Poodle (Standard) breed guide

AKC tells readers to forget any preconceived notions about Poodles: they are extremely intelligent, easily trained and athletic and excel in agility, obedience and tracking.

Standard Poodles are excellent water-retrievers and also compete in dock diving and retriever hunt tests.

Standard Poodles live 10 to 18 years. Most live long, happy lives thanks to responsible breeders who routinely test breeding dogs, though hip dysplasia and several eye disorders occur.

Idiopathic epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis, von Willebrand's disease and immune-mediated disorders are also seen occasionally and the Standard Poodle is more at risk than smaller sizes for gastric dilatation and volvulus or bloat.

Unless a Standard Poodle stays in a short trim, learn to brush it daily so the coat does not mat, always combing completely to the skin. Poodles of any size need good exercise every day and swimming suits Standard Poodles well.

Bred as hunting dogs, Poodles have a retrieving impulse, so tossing toys works as exercise.

The Poodle began as a duck hunter in Germany, where the word pudelin refers to splashing in water. The Standard Poodle started its development as a retrieving water dog more than 400 years ago.

A crisp, curly coat as protection against the elements, superlative swimming ability and off-the-charts intelligence made the Poodle, in AKC's words, a magnificent retriever.