Standard Poodle
History Dogs similar in type to today's Poodle were carved in Roman tombs as far back as 30 A.D. and can be
seen in European paintings as early as the 15th century. Although the breed took its name from the German
word pudel, which means to splash in water, the French were responsible for bringing the Poodle to
international attention.
The first Poodles in England were known as Rough Water Dogs and they served primarily as hunting
companions. Poodles were first brought to the United States at the end of the 19th century, but the breed
did not become popular until after World War II. By the mid '50s, the Poodle was the most popular breed in
the United States, a position held for over 20 years. Today the Poodle is divided into two breeds:
the Standard Poodle, which serves primarily as a gun dog and companion animal, and the Poodle, composed of
the Miniature and Toy varieties, and which serves primarily as companion breed.
General Appearance
The Standard Poodle is a medium-sized, squarely built dog with a distinctive harsh curly coat that may be presented in any of
several traditional Poodle clips or corded.
The ears are long, drop, and densely feathered. The tail is normally docked, set high, and carried
erect. The length of body (sternum to point of buttocks) is equal to the height (withers to ground).
Standard Poodle carries himself with an air of dignity and pride.
The Standard Poodle should be evaluated as a working gun dog and exaggerations or faults should be
penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work.
Characteristics
The Standard Poodle's most readily identifiable characteristic is its harsh, dense coat, which is
presented in various traditional trims or, less frequently, corded. Another essential characteristic\
is proper temperament. The breed is noted for its high intelligence and trainability. While Poodles
are wary of strangers, they require human companionship and do not do well without regular, close
interaction with family members. Because of their great intelligence and the joy they take in
human companionship, Poodles excel in performance events of all sorts. They are extremely
affectionate with children.
Head
The head is proportionate to the size of the dog. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle
are roughly parallel to one another and joined by a slight but definite stop.
SKULL
- The skull is long and moderately roundeed on top. Cheeks are clean and flat.
MUZZLE
- In profile, the muzzle is straight and roughly equal in length to the skull, measured from stop to
occiput. The muzzle is fine with a slight chiseling under the eyes but with sufficient depth of
under jaw to prevent snippiness. Lips are tight with black or liver pigment appropriate to coat color. Serious faults: Lip
pigment incomplete or of wrong color for color of coat; weak under jaw.
TEETH
- The Standard Poodle has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.
Serious faults: Overshot, undershot, wry mouth.
NOSE
- Nose leather is black or liver, dependiing on coat color.
Serious faults:
Nose pigment incomplete or of wrong color for color of coat.
EYES
- Eyes are oval in shape and set sufficieently wide apart to give an alert, intelligent expression.
Eye and eye rim colors are black or liver, depending on coat color.
Serious faults:
Round, protruding, large or very light eyes; eye and eye rim colors wrong for color of coat; eye
rim pigment incomplete.
EARS
- Ears are drop with long, wide, densely--feathered ear leather. Ears are set at or slightly below
eye level and hang close to the head.
Fault:
Excessively long ear fringe. Neck The neck is of sufficient length and strength to permit the head
to be carried high when standing or moving. The neck blends smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders.
The skin on the neck and throat is tight.
Serious fault:
Ewe neck Forequarters
Shoulders are smoothly muscled. The shoulder blades are long and well laid back. The upper arm
appears to be equal in length of the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right angle. Elbows
are close to the body. The forelegs are straight with bone and muscle proportionate to the size of
the dog. Pasterns are strong and slightly sloping. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are parallel.
Viewed from the side, the point of elbow is directly below the withers.
Serious fault:
Upright shoulders.
Body A properly proportioned Standard Poodle is square, with the length of body (measured from
proscenium to point of buttocks) equal to height (measured from the withers to the ground). The
length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is just slightly longer than
half the dog's height. The line of the back drops off almost imperceptibly behind the withers and
is then level. The loin is short, broad and muscular with moderate tuck-up. The ribs extend well
back and are well sprung out from the spine, then curving down and inward to form a deep body. The
brisket extends to the elbow. Viewed from the front, the chest is well filled and moderately wide.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are muscular and with broad second thighs. The angulation of the hindquarters is in
balance with the angulation of the forequarters. The stifles are well bent and the hocks are well
let down. When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the
ground and, viewed from the rear, parallel to each other. In profile, the croup is nearly flat.
Feet
Good feet are essential for a working gun dog. The feet are relatively small, oval in shape and
compact with well-arched toes and thick, elastic pads. Feet do not turn in or out.
Nails are short and dark or self-colored, depending on coat color. Dewclaws may be removed.
Serious fault:
Thin pads, splay foot.
Tail
The tail is straight, set high, and normally docked to a length proportionate to the size of the dog
Whether standing or moving, the tail is carried erect.
Serious faults:
Low tail set, tail curled or carried over the back.
Coat
The Standard Poodle has harsh, dense, curly coat. For conformation exhibition, the coat may be
presented naturally, corded, or in one of the traditional clips described below.
Corded
--The cords are tight and of even diameteer but varying lengths. Cords may be longer on the mane,
body coat, head and ears; shorter on puffs, bracelets and pompons.
Clips
--In all of the traditional clips describbed below, the hair on the top skull may be left free or
held in place by elastic bands, which may not be used elsewhere in the coat. Puppy. The coat is long
with the face, throat, feet and base of the tail shaved. A pompon shall be left on the end of the
tail. The coat may be shaped to give a neat appearance.
English Saddle.
The face, throat, feet, forelegs and base of tail are shaved, leaving puffs on the forelegs and a
pompon on end of the tail.
The hindquarters are covered with a short blanket of hair except for a curved shaved area on each
flank. Each rear leg is circled by two shaved bands, one just above the stifle and one just above
the hock joint. The rest of the body is left in full coat but may be shaped for balance.
Continental.
Face, throat, feet and base of tail are shaved. Hindquarters are shaved with pompons on the hips
optional. There is a pompon on the end of the tail. Legs are shaved leaving bracelets on the rear
legs and puffs on the forelegs. A portion of the foreleg is shaved above the puff. The rest of the
body is left in full coat but may be shaped for balance.
Sporting.
Face, feet, throat and base of tail are shaved. There is a pompon on the end of the tail. Coat on
the top of the head is scissored into a cap. The rest of the body and legs are trimmed following the
outline of the dog. The body coat shall be no longer than 1 inch in length. Leg
hair may be slightly longer.
Color
Coat patterns in Standard Poodles include the following colors:
Apricot, black, blue, cream, gray, silver, white, and all shades of brown, including café-au-lait.
Dogs whose coats include the brown shades may have dark amber eyes; liver noses, eye rims and lips;
and dark nails.
Dogs with apricot coat color may have this combination of eye, pigment and nail color as well but
it is not desirable. All others must have very dark eyes; black noses, eye rims and lips; and black
or self-colored nails
These colors must appear in one of the following patterns:
Solid. Coat color is solid and even. Clear colors are preferred but natural variations in the shading
of the coat are not to be considered a fault.
Parti-colored: At least fifty percent white, with spots or patches of any other acceptable solid
color. The head can be of a solid color but white muzzle, blaze, or white muzzle/blaze combination
(preferably symmetrical) are equally acceptable.
Full or partial saddles are acceptable, as long as they do not exceed the color proportion, but are
not preferred. Ticking in the white of the coat is acceptable but not preferred.
Phantom:
Solid base color with sharply defined markings of a second color appearing above each eye, on the
sides of the muzzle, on the throat and fore chest, or in a chin and fore chest bowtie pattern as well
as on all four legs and feet, and below the tail.
A phantom without clearly defined face markings or one that presents with its whole face colored in
the second color is acceptable, as long as it maintains all the other specified body markings. Any
combination of acceptable colors is allowed.
Abstract: Less than fifty percent white, with the remaining percent any other acceptable solid color
Sable: A coat represented by black-tipped hairs on a background of any solid color, with no
particular pattern/location designated for such hairs.
Multi-patterned:
A dog that clearly exhibits more than one of the acceptable color patterns, such as; a Parti with
full or incomplete phantom markings (facial markings with or without presentation of the diamond
under the tail), or a Phantom with additional abstract markings, etc.
Disqualification:
Any color or color pattern other than described above; albinism.
Height and Weight
Over 15 inches, measured at the withers.
Disqualification: 15 inches or under.
Gait
When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful and well coordinated, showing good reach in
front and drive behind. Action is light and springy with head and tail carried up. Poor movement
should be penalized to the degree that it reduces the Standard Poodle's ability to perform the
tasks it was bred to do.
Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism. Any color or color
pattern other than described above. 15 inches or under in height.
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Deposit for Standard Poodles
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Smokey's Assistance Dogs Foundation
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Revised: July 14, 2005