How to Identify a Poodle

Recognizing Body Structure

Notice the size. Poodles come in three sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy. Standard Poodles are over 15 inches (38 cm) in height, males weighing 60–70 pounds (27–32 kg) and females weighing 40–50 pounds (18–23 kg). Miniature Poodles have a height of 10–15 inches (25–38 cm) and a weight of 10–15 pounds (4.5–6.8 kg). Toy Poodles are less than 10 inches (25 cm) and weigh 4–6 pounds (1.8–2.7 kg).

Look at the eyes. The eyes of a Poodle are very dark and oval in shape. They are set far enough apart to give the dog an alert, intelligent expression. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream, and white Poodles have black eye rims and very dark eyes; brown and cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored eye rims and dark amber eyes; and apricot Poodles may have either, though the former is preferred.

Check the ears. A Poodle has long, wide, thickly feathered ears. They hang close to the head and are set at or slightly below eye level.

Examine the muzzle. Poodles have long, straight, fine muzzles. They have slight chiseling under the eyes and a scissors bite. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream, and white Poodles have black noses; brown and cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored noses; and apricot Poodles may be seen with either, though the former is preferred.

View the tail. The tail of a Poodle is straight and set high. It is carried up and may be docked of sufficient length. The tail is not low-set, curled, or carried over the back.

Inspect the overall structure. As active dogs, Poodles have a well-proportioned, strong build. They are squarely built while elegant in appearance, with strong and smoothly-muscled shoulders, straight legs, and small feet that are oval in shape. Poodles have a light, springy gait, moving soundly in a straightforward trot.

Taking Notice of the Coat

Check the appearance of the coat. Poodles have hair that may be better tolerated by people with allergies and may have either a curly or corded coat. Curly coats are dense throughout and have a naturally harsh texture. Corded coats hang in tight even cords that vary in length. The cords are longer on the mane, body coat, head, and ears and shorter on the puffs, bracelets, and pompons.

Recognize the coat color. Poodles have even, solid coats. The coat may be black, blue, gray, silver, brown, cafe-au-lait (a rich, well-saturated light brown color), apricot, cream, or white. These colors come in varying shades and may include somewhat darker feathering on the ears and ruff.

Identify the "clip". The clip is the method of trimming the coat. Poodles may be seen sporting many different clips, but some that are frequently seen include the Puppy clip, English Saddle clip, Continental clip, and Sporting clip. Each clip may be seen with a topknot. The Puppy clip appears as a long, shaped coat with a shaved face, throat, feet, and tail base and a pompon at the end of the tail. The English Saddle clip is seen where the face, throat, feet, forelegs, and tail base are shaved, with puffs on the forelegs, a pompon on the end of the tail, and a short blanket of hair on the hindquarters except for a curved shaved area on the flanks and two shaved bands on each hindleg. The rest of the coat is full but may be shaped. The Continental clip has a shaved face, throat, feet, and tail base, with a pompon on the end of the tail, possibly having pompons on the hips, and shaved legs that leave bracelets on the hindlegs and puffs on the forelegs. The rest of the coat is full but may be shaped. In the Sporting clip, the face, throat, feet, and tail base are shaved, leaving a cap on top of the head and a pompon at the end of the tail, while the rest of the body and legs are clipped to follow the outline of the dog in a short blanket. The hair on the legs may be slightly longer than the hair on the body.

Identifying Temperament

Notice how active the dog is. Poodles are active dogs and love to play. They were bred as retrievers, so they need their daily dose of exercise, which should be about an hour every day.Did you know? Standard Poodles are the only non-sporting breed that can compete in AKC Retriever Hunting Tests.

Watch for intelligence. The Poodle is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. Poodles are very trainable and pick up on things quickly.

See if the dog is sensitive. Being emotionally sensitive, Poodles tend to notice the feelings of the people in their household. They are sensitive to stress, so it is important to keep them feeling peaceful.

Take notice of attentiveness. Poodles are fairly alert and attentive, likely related to their intelligence and hunting instincts. They are quick to respond because of this and may bark.

Check if the dog prefers being around humans. Poodles prefer being around people rather than other dogs. They are friendly and affectionate with their family, though they may be wary around strangers.