Poodle Info

The Poodle

The poodle, a very popular breed, comes in 3 sizes in the United States, toy, minature, and standard. The two smaller sizes are collectively known as “poodle” in UKC and the standard size as “standard poodle.” While the toy and miniature sized varieties were companions, court and circus dogs, the standard poodles were developed as hunting retrievers. The poodle, originally one breed with different varieties, was divided into it’s current two breeds in UKC, poodle and standard poodle, in 2000. Poodles come in many solid and patterned coat colors. See our Multi-Colored Poodle History Page and our Poodle Coat Color Page for more on colors and patterns. The UKC Breed Standards are available at the top of this page.

So how does one characterize or describe the poodle?  “The Poodle’s most readily identifiable characteristic is its harsh, dense coat, which is presented in various traditional trims or, less frequently, corded. Another essential characteristic is proper temperament. The breed is noted for its high intelligence, trainability and sense of humor. Poodles are highly social and require human companionship and regular, close interaction with family members. Because of their great intelligence and the joy they take in human companionship, Poodles excel in performance events of all sorts. They are extremely affectionate with children.” —  United Kennel Club Breed Standard for both Poodle and Standard Poodle. 

For information on breed health issues and pre-breeding health testing see our Poodle Health Page.

Poodles in the UKC

Poodles competing in UKC conformation are handled by owners rather than professional handlers and use of products of any kind to alter the color or texture of the coat is prohibited. This really puts the emphasis on the quality of the poodle being shown. The UKC breed standards, available via the links above, describe the ideal qualities of poodles and standard poodles that they will be judged on and that breeders should be striving to produce in their programs. The multi-colored versions of these standards are the same except for color patterns.

The United Kennel Club’s “Total Dog” philosophy makes it an excellent registry for our versatile, active poodles. UKC believes that function is at least as important as form, that dogs should look and perform equally well. This belief informs and guides UKC’s approach to all dog activities. Perhaps the clearest illustration of the importance UKC places on the “Total Dog” approach is that the UKC’s highest and most coveted award is not the Champion or even the Grand Champion title, but rather the prestigious Total Dog Award, which is conferred only upon dogs who excel in both conformation and performance.

UKC has been registering poodles since 1914, but in the last decade the club’s emphasis on the “Total Dog” has led it to make two changes affecting poodles. Effective January 1, 2000, Standard Poodles were recognized as a separate breed and moved from the Companion Dogs to the Gun Dogs group. This allows Standard Poodles to participate in UKC Hunting Retriever events, and to be judged along with other breeds whose heritage is field work. We include a sub page in our menu on the versatility of poodles and all the different types of performance events offered by the UKC.

In 2003, after reviewing a great deal of evidence attesting to the presence of purebred multi-colored dogs throughout poodle history, UKC revised the Poodle and Standard Poodle breed standards to eliminate the disqualification for multi-colored dogs. (See the sub page on the history of the multi-colored poodle.) Both breed standards now place solid-colored and multi-colored poodles on equal footing. The revised standards do not establish multi-colored dogs as a separate breed or a distinct variety. However, at this time, the two coat patterns are shown separately in conformation. Beginning in June 2004, multi-colored Poodles and Standard Poodles began showing in UKC conformation in their own rings, separately from solid-colored dogs.

UPA believes that poodles deserve to be recognized as the “Total Dogs” they have always been intended to be, and strongly encourages participation by poodles and their handlers in all events for which they are eligible. See our Versatile Poodles page for more information on performance events and other activities poodle owners and breeders can do with their poodles.