Poodle Sizes & Their Personalities

The poodle is an intelligent, elegant, athletic canine that officially comes in three varieties: Toy, Miniature and Standard. These classifications are determined by height rather than weight. A poodle coat is dense, water resistant, hypoallergenic and varies in color. Despite their elegant appearances, they are active and hardworking dogs.

Poodles were bred to be retrievers and hunt waterfowl. They originated in Germany where the breed was known as the "Pudel" which means ̶0;to splash in water.̶1; They are people pleasers and popular show dogs. While all three varieties share similar characteristics, they have distinct personalities.

  1. Standard Poodle Personality Traits

    • The Standard poodle is the oldest of the three varieties and measures over 15 inches at the shoulders' highest point. They tend to be somewhat aloof, but are smart and easy to train. Like all poodles, they are intelligent, athletic, energetic, obedient and competitive. Because of this, they need constant mental and physical stimulation or they will get into mischief. They are also hypersensitive and react negatively if touched unexpectedly or startled.

    Miniature Poodle Personality Traits

    • The Miniature poodle is 15 inches or less at the shoulders' highest point but measures at least 10 inches high. Like Standard poodles, Miniature poodles are intelligent, athletic and agile. They excel at obstacle courses and are extremely loyal. They are happiest when mentally stimulated and get along well with other dogs and cats. Miniature poodles are great watchdogs, non-aggressive and well mannered.

    Toy Poodle Personality Traits

    • The Toy poodle stands 10 inches or less at the shoulders' highest point. Their compact size makes them perfect for small residences and, like the Standard and Miniature varieties, Toy poodles are athletic, energetic and loyal companions. They love to curl up and cuddle. They need daily exercise and companionship or they tend to experience loneliness and separation anxiety. They require a set routine; if it is changed, they often get confused and nervous. While Standard and Miniature poodles love constant activity, Toy poodles get agitated if there is too much commotion going on. They tend to prefer peace and quiet over chaos which makes them a poor choice as a pet for a small, lively child.

    Poodle Facts

    • The Standard poodle is the smartest of the poodle varieties. Its intelligence is considered second only to the Border Collie. Poodle fur is referred to as "hair" because it lacks an undercoat and the hair does not shed and fall out. Instead, it clumps and becomes entwined with surrounding hair when shed, so a poodle needs to be brushed and groomed regularly. The hair texture ranges from soft and wavy to coarse and woolly.