Standard Poodles are known to be happy-go-lucky and bubbly. They are generally very proud dogs that love to be with humans. They do not do well if left alone too often for long periods of time. It is recommended that if one works outside the home that a second dog should be obtained to keep your pet company while you're gone. Hiring a Dog Walker is a good idea for mid-day walks. Doggy Day care is ok but one must make sure the dogs are being managed properly and not learning bad habits or being dominated by other dogs during play. This loving breed needs people. They are not a dog to be left in the backyard and not be a part of the family. Well-bred Standards are steady and intelligent. They learn quickly, so one must be on one's toes as these brilliant dogs will figure all kinds of unexpected things out, like opening doors, windows or gates.

The temperament of the poodle can be altered by mismatching parents with poor temperaments which, through generations, will genetically imprint unwanted and atypical behavior. The Standard's temperament also differs from color to color.

A poodle that has reached the height of 15" or over is considered to be a Standard and they can vary in weight from 30lbs. to 100lbs. Although the largest males should only be around 75lbs. as anything larger is likely to have structural and longevity issues as the poodle is not meant to be a giant breed. Females weigh an average of 45lbs. while males average around 60lbs when fully mature.

The Standard Poodle is a relatively healthy breed. Genetic testing is available today so that breeders can test parents for many conditions before allowing them to produce puppies. Some testing, like for Von Willebrands Disease and Neonatal Encephalopathy will show a DNA marker that will let us know if the Poodle has the disease in his or her DNA and could possibly produce these conditions in offspring. Other more unsophisticated tests like testing for Addison's, Hip Dysplasia, Eye Conditions and Sebaceous Adenitis are only able to tell us if the dog is afflicted with the condition being tested. This makes it very difficult to detect if it may pass these conditions as the animal may not exhibit symptoms until later in life, after the the bitch has had several litters. With this in mind it's very wise to obtain your pet from a Breeder who has experience with the line and is confident that puppies will not come down with any of these conditions.

Even with testing and careful breeding, a puppy can still end up with one of the above conditions, due to environmental triggers that "turn on" that particular gene (perhaps from relatives of long ago.) Health can be optimized and unwanted conditions may be avoided with proper care. Nutrition, conservative vaccine protocols, exercise and a low-stress happy existence will influence the health and longevity of a Standard Poodle to a greater degree than any testing can predict.