When talking about the poodle, few know that there are four different types depending on their size. From smallest to largest we find the toy poodle, the dwarf poodle, the medium poodle and the giant or standard poodle. The latter is the one that this article is about and from which the rest appeared to get smaller dogs of this breed. The large poodle or standard poodle is a majestic, elegant and fine dog that for centuries has accompanied people of higher social class, nobles and aristocrats. It is a dog originally from France and a descendant of the barbet dog.
Keep reading this article on our site to find out all the characteristics of the giant poodle or standard poodle, a dog that adapts to any home, but who needs a good daily dose of walking or exercise. It is one of the best breeds in terms of education and stands out for its great intelligence. It has a fairly long life expectancy, but certain common he alth problems in the breed must be taken into account and prevented.
Origin of the Giant Poodle
The poodle, also called the poodle, is a breed that comes from the barbet dog or French water dog, which is why it originated in France. It is thought that "poodle" comes from "pudel", a German word meaning "one who plays in the water", while the term "poodle" comes from "canichons" and refers to "duckling" or "little duck" and It is the term that the smaller barbet dogs received.
The giant poodle was originated to hunt ducks or swans, but throughout its history it performed different functions and was also used, as a circus dog until it became the popular companion dog that it is today. Thus, from the 16th century onwards, its rise began due to its beauty and intelligence, and even in works of art by Goya or Alberto Dürer, and in the times of Louis XVI of France, its presence at the court of this country was very common. During the Franco-Prussian War, between 1870 and 1871, the spread of the breed began, being destined for millionaires and aristocrats. Starting in the 19th century, stylists began creating British and continental cuts. Unfortunately, for newborns, the custom of amputating the tail began, a practice that is currently prohibited for being cruel and unnecessary.
The giant poodle is the original breed from which the medium, dwarf and toy poodles emerged, more affordable for many current keepers.
Characteristics of the Giant Poodle
Giant Poodles are dogs of a large size, weighing between 16 and 22 kg and a height at the withers of 45 to 60cm This breed presents a marked sexual dimorphism, with the males being noticeably more corpulent than the females. It is a well-proportioned, elegant and very harmonious dog. The main physical characteristics of the standard poodle are the following:
- Strong and long limbs.
- Thin and elongated head.
- Long, thin and straight snout.
- Very long, drooping ears that reach the cheeks and stick to the head.
- Dark, almond-shaped eyes, which give him a tender look.
- High insertion tail raised.
Although the above are characteristics that allow us to easily identify a large or giant poodle, without a doubt, the most distinctive feature of this breed is found in the type of hair it presents. The hair is always abundant and wooly, it can be curly and full of ringlets, thick and fine to the touch or arranged in locks based on 20 cm cords, dense and harder to the touch.
Giant Poodle Colors
The color of the Giant Poodle's coat is always uniform, that is, of a single tone, so the colors are not accepted. spots or patterns such as marbling. The most common are usually the black giant poodle and the white giant poodle, but the accepted colors in this breed are many more, so we can find specimens in the following colors:
- Black.
- White.
- Gray.
- Cream.
- Apricot.
- Brown.
Standard poodle character
The giant poodle is mainly characterized by being a loving, loyal, intelligent and mischievous dogIt presents a characteristic stately halo that affects both its physical appearance and its behavior. Being so loyal, it protects the home and its family very well, not hesitating to alert with barking of danger or to attack if necessary.
He is an energetic and mischievous dog, especially as a puppy, despite his serious and majestic appearance. It is a race always ready to play, that loves to be with people and to be nice and pleasant. It should be noted that the giant poodle is much calmer and calmer than smaller poodles, especially toys, which are usually quite nervous. However, it is still a breed that requires more attention than others due to its more dependent nature.
Giant Poodle Care
The most important thing in the care of this breed is the maintenance of its coat. Despite not shedding the hair, it should be washed every month and brushed frequentlyTo obtain the characteristic style of poodles with mane on the head, ears, neck and legs, it should be taken to the dog groomer, since at home we could have an accident.
Giant Poodles adapt well to any type of home and family. They are very energetic dogs, so they need frequent exercise and good daily walks. Likewise, they are dogs that do not usually tolerate loneliness so well if they have not been properly educated to know how to manage these situations. On the other hand, as in any other breed, within the care of the giant poodle we also find cleaning its eyes and especially its long ears to prevent infections.
With good nutrition, walks, exercise, care and visits to the vet, poodles are a very long-lived breed, with a life expectancy of up to 18 years.
Giant Poodle Education
The puppy giant poodle is usually especially mischievous, and must be trained so that it does not end up destroying the house. Of course, despite being a fairly sociable dog, it is important to carry out good socialization so that he knows how to relate to other animals, people and environments and, above all, everything, be able to stay alone at home without this being a problem for him. In this article we explain how to leave a dog alone at home, but remember that it is not advisable to leave a dog for too many hours, neither this breed nor any other dog.
Training the large poodle is simple as it is considered one of the most intelligent dogs in the world, so it learns fastand hardly gets distracted during sessions. Likewise, it is a breed with a great predisposition to learning because it loves to keep its mind stimulated, a fact that also makes it suitable for beginners. Because of this, it was such a frequent breed in circuses and has even participated in some movies.
However, education should be carried out in the same way as in other races, being constant, consistent and patient Positive reinforcement always It is the most effective option, less stressful and with better results. Likewise, even if it is a very intelligent dog that loves to learn new things, it is not recommended that the sessions exceed 15 minutes to avoid stress, frustration or boredom.
If you have adopted a large adult poodle, it is also possible to educate him, it being advisable in this case to start by gaining his trust, continue with socialization and continue with the rest. For more information, don't miss these articles:
- How to train a puppy?
- Tips for training an adopted adult dog
Standard Poodle He alth
The giant poodle is prone to hereditary diseases related to sight and which can lead to the development of blindness. Due to this, the controls in the veterinarian to be able to detect them and treat them as soon as possible can maintain the vision of the poodle. These diseases are as follows:
- Progressive retinal atrophy: due to progressive degeneration of the photoreceptors, the rods begin to be affected, manifesting a night blindness that each time goes to more Subsequently, the cones are affected where it ends up producing total blindness in the poodle.
- Glaucoma: characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure due to a lack of drainage of the aqueous humor that ends with a progressive loss of nerve fibers of the optic nerve.
- Cataracts: formation of a kind of cloud on the surface of the lens that makes vision difficult.
- Entropion: when the lower eyelid folds inward causing the eyelashes and skin to rub against the ocular surface, causing discomfort, irritation, ulcers and can even cause complete blindness.
In addition, the giant poodle, as a large breed, can be affected by hip dysplasia, which consists of a poor conjunction between the articular part of the hip (acetabulum) with the head of the femur, which causes this head of the bone to shift and move, progressively inflaming and weakening the joint. It is a degenerative disease that usually ends with osteoarthritis, discomfort or pain, lameness and muscle atrophy of the hind limbs.
Other problems that poodles frequently suffer from are ear infections, hence keeping the area clean is essential in its prevention. Some of the dermatological problems that can be diagnosed with some frequency in a poodle are sebaceous adenitis, fungal infection, allergies and pyoderma.
Where to adopt a giant poodle?
If after reading the information we bring about this breed you think you are a good candidate to adopt and offer all the care and responsibilities that a giant poodle needs, the first thing is to ask in places that can offer this breed or know of someone who does. These places are the protectors, shelters or associations of the breed, since here they will be able to tell you if they currently have a dog of this breed or mestizo that is very Similary. Otherwise, they will take all your data to notify you if one arrives.
