Breed Description
A medium-to-large sized breed, the Standard Poodle is well-proportioned and long-legged. This breed weighs around 45-70 pounds, and stands 15-24 inches tall in height.

Coat
The Standard Poodle has a dense and harsh coat, wither corded or curly. Their color comes in solid silver, gray, cream, black, blue, red, white, brown, apricot, and cafe-au-lait. Parti-patterned may also appear, but unaccepted in show rings.

Activity
The Standard Poodle requires a lot of exercise and will do best in a suburban rather than urban dwelling. This breed goes back to its original purpose as water retriever, skillfully competing in trials.

Temperament
The sensitive, lively, and elegant Standard Poodle bonds closely with a family and makes an excellent companion. Among the most popular breeds in the world, the Standard Poodle is a graceful, smart, and obedient dog that is usually bouncy, proud, and eager to play. They are slightly calmer and are less likely to bark compared to that of the Miniature and Toy Poodle. These dogs will get along great with other animals, dogs, and children.

Overview
The Standard Poodle is among the oldest of the Poodles. Originally bred to be water dogs retrieving game fowl, this breed has also been equally valued by royalty and gypsies. Reputed to be a fine companion, these versatile dogs have mastered a lot of tasks and trades for centuries.

Care
The Standard Poodle will require a great deal of grooming. Professional clipping should be done once every 6-8 weeks. Their coats can be groomed in three styles namely: the Continental Clip, English saddle, and Pet Clip. They should only be done when absolutely necessary with a mild shampoo. Daily brushing is advised to prevent tangles and mats. Teeth and ears should be checked and cleaned regularly.

Training
The intelligent Standard Poodle is a highly trainable dog. It is recommended these dogs be trained early. As puppies, kindergarten training classes are available for even as young as 8 weeks. Starting training as soon as possible will make sure that owners are able to teach the skills needed to fit these pets in your lifestyle, and provide the mental stimulation that is important for them. Some people are caught unaware that they are already teaching their dogs. Even if owners do not purposely teach their dogs, they will pick up with the routine and behavior they are expected to act upon during interaction. It is important to actively choose what to teach them to prevent destructive behaviors from developing. All in all, training this breed is easy and rewarding.

Character
Standard Poodles may look demur and dainty. But, these are actually dogs that have great stamina with a lot of skills, including obedience, herding, agility, and hunting. Aside from being a graceful show dog, this breed can also be an athletic competitor.