Are Standard Poodles Good Family Pets?

Many people believe Standard Poodles are prissy, aloof dogs that shy away from people.  Quite the opposite is true! Their quirky, goofy personality provide tons of laughter and make them quite endearing. Are Standard Poodles good family pets?

Standard Poodles make great family pets for all types of families.  They are athletic, energetic dogs that love to play and run with people and other dogs.   Standard Poodles are intelligent, alert dogs making them great watch dogs. They also like to cuddle with adults and children alike and enjoy being close to family members.

Poodles need daily exercise such as playing fetch or going on walks around the neighborhood.   They will play with kids and adults for hours making them a great fit for families with children.  If you’re considering a standard poodle as a family pet keep in mind they require frequent exercise.

If you allow them to do so poodles may just play all day long. My Standard Poodle Annie loves to play fetch, Poodles simply love to run around and play!

Out of 195 AKC breeds the Standard Poodle ranks number 7 in popularity for the year 2020.  Standard Poodles have been popular since they appeared over 400 years ago in Germany as duck hunters. 

Interesting Fact:  Poodles are one of the top 10 fastest dogs in the world, they can run up to 30 miles per hour!

One of the primary reasons people choose Standard Poodles as a family pet is that they are hypoallergenic.

Hypoallergenic means “having little likelihood of causing an allergic response”. The primary reason pets cause allergies in people is pet dander. Dander is composed of tiny bits of skin cells that fall off the dogs skin. The dander in turn clings to the pets hair and causes an allergic reaction in people.

The Standard Poodle only sheds it’s skin every 21 days while most dog breeds shed their skin every three or four days. This huge difference means Standard Poodles have a lot less dander than most dog breeds and significantly reduces allergic reactions.

If you have family members with allergies the Standard Poodle is a pet that in most cases doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. This is an important benefit of having a Standard Poodle as a member of your family.

(Check out this article, “Are Poodles Hypoallergenic”?}

Standard Poodles Shed Very Little

Poodles shed very, very little.  Poodles shed much less hair than other dogs. When Standard Poodles do shed their hair it typically gets caught in their thick, curly hair so you almost never see it.  Keep in mind they do require frequent brushing to keep their hair from tangling and to remove the loose hair.  

Poodles have a single coat of hair while many popular dogs have a double coat of hair.

 In our personal experience we haven’t seen any hair on our sofa from our 3 year old standard poodle, Annie.  Unlike the Golden Retriever we had for 13 years we don’t see any ‘floaties’ and we don’t see any ‘tumbleweed’ hair in the corners. This is a nice change although we loved our Golden Retriever.

(See Article, “Do Poodles Shed?”)

Grooming a Standard Poodle

It is important to have a Standard Poodle groomed about every 6 weeks. She will also need to be brushed at least 3 or 4 times a week to keep her hair from matting (brushing also maintains their dashing looks!). Their hair is similar to human hair instead of fur like most dogs. This means it will keeps growing so it requires more attention than most dogs.

Standard Poodles hair grows 1/2 an inch up to 1 inch a month. A benefit of the ever growing hair is that groomers have almost endless possibilities when it comes to styling options with a Standard Poodle.

This is an important consideration with owning a Standard Poodle.  Having a Standard Poodle groomed about every 6 weeks can become expensive.  The average cost for having a full grooming for a Standard Poodle will vary according to your location. a full groom can cost from $60 to hundreds of dollars.

I have paid from $60 to $85 plus tip here in the suburbs of Saint Louis MO to have my standard poodle groomed which I believe is a bargain. I usually tip around 15 dollars per grooming as I feel that each groomer works really hard to make sure Annie gets a great cut and makes her feel comfortable with them.

A full groom at my current groomer includes:

• A Warm Massage Jet Wash
• Fluff Dry
• Nails Trimmed
• Paw Pads Shaved
• Ear Cleaning
• Mink Oil Coat Shine
• Fragrance
• Bandana
• Haircut of Choice

You probably have seen the “fancy” Poodle hair styles, especially on the show dog competitions. These types of cuts are certainly an option although many families opt to keep their Standard Poodle in a short cut all over for easier maintenance. The short cut makes grooming a bit easier.

Some Standard Poodle owners opt to buy some good electric trimmers such as this Andis trimmer found online at Chewy and do the grooming themselves. It is reliable and used by many professional groomers.

If you choose to groom your Standard Poodle it does take time to develop expertise. Professional groomers know how to treat the sensitive areas around the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Also, the hind quarters must be groomed very carefully.

Brushes and combs are also needed for grooming a Poodle which can save a lot of money in the long run.  There are reliable groomers sharing great tips on Youtube about maintaining your poodle.

Questions to Ask a Dog Groomer

• What would you do if my dog gets scared?
• What is your experience level and do you have certifications?
• Do you have experience grooming a Standard Poodle?
• May I see the work area where you groom pets?
• What is your pricing structure?
• Do you use natural, chemical free products?

Knowing the answer to these questions will help make you more comfortable with your first Poodle grooming experience. If they are unable to answer your questions it would be a good idea to look for another groomer.

How Big Are Standard Poodles?  (Big Enough to Hug!)

The average size Standard Poodle is 22” tall at the shoulders although they can be as short as 15” tall.  Male Standard Poodles typically weigh 45 to 70 pounds and females weigh 45 to 60 pounds. That’s a big enough dog to hug or cuddle with.  Poodles love to cuddle and get hugs and are happy to take an afternoon nap with family members.

Poodles come in three sizes recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club).  The standard poodle is the largest of the three and the other two include the miniature and toy poodles:

Standard Poodle: The largest Poodle stands over 15″ tall at the shoulders although the average size Standard Poodle is 22″ tall. They weigh on average from 45 to 70 pounds.

Miniature Poodle:  This is the middle sized poodle and is from 11 inches to 15 inches tall at the shoulder and typically weighs 15 to 17 pounds.

Toy Poodle:  The smallest of the poodles is 10 inches tall and under at the shoulder and weighs only 6 to 9 pounds. Toy Poodles are best suited for smaller homes or apartments.

Standard Poodles Come in a Variety of Colors

Standard Poodles come in a range of solid colors plus many variations of these colors. Here is a list of their solid colors:

• Apricot
• Black
• Blue
• Brown
• Cafe Au Lait
• Cream
• Gray
• Red
• Silver
• Silver Beige
• White

In addition to these 11 colors is the various, wonderful mix of these colors known as Parti-Poodles. Parti Poodles have white as their base color with patches of other solid colors such as brown, black, red, etcetera on their coat. The Parti Poodle is unique and they are relatively rare.

Regardless of their color a Poodle is considered to be hypoallergenic and are very low shedding.

Standard Poodles Make Good Watch Dogs

Standard poodles are protective of their family and will bark when strangers are near.  They are considered more of a ‘watch dog’ than a ‘guard dog’ as they will alarm you by barking rather than confront a stranger as they are not an aggressive breed.

Standard Poodles are extremely alert and will occasionally jump when they hear a strange or unusual noise. This trait adds a level of comfort and security when you have a standard poodle in the house.

These popular dogs will be protective of their family and will alert you when strangers are near—yet they also love kids and get along well with almost any other pets you may have.

Standard Poodles Are Easily Trained

Standard poodles are the second smartest breed in the world after the Border Collie. They really want to please their owners.  The combination of these two traits make the poodle very trainable.

Poodles learn quickly and respond to positive reinforcement.  They are champions at obedience competitions and like to be challenged.  They are quickly house trained and like to please their family members.

When my Standard Poodle Annie was a puppy we used the crate training method. I would take her outside one last time at night, bring her in and she would go into her crate. We kept her crate close to the back door leading to the yard. First thing in the morning I would let her out of the crate and take her directly outside. She was house trained within 2 weeks.

Annie learned to sit and to shake hands (paws) at a young age. I rewarded her with treats.

Standard Poodles can be very sensitive dogs and should not be spoken to in a mean or aggressive tone. For best results speak in a calm voice.

Poodle Sleep Habits

Are Poodles Good Sleepers?

First, to be transparent, Annie sleeps on my bed from time to time. Sometimes she’ll start out on the recliner and end up on my bed, other times she’ll jump up on my bed immediately at night.

If she crowds me I’ll tell her to move over a bit on her side which she does without complaining.

She has proven to be a very good sleeper! She will go to bed around 9:00 pm and will sleep until 7:30 am. Most of the time I have to coax her to go outside to relieve herself in the morning! She can be a diva and doesn’t want to get her paws on the wet grass.

Fortunately, she has not had any accidents in the house and she was easy to potty train as a puppy.

Also important to note, she doesn’t wake up in the morning ready for breakfast, she’s more of a brunch girl!

During the day if there isn’t much activity in the house she will take frequent naps. If I mention “walk”, “park”, or “ball” she will jump up and be ready to go in an instant. If she spots me holding her leash she is a bundle of energy ready to go on a walk.

Origin of the Standard Poodle

Standard Poodles were bred as retrieving water dogs over 400 years ago.  There is still some discussion whether they originated in France or Germany while most information indicates they originated in Germany.  Although the poodle is the national dog of France the name Poodle is derived from the word pudelin, which in German means ‘splashing water’.

With their excellent swimming ability, thick coat of hair and intelligence the Standard Poodle is an ideal retriever.  The Standard Poodle is the only dog eligible for the AKC Retriever Hunting Test even though it is classified as a non sporting dog. 

If you’re a family that enjoys the water a Standard Poodle would be a great fit. 

Conclusion

If you are searching for a family pet and want a dog that is easy to train, doesn’t shed and is hypoallergenic then a Standard Poodle is a great choice. 

Standard Poodles are loyal dogs that become very attached to their family and they make great watch dogs.

Keep in mind the Standard Poodle will require periodic grooming by you or a professional groomer which can be expensive. The cost of grooming can also vary according to your geographic location. With a quick search online I found a groomer in Hollywood, CA with a price range of $105 to $215 for Poodle grooming.

They will play with family members and get along well with children. My Standard Poodle Annie is very fond of children and gravitates towards kids. Although they do have a loud bark Standard Poodles are not aggressive dogs but will alert you to strangers. They like to stay close to you and are known as “velcro dogs” and will become very attached to you and family members.

Sources:

https://www.sciencealert.com/smartest-dog-breeds-canine-psychologist-intelligence-pets

https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/standardpoodles.html