogs, which naturally gives them a casual elegance.
As the name suggests, a Standard Poodle differs from the Small, Miniature and Toy Poodles in its size.
It must be at least 45 cm high to meet the breed standard and no more than 60 cm. In addition, up to 2 cm more or less are still considered acceptable.
They weigh up to 30 kg. The males are slightly heavier than the females, weighing up to 25 kg.
The colors allowed in the FCI standard are black, white, brown, grey, apricot and red dun.
In Germany, however, one often still encounters the version harlequinwhere the dogs sport playful black and white spots.
While the nose is always brown, the skin always matches the coat color. Only in white Standard Poodles is the skin more silvery than white.
The slightly slanted eyes are usually black or dark brown, but can be warm amber in brown or apricot dogs.
The tail is straight and set high.
The poodle paws are comparatively small for such a large dog. With a corresponding shearing, however, they often appear larger.
History & origin of the Standard Poodle/King Poodle
The (dog) history argues about the exact origin of the Standard Poodle.
The FCI has transferred responsibility for the breed standard to France and also sees the history of development there.
This is supported by the fact that the French name for poodle, canichefrom French cane for a female duck.
Since the standard poodle as a hunting dog specialized in water hunting was, the connection is understandable.
On the other hand, the oldest mention of the poodle can be found in Germany in 1555, by Conrad Gessner.
In addition, the German name comes from the old German poodle from what describes a splashing around in the water.
Wherever he came from exactly, in the 19th century he began his transformation from hunting dog to hunting dog popular companion dog.
First it spread in the salons of the nobility, then increasingly in the bourgeoisie.
This is probably where the name royal poodle comes from, which attributed the dog a royal preference that didn’t exist at all.
Essence & character of the king poodle
Standard poodles are considered highly intelligent and are among the 2 most intelligent dog breeds in the world.
This is another reason why you often meet them next to their little brothers, the Miniature Poodles, in the circus and on the big stages of dog tricks.
Because they like to learn new things for their life and enjoy the attention.
In addition, this enthusiasm can also be used very productively: King Poodles can definitely work as working dogs and undergo training to become disaster or cadaver search dogs.
They are also welcome as assistance dogs and guide dogs for the blind.
Intelligence is both a blessing and a curse, however, as the standard poodle is reluctant to back down from undesirable behavior if it has gotten away with it for too long.
standard poodles are very family related and love their people. They are also very considerate towards smaller children if they are socialized accordingly.
Unfortunately, the family dog is quickly kept hunting instinct underestimated.
This requires consistent training – but then it is very easy to get used to small animals that can be hunted at home.
attitude & upbringing
The most important thing for the Standard Poodle is the mental and physical exertion.
He needs a lot of activity and also a lot of new things that he can discover, understand or experience.
Therefore, a task as a working dog or a joint performance hobby such as obedience, dog dancing or agility is ideal.
Taming a standard poodle’s sly stubbornness takes consistent but loving training every day.
Because as much as they like to learn and demonstrate new tricks, so stubborn they are, too, when they are supposed to train away undesirable behavior.
This is one of the reasons why you should be consistent with a king poodle right from the start and not tolerate behavior such as begging or stealing food.
Standard poodles can learn to be left alone. But they are always my favorite in the middle of the action there and close to their people.
This makes them great office dogs. In addition, they hardly ever change their coat and are therefore particularly allergy-friendly animals.
Sometimes the king poodle is still referred to as a guard dog. However, he is not a straight-A student here: although he signals the arrival of strangers, he is very friendly towards everyone.
Health & Care
Grooming is a high priority for a Standard Poodle because he sheds very little and is one of the few breeds that do not undergo a seasonal shedding.
Daily combing and brushing is therefore important to avoid tangles. Likewise, a poodle absolutely needs one regular shearing receive.
The FCI prescribes breed-typical shearing. The lion clip, the modern clip and the English clip are allowed.
The lion clip is known as a typical poodle hairstyle. While the hind legs and belly are clipped short, the fur on the chest remains long.
This used to have a real function: the short-cropped fur made it easier to move in the water when hunting waterfowl, while the fur on the chest protected against the cold of the water.
In contrast to lion shearing, modern shearing keeps the fur on the legs.
The English clip shines with motifs that are also cut into the fur of the hind legs or into the hair on the head.
Standard Poodles have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, which is not remarkable for a breed of their size.
However, like all large dogs, they tend to be hereditary hip dysplasia.
In addition, they show a higher susceptibility to sebadenitis. This is an autoimmune disease that destroys the sebum glands and is characterized by bald patches on the fur.
Also heart diseases and the von Willebrand syndromea blood clotting disorder, are more common in poodles.
Standard poodles also fall ill more often than average Malassezia dermatoses.
This leads to pathological proliferation of the naturally occurring yeast fungi on the skin, making it permanently inflamed and itchy.
Is the king poodle right for me?
King poodles are not for couch potatoes. They demand a lot of physical and mental activity from you – and also create enough mischief if you don’t comply.
However, they are excellent candidates if you are looking for a working dog. Whether hobby sport or civil protection, with a standard poodle you have a friend at your side who is eager to learn.
In a busy household with many children, poodles feel just as comfortable as with active single people. the main thing is her motto.
They are absolute dream dogs for allergy sufferers because they hardly shed. However, you must also be able to devote sufficient time to grooming.
Fun facts about standard poodles
Poodles are surprisingly popular in the world of poets and thinkers.
Not only did personalities like Arthur Schopenhauer, John Steinbeck and Thomas Mann themselves have poodles, they also found their way into fiction.
In Goethe’s Faust I, for example, Mephistopheles as a poodle confronts the skeptical Faust, from which the famous sentence comes: «That is the core of the poodle.»
And Ludwig van Beethoven even dedicated a piece of music to the four-legged friend: the Elegy on the Death of a Poodle.