This ancestor of today’s poodle was stockier, and had a very dense and tightly curled coat that made retrieving in cold water less chilling.  The stylized haircut seen on show dogs today actually originated with the hunters who owned pudels, and was designed to allow the dog to swim freely while keeping its major organs warm.

Today’s poodles are athletic, intelligent, cheerful, and have a wonderful temperament.  They come in a variety of colors.  Poodles thrive on human contact and are not dogs that should be kept outside or alone most of the time.

The breed standard designates three sizes of poodles: Toy, Miniature, and Standard.  Sizes such as ‘teacup’ or ‘royal standard’ are not recognized sizes.

 
Toy Poodles

This is the smallest poodle size.  Toy poodles are 10” or under at the highest point of the shoulder and typically weigh less than 12 pounds.  Toys are ideal for older or less-active people, or for those with limited living space.  Toys are not recommended for families with young children.

 
Miniature Poodles

Miniature poodles are taller than 10” and up to 15” at the highest point of the shoulder.  Minis generally weigh between 15 and 20 pounds depending on their height.  The medium poodle size is energetic and needs a moderate amount of exercise.

 
Standard Poodles

This is the oldest breed size.  Miniature and Toy poodles were developed by selectively breeding Standards down to smaller sizes.  A standard poodle is taller than 15” at the highest point of the shoulder with no upper size limit.  Most Standards fall within the 22”-27” range and weigh from 40-60 pounds.  Like most large dogs, they require regular walks and exercise

For more information about poodles, please visit our “Poodle Links” page.