There are three sizes of Poodles recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC): The Standard Poodle, the Miniature Poodle, and the Toy Poodle. There is a fourth size, a little known Poodle in the United States called a Moyen Poodle. What is a Moyen Poodle?
The Moyen Poodle is a medium sized Poodle that is smaller than the Standard Poodle but larger than the Miniature Poodle. A Moyen Poodle typically weighs between 20 and 35 pounds and is from 15″ to 20″ tall at the withers which is the top of the shoulders. A Moyen Poodle is sometimes referred to as a Klein Poodle.
The American Kennel Club defines any Poodle over 15″ tall at the withers as a Standard Poodle, therefore if you purchase a Moyen Poodle and register it with the American Kennel Club it would be defined as a Standard Poodle.
Although the Moyen Poodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, it is recognized as a specific breed by the FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (FCI) which is the largest canine organization in the world. The FCI headquarters are located in Belgium. The Moyen Poodle is popular across Europe.
The Moyen Poodle, an elegant, athletic, fun loving dog, is gaining in popularity due to their medium size, low shedding, and high intelligence. “Moyen literally means “medium” in French. Continue reading to learn specific information about Moyen Poodles. First, a quick look at the size, weight, and general information about the Moyen Poodle:
Moyen Poodle Important Information:
| Weight | they typically weigh 20 to 35 pounds – huggable size! |
| Height | 15 to 20 inches at the withers which is the top of shoulder – not too small, not too big |
| Lifespan | 10 to 16 years – each dog is different and affected by diet, health, and genetics. |
| Temperament | Loyal, active, inquisitive, happy, eager to please, family friendly |
| Intelligence | Very high – rated #2 among all dog breeds worldwide |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes – great choice for people with allergies |
| Shedding | Very little, almost none – won’t need a Roomba vacuum cleaner |
(See Article, “Are Poodles Hypoallergenic?”)
How Much Do Moyen Poodles Cost?
Moyen Poodles tend to cost more than other size poodles simply because there aren’t as many breeders in the United States raising this size poodle and they are considered a premium dog breed. They typically cost from $1500 to $3000. Depending on the breeder and the bloodline of the dog the price can soar to $4000 or even more.
Factors that affect the cost of a Moyen Poodle:
- The color of the puppy – Moyen Poodle Pups with unusual colors, especially multi colored puppies sell for more because people like these unique pups.
- Breeder reputation – Long time breeders with a reputation for raising well mannered, healthy Moyen Poodles get a higher price for their puppies.
- Genetic testing – Breeders that have the parent dogs genetically tested and can provide paperwork showing their dogs do not have genetic defects get higher prices. Although it’s not a guarantee it reduces the chances of the puppies inheriting genetic defects from a parent.
- Champion bloodlines – Moyen Poodle puppies with highly awarded blood lines get higher prices. For example, knowing a puppy comes from a parent that has been awarded in dog shows or competitions makes the puppy more desirable.
Where Did the Moyen Poodle Originate?
The Moyen Poodle originated in Germany like it’s larger counterpart, the Standard Poodle. The Standard Poodle emerged in Germany over 400 years ago. The Poodle subsequently became so popular in France it became recognized as the national dog of France, hence the reference to the French Poodle. The fact that the Poodle is the national dog of France leads many people to believe it originated in France although it’s roots belong in Germany.
In Europe the Standard Poodle was bred with the Miniature Poodle over a period of decades to produce the Moyen Poodle. It took this extended time period to produce the consistently sized Moyen Poodle around the 1700s.
When the Standard Poodle is bred to the Miniature Poodle to create first generation Moyen Poodles there will not be a complete uniformity in size – so some of the pups will be bigger than others. This is the reason it took many decades to generate a consistently sized Moyen Poodle.
Again, in the United States the Moyen Poodle is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club. This size Poodle has not yet gained the recognition afforded the Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodles.
Moyen Poodles Come in Many Colors
- White
- Silver
- Silver Beige
- Red
- Gray
- Cream
- Cafe Au Lait
- Brown
- Blue
- Black
- Apricot
Moyen Poodles also come in a multi color known as a Parti Poodle. The Parti Poodles have white as a base color with patches of other solid colors such as red, black, brown, etc, on their coat. The Moyen Parti Poodle is relatively rare.
Grooming a Moyen Poodle
Similar to the Standard Poodle it is important to have a Moyen Poodle groomed approximately every 6 to 8 weeks. It is also important to brush her at least 3 or 4 times a week to keep the hair from matting. Brushing also keeps them looking great!
Unlike most dog breeds the Poodles hair is similar to human hair – it keeps growing. This means it will require a bit more grooming than most dogs.
The Moyen Poodles hair can grow up to an inch per month. This fast growing hair allows groomers to get creative with styling options for the Moyen Poodle. This attribute has resulted in some unique and interesting hair styles. For example:
If you’re thinking about adding one of these stately, intelligent, entertaining Poodles to your family it’s important to consider the cost of grooming a Moyen Poodle. Having a Moyen Poodle groomed about every 6 to 8 weeks can become expensive. The average cost for a full groom will vary according to your location. Grooming cost start around $60 and can go up to hundreds of dollars depending on the reputation and expertise of the groomer.
Personally I have paid from $60 to $85 here in the St Louis area to have my Standard Poodle Annie groomed and the Moyen is a comparable size. Add to that a $15 tip to get an idea of how much you’ll be spending.
Here’s what my groomer does for an $85 grooming:
- Haircut of choice
- Nails trimmed
- Paw pads shaved
- Ear cleaning
- Warm massage jet wash
- Fluff dry
- Fragrance
- Bandana
I feel it’s a good value for the groomers time and expertise. I usually prefer a short cut all over for easier maintenance. Some like the fancy Poodle hair styles (the “French Poodle Look”) typically seen in the show dog competitions.
Another option is the do-it-yourself route. If you choose to groom your Moyen Poodle it does take time to become proficient. I prefer to leave the grooming to professional groomers who know how to trim the sensitive areas around the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. In addition, the hind quarters must be groomed very carefully.
Going the do it yourself route means buying nice electric trimmers – Andis is a popular, highly rated name brand for electric dog trimmers and a nice trimmer typically costs from $150 to $200. Specific brushes and combs will also be needed.
Moyen Poodles Are Hypoallergenic
First, let’s define hypoallergenic. According to the long trusted Merriam-Webster dictionary the definition of hypoallergenic is:
“Having little likelihood of causing an allergic response.”
Based on this definition the Moyen Poodle is hypoallergenic like other Poodle sizes. Poodles have dense, curly hair that sheds very little. This virtually non shedding coat produces less dander than most dogs. This can be a very important point for a family that may have members with severe allergies.
The primary cause of allergies in people is dander which is composed of tiny flecks of the dog’s skin. Therefore, because of this virtually non shedding coat the Moyen Poodle is hypoallergenic.
The Poodle sheds her skin about every 21 days as opposed to most dog breeds that shed their skin every 3 to 4 days. This huge difference means the amount of dander shed from the Poodle is significantly less than most breeds.
For more information of this subject check out this article, “Are Poodles Hypoallergenic?”
Moyen Poodles are Extremely Low Shedding
All Poodles shed very little and this includes Moyen Poodles. Poodles do shed some hair which in most cases gets caught in their curly, thick hair and is very hard to see. It’s a good idea to brush a Poodle frequently to remove loose hair and keep their hair from tangling. It also help them keep their stylish looks.
While most dogs have a double coat of hair the Moyen Poodle like all Poodles has a single coat of hair. In my experience with my Standard Poodle I don’t recall seeing her hair on anything in our home. The only time I see her hair is when I’m brushing her and their is some in the brush. Quite different than the Golden Retriever we had for years that shed everywhere!
Famous Poodle Owners – All Sizes of Poodles
There have been many famous Poodle Owners according to the American Kennel Club. Such notable celebrities as Elvis Pressley (he was known to give Poodles to his girlfriends!), Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, Walt Disney, and Katharine Hepburn.
Poodles have appeared in numerous movies, from the Emperor Waltz starring Bing Crosby in 1948, Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961 starring the elegant Audrey Hepburn, to Zoolander starring Ben Stiller in 2001 and many other more recent films.
Back in the 1700s King Louis XVI of France was known to be extremely fond of toy poodles. The Entire French Royal Court followed suit and became enamored with the dog. It wouldn’t set well with the King if a member of the court didn’t like his favorite pet Poodle! In fact, Toy Poodles were given fancy haircuts and carried about like trophies by the French Court similar to the Hollywood crowd in the early 2000s!
Poodle Popularity
Poodle popularity peaked from 1960 through 1982 when they were ranked the number one most popular dog in America according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). The AKC based this information on the number of Poodles in their registry. During this time period the stylish Poodle set the record of 22 years in a row at the top of the AKC dog chart! Even in 2021 the Poodle was ranked number 7 out of 165 registered breeds in popularity in the United States. That’s quite an impressive track record!
Moyen Poodles – Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a medium sized dog the Moyen Poodle would be a good choice. They are smart, elegant, family oriented dogs. Moyen Poodles are small enough to cuddle with and yet large enough to play with you outdoors. They do need exercise and a place to run frequently.
The popular sized Moyen Poodle enjoys going for walks or runs, going to the dog park, playing in water, and most outdoor activities. They also enjoy afternoon naps and lounging around the house with their families. Since they are smaller than Standard Poodles, the Moyen Poodle makes a great choice as a family member in an apartment or a house.
Moyen Poodles like other sized Poodles can be a little high strung. They tend to do best in homes without a lot of drama or play fighting. They are good around other pets. Since they are virtually non shedding dogs you won’t see hair tumbleweeds floating around the house. To me personally this is a big bonus!
Also, Poodles generally are not smelly dogs, they don’t have that doggy smell like many other dog breeds. My Standard Poodle Annie rarely has a bad odor or really any odor for that matter.
Moyen Poodles are smart and eager to please. Like other Poodle sizes they tend to attach to one person in the family but are happy to play with most anyone and of course with other dogs. They are great family dogs and also make terrific companion dogs.