~The Standard Poodle~
"my dog is half poodle half pit bull...not much of a guard dog, but a vicious gossip!"
- Craig Shoemaker
~Personality & Temperment~
The Poodle, though often equated to the beauty with no brains, is exceptionally smart, active and excels in obedience training. The Poodle can accommodate nearly any size living quarters, is an active breed and loves exercise and activity. Their temperment makes for a great friend, companion, watchdog and partner in crime!! The Standard loves to be around their close family, any activity makes it happy. They love to be as close as possible to you, even if that means being under the covers in next to you in bed. The perfect motto for the Standard is "never viscious always cautious". The Standard can be wary of strangers, not agressive, but worried about things it's not familiar with. The Standard is not an agressive dog by nature so it doesn't make a good guard dog. The Standard has a 'happy-go lucky' personality and if socialized and introduced properly starting at a young age will get along wonderfully with other dogs, pets, and children.
The Poodle, though often equated to the beauty with no brains, is exceptionally smart, active and excels in obedience training. The Poodle can accommodate nearly any size living quarters, is an active breed and loves exercise and activity. Their temperment makes for a great friend, companion, watchdog and partner in crime!! The Standard loves to be around their close family, any activity makes it happy. They love to be as close as possible to you, even if that means being under the covers in next to you in bed. The perfect motto for the Standard is "never viscious always cautious". The Standard can be wary of strangers, not agressive, but worried about things it's not familiar with. The Standard is not an agressive dog by nature so it doesn't make a good guard dog. The Standard has a 'happy-go lucky' personality and if socialized and introduced properly starting at a young age will get along wonderfully with other dogs, pets, and children.
Claim to Fame!
Among all of the things the Poodle is famous for, all of the movies where it has had a cameo or been reffered to or discussed, my all time favorites are Look Who's Talking Now starring Kirstie Alley and John Travolta. The two famous actors are 'co-starred' by a beautiful, and extremely intelligent, Standard Poodle named "Daphne" (voiced by Diane Keaton), a spoiled, snooty and arrogant dog who is adopted by their family. Hilarity ensues and 'Daphne' becomes a wonderful part of the family! I highly recommend it!
Those of you who know me, know I am a huge Disney fan, even though I'm not a kid anymore. My 2nd favorite silver screen hit starring a Standard Poodle is of course...Oliver & Company! This awesome cartoon stars a Standard Poodle named 'Georgette' (voiced by Bette Midler) who, again, is portrayed as snooty and spoiled, but then gains friendship from the most unlikely gang, and becomes one of them!
~Virtually No Shedding~
"Bentley" from the 1st SSS litter
One of the main turn on's about Standard Poodles is that they have all the benefits of a regular sized dog, without the shedding hair. Poodles lack the huge chunks of undercoat that sheds off every fall and spring like other dogs. Other breeds hair, (like Labs for example) get thick in the winter, and then sheds out in the spring (as we've all experienced). I need to stress that there is not such thing as a 'non-shedding dog'. If you have hair, you shed, all animals have to shed their dead hair in order for new hair to grow in. When Poodle hair dies, it stays trapped within the rest of the coat until brushed out, this is why it gives the appearance of 'non-shedding' because technically, the poodle's hair doesn't 'shed' out until brushed out. That's why Poodles require a lot of grooming to prevent matting. They also have an extremely minimal amount of dander. Once again, there is no such thing as a dog that doesn't have dander, if you have skin, you have dander. Dander is dead skin flaking off, and that is what most people are allergic to. The Poodles genetic make-up combined with it's special type of skin and hair makes it one of the breeds that has extremely minimal dander. This makes them excellent for allergy sufferers and asthmatics because they can come inside and be part of the family without all the sneezing and wheezing. This is why this dog is referred to as 'hypoallergenic'. "Hypo" is a prefix for 'less'.
So even though there is no such thing as a 'non-shedding', 'no-dander' dog, the Poodle is as close as it gets!
So even though there is no such thing as a 'non-shedding', 'no-dander' dog, the Poodle is as close as it gets!
~Blast from the Past~
"Roxy" from the 1st SSS litter
The breed originated in Germany as a water retriever. The "Poodle clip" was designed by hunters to help the dogs move through the water more efficiently. The patches of hair left on the body are meant to protect vital organs and joints which are susceptible to cold. The Standard variety is the oldest of the three varieties.
I do not keep my dog in "Poodle Clip" it is way too high maintenance. Since Izzy and Kayenne love to run, swim and get dirty, I keep their coat one solid length. About 1" all over. I give them a 'clean face' and 'clean feet' (as in their pictures) to keep the hair out of their eyes/mouth and the weeds out from between their toes. This clip is very easy, very inexpensive and low maintenance.
~Still a Hunter~
Don't count them out just cause they are fancy! The Poodle is a die hard hunting breed. But since other breeds exel at hunting as well, the Poodle has been put on the back burner. These dogs have the inate instinct to swim, flush and retrieve. The excellent thing about the breed is that they are a land and water retriever in one.
The coat is water resistant and keeps them floating and warm, the long muzzle assists in picking up game, the long legs and webbed toes are perfect for swimming and running through high brush.
If hunting is the sport for you, you may want to consider the Poodle for a partner.
