Standard Poodles are without question one of the smartest breeds of dog. Although many dogs are experts in their particular breed function, the Standard Poodle can perform the job of every other breed. Perhaps not with the same finesse, but they will get the job done! They live to please you, to protect you, to comfort you, to play with you, or just hang out and watch TV quietly. They get attention wherever they go. Few can resist the urge to touch that unique hair.

Their coat does need consistent care. Grooming is essential to the well being of the poodle. Poodles have ever-growing hair, like we do. The hairs can die and end up wrapping around other hairs until you have a nasty mat. If you are not showing, the poodle doesn’t need to sport the big show hair. Find a good poodle groomer or learn to groom yourself. There are excellent videos that can talk you through each stage of grooming.

Standard poodles and, in fact, all poodles are easily trained but also become easily bored by over repetition of a command or training move. They seem to believe more than 3 consecutive commands for something they know how to do is boring. They are often pulled out in classes and used as demo dogs!

Standard poodles are fabulous service dogs, ESA dogs, Search and Rescue, Police work and protection. They can herd, hunt, retrieve on land or in water, are incredibly athletic as well as being elegant and refined in appearance. The poodle jaw power psi surpasses that of many of the protection breeds currently available.

Standard poodles (all poodles) are hypo-allergenic. They do not have a “doggy” smell, even when wet. They do not shed like a typical dog - but like us humans, they do lose hairs and if scratching or wrestling they can lose hair. That hair clumps into what we usually call dust bunnies - are easily seen and easily removed. The same cannot be said about the multiple breeds mixed with poodles and called “doodles”. A doodle is not a breed unto itself. It is a mixed breed, given a cute name and then sold for more than a AKC registered purebred poodle.

There are no Royal Standards nor are there Teacup Toys. Those are marketing ploys. There is only the Standard, the Mini and the Toy poodles. Poodle Club of America sets the standards for all poodles being shown in AKC conformation.