Standard Poodle Information for New Puppy Owners!

Standard Poodles History -
The Beginning!

Standard Poodles have been cherished and adored for hundreds of years. Based on history, we know that they’ve been around at least since the 15th or 16th century due to their images in artwork of the period.

The Standard Poodle that we know and love today probably developed around the 17th century. Most people think the Poodle originated in France, but actually, it originated in Germany. The German word for Poodle is “Pudel,” which means “to splash in the water.” There were several Poodle type dogs in other countries during this time, including Russia, France and Italy.

The original Poodle was highly valued as an excellent water dog because it was extremely intelligent and cooperative. It is actually the oldest known water retriever breed. It’s bond with humans stood out from any other breed. This characteristic is what makes the Poodle so highly popular today.

In the early 1930s, there were only about 34 Poodles registered in the United States. In 1935, a white Standard Poodle won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York. After that show, the Poodle’s popularity soared, and it was the number one dog registered by the American Kennel Club for approximately 20 years.

The Poodle still remains in the top 10 popularity wise, due to breeders diligently striving to preserve the personality and characteristics of the breed.

General Appearance, Carriage and Condition

The Breed Standard states that Standard Poodles are active, intelligent, well balanced, elegant looking dogs. They have a sophisticated almost royal look to them and carry themselves very proudly.

Size: The Standard Poodle size is classified as any Poodle over 15 inches in height.

Skull: Moderately rounded head with a slight peak at the back. The foreface is long and straight with a slight chiseling that doesn’t fall away under the eyes. The chin is well defined, but not protruding. The lips are tight. The head must not be too large in proportion to the dog.

Eyes: The eyes are dark and almond shaped and should show an intelligent expression.

Ears: The ear leather should be long and wide and hanging close to the head, hanging slightly below eye level. The hair on the ears should be thickly feathered, but not excessively long.

Chest: Deep and moderately wide with well-sprung ribs.

Forequarters: The forequarters are muscular and strong. The shoulders slope well to the back and are approximately the same size as the upper forelegs.

Feet: The feet are small and tight, being proportionate to the body size. The toes are well arched and on thickened pads.  

 Topline: The topline is level from the highest point of the shoulder blade to the base of the tail with the exception of a slight hollow just behind the shoulder blades.

Hindquarters: The angulation of the hindquarters should balance the forequarters.

Proportion: The body measured from the breastbone to the point of the rump approximates the height from the highest point of the shoulders to the ground.

Coat: The Breed Standard states that a Poodles must be shown in one of three clips: Puppy,English Saddle,Continental.

Colors: The Breed Standard states that Standard Poodles may be any solid color or shade of color. Clear colors are preferred, but “natural variations in the shading of the coat is not a fault.” There may be no white splashes or markings of any other kind. The official Standard Poodle colors are: black, white, apricot, brown, red, silver, blue, cream, cafe-au-lait and gray. Parti and Phantom colors are becoming popular, but only the United Kennel Club allows them to be shown in the ring.

Temperament is an outstanding quality in Standard Poodles and I can say that is true with both of my Standard Poodles. My husband and I have made it a point to start socializing them at a very early age, to get them used to people, places, sounds and traveling. We've never had a problem with them being afraid of thunder or any other loud noises for that matter.

I did a lot of research before getting our first standard poodle. I was attracted to Standard Poodles because of their intelligence, temperament and ease of training. I fell in love with them while working in the show dog grooming industry in Satellite Beach, FL. They are known to be good family dogs as well as a good watchdog. They also seem to get along very well with other animals as well, sometimes even to the point of being protective of smaller animals.

They seem to be able to read your body language and emotions and I swear they can tell when you are sad or happy and react accordingly! When I’m sad, they come and put their head on my lap and look at me with those big sad eyes! When I’m happy, they jump around smiling and wagging their pompom tails. They can also be quite humorous at times as well.The Standard Poodle temperament is that of a people pleaser. They will go out of their way to make their humans happy. They generally bond to everyone in their human family instead of one person exclusively.

As long as you have a sense of humor and don’t mind a dog that outsmarts you once in a while, a Standard Poodle is a great choice for you!

Training

I feel that crate training is one of the most important aspects of housetraining your new Standard Poodle. It makes all the other parts of obedience training run more efficiently and helps establish you as the Alpha pack member.

The natural instinct of a dog is to avoid soiling the area where it sleeps and eats. The crate helps to enhance this instinct, as the dog will associate the crate as his den and avoid soiling in it.

Dogs also like structure and routine. This will make the dog, as well as you, happier. Your Standard Poodle will soon learn to do its business at certain time and in the correct area. Be sure to give the dog lots of praise during this training and not be too frustrated if the dog makes an occasional mistake.  

Picking the Correct Crate Size and Type

There are all sorts of crates available out there today. I personally like the wire crates, although there are some that are made of hard plastic. You can get covers for the wire crates. Take into consideration the size the dog will be when it is full grown and buy a crate for that size. This will prevent you from having to purchase another one later. The metal MIDWEST Life Stages Training and Travel Crates have a wire divider that you can partition the crate off when it is a puppy. Getting Your Standard Poodle Used to Its Crate

It is important to remember that this is your dog’s own private space, so you should try and make it as comfortable as possible. Get a nice bed or crate pad for the bottom.

The way I got my Poodle used to the crate was to put a doggie treat in it. He would go in a get the treat. I did this several times without closing the door, letting him go in and out as he pleased. Make sure you give your Poodle lots of praise while you’re doing this. After you’ve done this for a while, try putting a treat in the crate and when his attention is on the treat, close the door for about 10 or 20 seconds. Praise him a lot while he is in the cage to let him know it is OK. Gradually do this several times a day, increasing the amount of time for each interval. If he starts to get upset, let him out. Be sure to end each crate training session on a happy note.

Once he gets used to the crate as his comfortable home, he’ll start going in there on his own expecting treats and praise. When he does, say something like “Wanna crate?” or “Go in your crate”, with a happy voice, while you get his treats.

When he starts staying in the crate for a few minutes at a time, leave the room, gradually extending the time you are gone each time. When you return, walk over and open the door and let him out without making a fuss. After about 3 or so days, he should be officially crate trained. You should be able to leave him for an hour now and gradually start increasing the time he is in the crate alone. Basic Obedience - Good for You and Your Standard Poodle!

My Poodles are by no means perfectly behaved dogs, but they have been to basic obedience training. I highly recommend enrolling in a training class, as it gives you and your dog the opportunity to bond. It also helps your Poodle to socialize and become a better canine good citizen, both at home and in public. Once you’ve completed basic training, you may find that you and your Poodle want to continue on with additional training in therapy dog training, agility or hunting. Basic Obedience Commands

The following basic obedience commands are very important when changing behavior problems, as well as being the foundation for everything else you may want to teach your dog. Sit - The “Sit” command is probably the most important basic obedience command to learn. It teaches the dog self-control and makes it easier to get the dogs attention. Your dog should remain in the sit position until it is released.

To teach your dog to sit, put your dog on a leash and have it about two feet away facing you. With a treat in your hand, command your dog to “Sit,” holding the treat above your dogs nose. Slowly raise the hand with the treat back over the dogs head towards its tail. As you raise your hand over the dogs head, its head will follow the treat making it lower its hips to sit. When you dog sits, give it the treat and lots of praise. Practice this several times taking a break in between. Down- After teaching sit, down is the next step. From the “sit” position, hold the treat in front if your pup and say “Down”. Apply a little pressure on the shoulders and pull the treat down, as the dog lays down. Reward & lots of praise!

 Standard Poodle Activities

The Standard Poodle is more than just a pretty face! It’s not meant just to be in the show ring! The Poodle’s versatility and intelligence allow it to participate in many activities, probably more than you realize!

Besides activities like hiking and camping with your poodle, participating in events or sports with your Poodle is beneficial to both of you in many ways. Besides providing exercise in varying degrees, it helps prevent boredom and strengthens the bond between you and your Poodle.

Whether you’re looking for something to do with your Poodle that is just plain fun or serious competition, I’m sure you’ll find some Poodle activities you and your Poodle can participate in listed below. Obedience

Obedience is a Poodle activity you can do that is not too strenuous. You can just go to Basic Obedience class or compete all the way up to Obedience Trial Championships. Obedience not only shows how well the dog performs, but how well the owner or handler performs as well. They should perform well as a team.

To progress in obedience competition, the team has to perform increasingly difficult exercises that are determined by the governing panel. Your Poodle should have a good command of the basic obedience commands such as heel, stay and come, in order to progress to the higher levels.

There are many excellent books available on obedience training and competitions. You may also want to consider the help of a professional instructor to help you with your training. You can check the American Kennel Club website for more information about Obedience Trials.

Obedience trials in the United States are only open to purebred dogs. In the United Kingdom, they are open to purebreds as well as mixed breeds. Freestyle Obedience

If you love to dance, then Freestyle Obedience may be more to your liking! Freestyle Obedience is a fairly new activity. It involves performing a choreographed routine set to music. The handler designs the routine, which involves various turns, jumps, twists and just about anything else you can think of to throw in there! It is performed to just about any music, from classical to rock. It also gives you and your dog the opportunity to dress up in fancy costumes!

You can find out more about Freestyle Obedience at the Canine Freestyle Federation website.

If you’re into more athletic Poodle activities, then you may want to consider Agility. It is the fastest growing dog sport! Agility is open to any dog, purebred or mixed. Agility requires the dog to maneuver through an obstacle course with speed and accuracy, under the control of its handler. The course consists of jumps, seesaws; weave poles, tunnels, A-frames and other obstacles. You can make some of the agility equipment yourself.

Agility is a physically demanding activity, so you should take your Poodle to the vet to make sure it is in top shape to compete. You may want to get yourself checked out with your own doctor as well!

Getting Your Poodle Used to the Car

Traveling with your Poodle in the car for a short jaunt to the store or on a long road trip can be an enjoyable, relaxing journey or, it can be a nightmarish experience! Basically, it all boils down to how well you prepare your puppy for the car traveling experience beforehand, without getting him too excited.

Starting at a young age when you first get your new Poodle puppy home, you’ll want to start practicing getting him used to the car. Do this in the parked car with the engine off. Give the puppy some tasty dog treats to let him know that cars are a good place for snacking. After you’ve practiced this for a few times, try the same routine with the engine running in a well-ventilated area (NOT in the garage!) Stay calm while doing this and praise your dog quietly. You don’t want him excited when he goes for a car ride. If you are quiet and relaxed, your puppy will more than likely be relaxed also. He’ll learn that going for a car ride is a nice place for a snooze or just watching the world go by!

If he starts acting up while you’re practicing your routine, command him to sit and stay. If he obeys your command, give him tiny treats to reinforce the self-control. He’ll soon learn what is expected of him and you should have many happy years of traveling with your Poodle!

Traveling Tips and Hints

The tips and hints below should help you prevent or reduce stress when traveling with your Poodle:

If your puppy is used to being in a crate, crate him when going for a ride.  It will make him feel more secure and protect him in case of an accident or sudden braking. Traveling with your Poodle in a crate will protect your car seats from shedding fur, dirty paws and possible accidents as well.

Prior to taking lengthy trips, avoid feeding your Poodle for a few hours before traveling, to avoid vomiting. Don’t scold the puppy if it vomits, this will only stress him more. If your puppy is prone to vomiting, ask your vet for motion sickness medication.

If you’d rather not use a crate, there are specially designed dog car seats and harnesses available that attach to you car’s seat belts. To prevent your puppy from jumping out of the car if it is not crated, harnessed or in a safety seat, keep the back windows closed or only open a few inches.

If you have a young puppy or and older dog, you might want to consider getting a dog ramp to help you dog get in and out of the car easier.

Never leave your Poodle unattended in your car with the windows closed in the heat! It only takes a few minutes for him to get heatstroke! Also, if left unattended, he risks the possibility of being stolen.

 Making Long Trips More Comfortable For Your Dog

Taking care of a Standard Poodle or any dog for that matter, requires more than just feeding, bathing and walking your dog. Poodle care is a lifetime commitment and you should consider it carefully before bringing a Poodle into your home.

The rewards you receive from owning a Standard Poodle are years of unconditional love, loyalty and friendship. Your Poodle doesn’t ask for much in return, but your dog’s quality of life depends on you. The relationship you have with your Poodle may be one of the most rewarding experiences you ever have. By following the basic Poodle care essentials below, you’ll soon be on your way to providing your Poodle with the best care possible.

Know the laws in your community regarding pet ownership, such as licenses, immunizations, and leash use. Your vet or local humane society should be familiar with these laws. Also, if you live in a community with a homeowners association, you may want to check with them regarding pet rules. They may have rules regarding dog size, how many you can have and whether or not you can build a kennel on your property. If you’re renting, you’ll need to find out if your landlord accepts dogs and if they require a deposit.

Standard Poodles require quite a bit of space. Do you have a large yard or nearby dog park where you can let him run? Also make sure he has adequate protection from the heat and cold.

Never let your dog roam unattended. If he is off your property, he should be leashed. You never know what could happen to him out there all alone! Besides getting lost or stolen, if not properly vaccinated, may contract a disease or worms. Make sure he has a collar and tag with your name, address and phone number. Getting your dog microchipped is also an excellent idea in case he is ever lost or stolen.

Unless you are planning on breeding your dog, have it spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering your dog has medical and behavioral advantages for your Poodle. It also helps to eliminate the thousands of unwanted or homeless dogs in the country.

Be sure to feed your dog the best quality food that you can afford that is nutritionally balanced. I personally feed my dogs Canidae. Cheap dog food can cause skin problems, hair loss, food allergies and a variety of other issues. Make sure he has access to clean fresh water as well.

Lastly, Poodle care is a family responsibility. Make sure you discuss getting a Poodle with each family member and share the Poodle care with the whole family! Grooming your Standard Poodle should take into account your lifestyle, budget, living conditions and how frequently you are willing to have your Poodle trimmed. Having a Standard Poodle as a pet doesn’t mean it has to look like a show dog.

Establishing a routine is important for keeping your Poodle healthy and happy, whether it be for a new puppy or starting a routine with an older dog. Although caring for your Poodle’s coat is important, attention needs to be given to its teeth, nails and ears as well.

One thing you may not know about the Poodle is that its hair grows forever! The only part of a Poodle where the hair doesn’t grow is the bottom of its feet, tip of its nose and around the eye rims.

Poodles are an excellent choice for people who are allergic to dogs, as they are said not to shed. Actually, they do shed, but their curly hair actually catches and holds the dead hair that sheds. Knowing that, it’s important the your Poodle be brushed on a regular basis to remove the dead hair, or it can become a tangled mess!

Between the age of 9 to 16 months, the Standard Poodle goes through a coat change, in which the coat becomes curlier and coarser. This change can last from two to three months in a Standard Poodle and requires extra attention during this time to prevent matting.

 Whether you decide to have your Poodle professionally maintained or feel confident and adventurous enough to attempt it yourself, I am happy to help you find the information needed to keep your Poodle the elegant and sophisticated dog that it is meant to be! I have been a dog groomer, specializing in Poodles, for nearly 15 years. I would love to groom Morgan’s pups and see them mature into beautiful adults! For this reason, they will receive a $5 discount for life!!

Lastly, congratulations on your new family member! If this is your first standard you are in for a pleasant surprise. Everyone always falls in love with my dogs when I take them out. As far as I am concerned Standard Poodles are the best breed around! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions/concerns as you are raising your puppy. I am more than happy to help. I welcome pictures as they mature for my website & enjoyment! By mail or email at pamperedpawspa@verizon.net or v423@verizon.net .

Sales Contract


This is to certify that the dog known as _________a male/female standard poodle
Born: ________________
Was sold to:
Name:
___________________________________________________________
Address:
____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Phone:________________________________________________________

E-mail Address:__________________________________________________
On ________________ a deposit amount of $__________________ . This will hold a puppy for one week after it turns 8 wks at which time balance is to be paid and arrangements made for pickup/delivery. For older puppies this will hold for one week at which time balance is to be paid and arrangement made for pickup/delivery. No puppy will be held or delivered without deposit and/or balance being paid.

The dog is a purebred Standard poodle, sired by ________________________________ , and The dam is ________________________________ . Registration papers with AKC will be provided as set fort in this contract.

BUYER AND SELLER AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS OF THE SALE

SELLER makes the following assertations at the time of BUYER taking possession of the dog:

1. The dog is in good health, free of known contagious diseases and has had vaccinations required for its age at the time of this agreement.

2. The dog has had a physical examination performed by a qualified veterinarian.

BUYER agrees to have the dog examined by a licensed veterinarian with in 48 hours of receipt of the puppy. If the dog is determined to be in poor health, as evidenced by a veterinarian's statement, BUYER can elect to keep the dog, assuming all costs for its care, or may return the dog upon SELLERS receipt of the veterinarian's statement regarding the puppy's health. This provision will expire 48 hours after BUYER takes possession of the dog.

BUYER certifies by signing this agreement that the dog will live with BUYER, will have adequate exercise, nutritious food and necessary health care form a licensed Veterinarian, BUYER also certifies, by signing this agreement, that he/she is not acting as a agent in this purchase; that the BUYER will not sell this puppy to a pet store, kennel, guard dog business or a medical research facility.

SELLER asserts and SELLER makes no guarantee regarding loss of the dog because of accidental death, theft, sickness, etc., or any other loss beyond SELLERS control. If the dog develops hip dysplasia or genetic defects within 12 months from the date of birth, BUYER may return the dog to the SELLER for a replacement puppy of equal quality, selected by the SELLER, if and when the SELLER has the next litter of puppies. SELLER reserves the right to have a second veterinarian of her choice evaluate the dog's condition before the warranty will be honored. BUYER may elect to keep the dog. Under no conditions and at no time during the life of the dog will SELLER pay or assist in paying veterinary expenses after the dog is purchased, including any such expense directly or indirectly related to any inheritable/genetic defects.

BUYER understands that payment is due at the time buyer takes possession of the dog or, if being shipped, prior to shipping date. Balance of purchase price is to be paid in cash, by U.S. Postal Money Order or Paypal.

The dog is being sold on a spay/neuter contract (unless breeding rights have been arranged ahead of time), with spay/neuter being required no later than the age of 6 months. Registration papers will be provided once proof of spay/neuter is provided to the SELLER.

The sales contract is non-transferable. Should BUYER relinquish ownership in the dog, for any reason, this sales contract shall be deemed null and void.

In the event the BUYER is unable to keep the dog for any reason, the BUYER agrees to immediately return the puppy back to the breeder with out financial restitution. We will be happy to provide immediate foster care & find a new adoptive family.

SELLER recommends that the dog is kept on Canidae ALS Premium Dog food.

BUYER__________________________________________________________

 

SELLER__________________________________________________________