Skip to content
PetPrep
Get early access

Animal register · DogIn the app

Poodle (Standard)

Standard Poodle

The Standard Poodle is the largest of the four Poodle sizes, a companion breed from France descended from European duck hunters. Its standard describes an elegant, well-balanced dog with a proud carriage — loyal, gay-spirited and good-tempered, capable of learning and being trained — with a profuse, frizzy curly coat in one solid colour: black, white, brown, grey or fawn.

It needs up to about an hour of exercise a day and suits a large house with a large garden. Given the right socialisation as a puppy it generally gets on well with children and other pets. Its coat does not shed, but that does not make it hypoallergenic: it needs daily grooming and regular clipping by a professional groomer. It is known for being very obedient and responding well to training.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Poodle (Standard) — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
medium — The Royal Kennel Club S120
Adult weight
males 30–35 kg, females 21–32 kg — PDSA S122
Daily exercise
up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S120
Brushing
every day — The Royal Kennel Club S120
Shedding
does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S120
Lifespan
more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S120

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • families with childrenS122
  • a large house and gardenS120
  • homes with other petsS122
  • homes that prefer less sheddingS120S121

Keep in mind:

  • needs brushing several times a weekS120S122

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S120

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S120
  • Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S120
  • Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S120

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S120

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 15–18 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S120
  • Height at the withers: 45–60 cm — FCI S118
  • Adult weight: males 30–35 kg, females 21–32 kg — PDSA S122

Training

  • No. 2 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 172, group 9 (companion and toy dogs); origin: France. — FCI S118

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Poodle (Standard) need?

According to our sources, the Poodle (Standard) needs this much exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S120.

How long does a Poodle (Standard) live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Poodle (Standard) is: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S120.

How big does a Poodle (Standard) get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Poodle (Standard), according to our sources: Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S120; Adult weight: males 30–35 kg, females 21–32 kg — PDSA S122.

How much grooming does a Poodle (Standard) need?

Coat and grooming of the Poodle (Standard), according to our sources: Brushing: every day — The Royal Kennel Club S120; Shedding: does not shed (not the same as hypoallergenic) — The Royal Kennel Club S120; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S120.

Who is the Poodle (Standard) a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Poodle (Standard) as a good fit for: families with children — PDSA S122; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S120; homes with other pets — PDSA S122; homes that prefer less shedding — The Royal Kennel Club S120S121. Keep in mind: needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S120S122.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6
Young dogmonth 926,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)26,000 steps
Seniormonth 108 (9 years)24,500 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 2× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing 7 times a week.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S120

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, occurs in the breed; DNA tests and eye testing are available. — PDSA S122
  • Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PDSA S122
  • Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. — PDSA S122
  • Epilepsy, a brain disorder that can cause seizures, occurs in the breed. — PDSA S122

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Further tests for best practice

  • DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (rcd4) — The Royal Kennel Club S120
  • DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) — The Royal Kennel Club S120
  • DNA test for von Willebrand disease type 1 (vWD1) — The Royal Kennel Club S120
  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S120
  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S120

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S118FCI — FCI-Standard N° 172 — Poodle, EN (PDF)https://dev.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/172g09-en.pdf
  11. S120The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breeds A–Z: Poodle (Standard)https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/poodle-standard/
  12. S121The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breed standard: Poodle (Standard) (last updated April 2025)https://www.royalkennelclub.com/breed-standards/utility/poodle-standard/
  13. S122PDSA (UK veterinary charity) — Poodle breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/poodle
  14. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  15. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  16. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  17. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  18. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

Ready for a pet?

Be among the first families to try PetPrep. We will email you when it is ready — nothing else.

By subscribing you agree to receive emails about PetPrep. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy