STANDARD POODLE   The Standard Poodle is a active, intelligent and elegant dog, squarely built, well proportioned, moving soundly and carrying themselves proudly.  They still retain their ability as a gundog and swim well.  Intelligent and eager to learn makes them popular in obedience, shows,hunting and retrieving.  Poodles are happy and good tempered dogs who make a good family pet.  They are favored due to being Hypoallergenic. Other Names:  Barbone, Caniche Height:  22-27 inches Weight:  45-70 lbs. Colors:  Solid Colors         Coat:  Very profuse and dense, harsh texture. Temperament:  Standard Poodles are intelligent and lively with Children:  Yes, though a puppy may be too much for a small child. With Pets:  yes Special skills:  Hunting dog, now family pet Watch dog:  High Guard dog:  medium Care and Exercise:  Frequent trimming, brushing and shampooing of the coat. Ears must be kept very clean.  Mails trimmed short and teeth brushed weekly.  Even the pet poodle should attend the grooming shop every 4-6 weeks.   Standard Poodles enjoy a fair amount of exercise like swimming and retrieving, walks or free run.  They make a great jogging partner. Training:  Fairly easy to train as they are very intelligent and they learn quickly. Learning Rate:  Very High, Obedience - Very  High, Problem Solving _ very High Activity:  Medium - Low Living Environment:  A home with a fenced yard is preferred as Standard Poodles are energetic dogs who enjoy exercise. An owner of a Poodle should desire a smart, happy dog who excels in obedience. Health Issues:  Hip Dysplasia and Stifle problems Life Span:  10 - 13 years Litter Size  3 - 8 Country of Origin:  France History:  Despite the claims of several other countries, France has now been officially recognized as the country of the Poodles origin though some authorities attribute Germany as the country of origin.  There are also references to other dogs of similar type in Russia and several other southwestern European nations. The Germans probably gave them the name Pudel, which means to splash in water.  Originally bred as a retriever and flushers of birds the Poodle became quite popular among French aristocracy and was designated the national dog of France. First Registered by the AKC:  1887 AKC Group:  Non-Sporting Group Class:  Non-Sporting Registries:  AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 9), KC(GB), UKC