How to Care for a Standard Poodle

The standard poodle is a quick learner and relatively easy to train when compared with other breeds. This gentle, friendly dog is gracious to its family, other pets and strangers visiting the house. Be prepared to spend a lot of time grooming your dog's coat.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Dog Beds
• Dog Bones
• Dog Brushes
• Dog Conditioner
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Ear Cleaners
• Dog Flea/tick Control Medication
• Dog Food
• Dog Grooming Sprays
• Dog Leashes
• Dog Shampoo
• Nail Clippers For Dogs

1. Vaccinate your standard poodle when you first get him, and see that he gets yearly booster vaccinations to maintain his immunity to disease. Also, worm your adult dog every three months and consult with your veterinarian about flea control products.
2. Feed your standard poodle high-grade dog food. The first ingredient should be meat if you want a quality product. Crude protein should be no less than 21 percent and crude fat no less than 20 percent. The fiber content needs to be 4 percent or less.
3. Be sure to feed your standard poodle two to three small meals per day as opposed to the traditional one to two larger ones. This will help prevent bloat.
4. Train and socialize your standard poodle when he's young. The poodle is highly intelligent and should receive firm and consistent obedience training.
5. Exercise your standard poodle daily. The poodle does not need a high amount of activity but should have a backyard to play in.
6. Clip your poodle's coat every six to eight weeks. This breed sheds very little. Shampoo your dog regularly and trim his nails every two to three weeks. Also, check your dog's ears regularly for mites.
7. Understand that standard poodles are prone to certain health conditions such as cataracts (cloudy eye lens), progressive retinal atrophy (progressive damage to the retina), allergies, skin problems, hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint) and Von Willebrand's disease (a bleeding disorder).
8. Know that female and male standard poodles can reach heights over 15 inches. Males will weigh between 25 and 70 lbs.; females, between 45 and 60 lbs.
9. Expect a standard poodle to live 12 to 15 years.

Tips & Warnings

• Poodles are typically clipped in three distinctive styles: the puppy clip, the English saddle clip or the continental clip. All involve shaving part of the dog's body.
• Contact the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (see Related Sites) to learn more about hip dysplasia.