Poodle
Smartest dog in the room. The haircut is optional. The intelligence isn’t.
Standard Poodles are highly intelligent, athletic, and genuinely eager to please, with sensitivity that means they pick up on household mood quickly. They're playful and generally excellent-tempered, but need real mental engagement — boredom shows up as restlessness or anxiety here.
Standard Poodles typically live 10–13 years. Hip dysplasia and bloat are both documented risks given their size and deep chest. Addison's disease appears at a notably higher rate in this breed. Sebaceous adenitis, a skin condition, and some eye issues also appear commonly.
A quality diet with bloat precautions given their size and deep chest is important. Joint support helps given the hip dysplasia risk. Given the breed's elevated Addison's disease rate, it's worth knowing the early signs — lethargy and GI upset — and getting them checked promptly.
Standard Poodles are excellent with kids and generally good with other pets given their sociable nature. They need genuine mental stimulation, not just physical exercise, and the grooming commitment is a serious, ongoing part of ownership.
This breed's reputation as a fancy show dog obscures a genuinely intelligent, athletic working retriever underneath the haircut. The grooming is real and constant, but so is the trainability and mental engagement this dog needs to thrive — an under-stimulated Poodle is a genuinely unhappy dog, not a low-maintenance one.
How much exercise does a Poodle need?
The Poodle has high physical activity needs and very high mental stimulation needs.
What size is a Poodle?
The Poodle is a large breed.
How much grooming does a Poodle need?
The Poodle has very high grooming needs.
Is a Poodle easy to train?
The Poodle is generally easy to train.
Is the Poodle a good choice for first-time owners?
The Poodle is best suited to owners who already have some dog experience.
Is a Poodle apartment-friendly?
The Poodle can live in an apartment, as long as it gets enough daily exercise.
How long does a Poodle live?
The Poodle typically lives 10–13 years.
General references for further reading. For your own dog, always check with your veterinarian.