Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Know that the standard poodle is very bright and quick to train. This dog also makes a great watchdog and guard dog.
Step2
Reconsider getting a standard poodle if you plan to leave the dog alone for extended periods of time. This breed needs to be around people and is very unhappy if left alone.
Step3
Select a standard poodle if you have children or other pets in the house. The poodle is friendly with all.
Step4
Remember that the poodle requires much grooming. Its coat will need to be clipped every six to eight weeks for it to maintain its shape. Your dog will need to be bathed regularly.
Step5
Note that standard poodles do well indoors and are happy to live in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise.
Step6
Look at the poodle's features when choosing yours. The standard poodle, the oldest of the three types, should appear gentle and charming with dark, oval eyes and a long muzzle. The coat should be thick, curly and colored either blue, gray, silver, brown, café au lait, apricot, cream or white.
Step7
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).
Step8
Check out potential breeders very carefully, being sure to ask if they are members of breed clubs, specialty clubs or obedience clubs. Affiliation with a club means you can check their references to make sure that they don't run a puppy mill and that they screen for health problems before they breed.
Step9
Know that female and male standard poodles will reach heights of up to 27 inches. Males will weigh between 25 and 70 lbs., while females will weigh between 45 and 60 lbs.
Step10
Realize that you'll probably pay between $300 and $1,500 for a purebred standard poodle.
Step11
Know that a standard poodle's life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years.
Comments
onyxpoodle said
on 10/26/2007 Our standard poodle is almost 14. He is smart, beautiful, and loved by all. You have never seen a more passive quiet dog-- we can't even get him to bark if we try to provoke him. He doesn't shed or bite. Perfectly trainable-- he fetches objects, sings upon command, etc. Most amazingly, he jumps up on the door knob and backpedals to let himself out to go to the bathroom--- guests always think they're going crazy when they see the dog let himself out to go to the bathroom.
2bluefish said
on 4/14/2007 We have a 1 year old standard poodle. They do have *lot's* of energy by my standards - at least at this young age. Ours has lived outdoors his whole life, very happily (a warm weather climate). We have other animals - livestock - and he gets along great with them. Sometimes we put him on a line when we need to be able to do things in the backyard without interruption. This works fine for short periods of time, but we found he was too hyped up if we kept him on the line all day and night (which we had to do at first before our yard was dog proof). Once we let him run free, his behavior greatly improved. He is much easier to handle now and can be trusted around our 2 year old and infant.
Chewing has been a problem. We had to "dog proof" the yard and make sure there is nothing left out that he can destroy. Standard chew toys do not hold up. If I buy him knuckle bones from a hog, then his chewing need is satisfied and he will not tear things up. Maybe this is a puppy thing?
Standards are very smart. I didn't have alot of time to train him with small children. But I taught him "down" and "sit" very quickly just by practicing at meal times. He hasn't jumped on us since he was a couple months old. I've also taught him to heel and can walk him without the need of any kind of choke collar.
We don't take him away from home often, but we have enjoyed taking him to the beach - he loves the water.
There are several dogs on the properties surrounding us, so alot of barking goes on. A tad irritating, but at least we feel protected.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 I have an 11 month old standard poodle. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me in a long time. At 5 months old he could read my moods (common with poodles) and react to them. Once I was crying hysterically when he was in in crate and he scratched frantically until I let him out to comfort me. The feeling of that soft puppy fur is amazing! They are very smart dogs and need an owner just as quick, or they will run you! My boy understands everything I saw to him, but if I am not firm he will go do his own thing. They are very sensitive to emotion -- they must be with people or at least have another dog to entertain them. They are quick to housebreak, but again, if they get mad at you or are in that rebellious stage they will have an "accident". At 11 months he only poops in the house if he gets excited and forgets where the door is. He needs to run! Luckily I have a large backyard. They won't run and play by themselves for more than a minute or so though. I've lost 10 pounds since I've had him. Anything that smells like something he tries to eat. But when it comes to dog food, he won't eat anything that's not tasty. Go figure. I'm adopting another standard soon to keep him company, since we lost our Coonhound.
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 Talk to them -- they seem to read your mind and know what you are saying as you are saying it. They want to cooperate with you.
I have 2 Standard Poodles, females, and they are great friends, too!
Anonymous said
on 3/29/2006 I am the proud owner of 2 standards. They are 14 months and 18 months. The youngest is a handful. She has chewed on everything in our house. She has eaten 3 cordless phones(they were ringing), two remote controls, and lots of dog toys. She can turn the stereo on and open all the doors in the house. I wouldn't take anything for either one. The both get in bed with me in the mornings when my husband goes to work. The always know when I am sad, and are extremely sensitive. I recommend this breed to true dog lovers.
Do not get one if you plan on leaving them outside alone. They do not tolerate this and they do not tolerate being abused. They are the best breed ever and I will never own another breed again!