Standard Poodle

• ExerciseHigh

  Needs a good workout or long walk every day.

• GroomingDaily grooming

  Daily brushing (and pro grooming) keeps the coat in shape.

• Living spaceHouse with room

  Does best with room to move and a yard.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment12–15 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Hip dysplasia · Bloat (GDV) · Addison's disease

The Standard Poodle is one of the most intelligent and trainable of all dogs, and beneath the fancy show coat is a genuine athlete originally bred to retrieve from water. It needs both real physical exercise and serious mental stimulation — training, dog sports, puzzle work — and it rewards you by learning almost anything quickly; a bored Poodle, by contrast, becomes anxious and inventive. Sensitive and people-oriented, it wants to be fully part of family life. The curly, low-shedding coat is often tolerated better by allergy sufferers, but it is high-maintenance: it needs brushing every few days to prevent matting and professional grooming every four to six weeks. Health-wise, buy from a breeder who screens hips and eyes and is open about the breed's risks: bloat (feed measured meals and avoid heavy exercise right after eating), Addison's disease, epilepsy, and the skin condition sebaceous adenitis. Keep the Poodle exercised, groomed, mentally engaged and at a healthy weight, and you have a dignified, brilliant and long-lived companion for twelve to fifteen years.

• How much exercise does a Standard Poodle need?

  High. Needs a good workout or long walk every day.

• How much grooming does a Standard Poodle need?

  Daily grooming. Daily brushing (and pro grooming) keeps the coat in shape.

• Is a Standard Poodle suited to apartment living?

  House with room. Does best with room to move and a yard.

• Is a Standard Poodle a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Standard Poodle live?

  12–15 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Standard Poodle?

  Keep an eye out for Hip dysplasia, Bloat (GDV), Addison's disease. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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