How to Measure Your Poodle's Height

The height of a poodle determines its subgroup.

Measuring a dog might be important because a dog's height can determine its subgroup. For example, three subgroups of poodles exist: standard poodles, miniature poodles, and toy poodles. Each group has specific height parameters, so if you measure your poodle's height, you can determine what kind of poodle you have.

Things You'll Need

• Carpenter's level
• Pencil
• Yardstick

Instructions

1. Find a place in your home with a bare, level floor where the adjoining wall is free of obstacles. Place your dog against and parallel to the wall, making sure she stands straight with her head level.

2. Place the carpenter's level so that it is perpendicular to the wall across the dog's withers (the area just where the shoulder blades protrude on the dog's back). One short end of the level should touch the wall while on the poodle's withers.

3. Adjust the level perfectly on the dog's withers, then mark the wall with a pencil at the bottom edge of the level.

4. Place the yardstick along the wall to measure the distance from the floor to the mark, which will indicate your poodle's height.

Tips & Warnings

• Measuring your Poodle accurately may be a two-person task if the dog will not stand still while you measure.

• According to The Poodle Club of America, standard poodles measure higher than 15 inches, miniature poodles between 10 and 15 inches, and toy poodles lower than 10 inches.

References

• Livestock Guardian Dogs; How to Measure Your Dog; Catherine de la Cruz
• The Poodle Club of America: About Poodles