Behind the lion clip is a working dog. According to the FCI standard, the French word “caniche” derives from “cane”, a female duck, and the Poodle (Caniche) originally hunted wildfowl. Anyone thinking only of bows and grooming salons underestimates a dog whose learning and training abilities are expressly highlighted in the standard.
| FCI | Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 2 Poodle, Standard No. 172, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Size (height at the withers) | Standard over 45 to 60 cm (2 cm tolerance), Medium over 35 to 45 cm, Miniature over 28 to 35 cm, Toy over 24 to 28 cm (ideal 25 cm) |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | median 14.0 years in a UK analysis of 584,734 dogs, with sizes combined (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | curly, either curled (curly-coated Poodle) or in cords at least 20 cm long (corded Poodle) |
| Colours in the standard | solid black, white, brown, grey or fawn (apricot to red fawn); multicoloured: predominantly white with one colour, mantle (tuxedo), black or brown and tan, tricolour, brindle |
Origins
According to the standard, the Poodle descends from the Barbet, a French water dog. In 1743, the female was called “la caniche”; afterwards, Barbet and Poodle were increasingly bred separately. Today the breed comprises four sizes, all considered one breed: Standard, Medium, Miniature and Toy. Each smaller size should be a reduced version of the larger, without dwarfing features such as an apple head or protruding eyes.
Temperament
The standard highlights loyalty and the ability to learn and be trained. In daily life, Poodles are attentive, playful and closely bonded to their people. They learn quickly, including things you would rather they did not.
Exercise and activities
A Standard Poodle enjoys long outings, swimming and retrieving. Smaller sizes need less distance but just as much mental work: tricks, scent games and dog sports. A Poodle who is only carried never fulfils their potential.
Grooming
The hair keeps growing and needs clipping every few weeks, with thorough brushing down to the skin in between to prevent matting. Make grooming-salon costs a fixed part of your budget.
Health
Addison’s disease, underactivity of the adrenal cortex, has been well studied in Standard Poodles. In a University of California, Davis study, 8.6 percent of 778 Standard Poodles were affected, with estimated heritability of 0.75 (Famula et al. 2003). Typical signs are recurring lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea. An analysis of the US Dog Aging Project also found the highest frequency of gastric dilatation-volvulus in Poodles and Poodle crosses (McCord et al. 2026). Unproductive retching and a swollen abdomen are an emergency.
Who does the Poodle suit?
First-time owners and families wanting a clever, affectionate dog and enjoying training. Choose the size according to your home and lifestyle.
Who are they less suited to?
Anyone unwilling to commit to regular clipping appointments, and people seeking an undemanding dog needing no activities.
The detailed Poodle breed profile explains why Doodles often merely promise what Poodles already offer. The breed quiz helps you choose a size and dog that suit you; our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) offers more thorough guidance. For the early weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Capture your Poodle through our dog portraits from your own photo, for example as a poster in a wooden frame.
Further reading
- Poodle: why Doodles only promise what Poodles already offer
- Havanese: suitable for beginners does not mean undemanding
- Puppy biting: teaching bite inhibition without spoiling the fun
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 172 Caniche (Pudel) (fci.be, version dated 20.12.2024, valid since 01.08.2024); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Famula TR et al., Heritability and complex segregation analysis of hypoadrenocorticism in the standard poodle, Journal of Small Animal Practice 2003; McCord MA et al., Gastric dilatation-volvulus is associated with Poodle breeds, increased body size, and male sex, but not primary diet type or anxiety in the Dog Aging Project cohort, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2026.
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