About the Breed
Poodles are descended from early German retrievers known as pudels. The word pudel means puddler or "to splash in water".

The stylized haircut seen on show dogs today originated with hunters. The ancestor of today's poodle was stockier, and had a very dense, tightly curled coat that protected the dog from retrieving game in icy water. This style of haircut was designed to allow the dog to swim freely while keeping its major organs warm.

Today's poodles are athletic, intelligent, cheerful, and have a wonderful temperament. Poodles do not shed, and therefore make excellent pets for those with allergies. They come in a variety of colors.

The Poodle Club of America designates three sizes of poodle: Toy, Miniature, and Standard. The club does not recognize sizes called Teacup (very small) or Royal Standard (very large). A poodle with two or more coat colors, often called parti-colored, is not bred or advertised by reputable breeders, who are aware of breeding for good health and even temperament.

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Toy Poodles
This is the smallest poodle size. Toy poodles are 10 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulder, and typically weigh less than 12 pounds. Toys are ideal for older or less-active people, or for those with limited living space. Toys are not recommended for very active young children and should not be left alone with them because of possible injury due to their small size.

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Miniature Poodles
Miniature poodles are taller than 10 inches and up to 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulder. Minis generally weigh between 15 and 35 pounds, depending on their height. This medium poodle size is energetic and needs a moderate amount of exercise.

Minis are the most common size we see come into rescue.

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Standard Poodles
This is the oldest breed size. Miniature and toy poodles were developed by selectively breeding standards down to smaller sizes. A standard poodle is taller than 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulder, with no upper size limit. Most standards are between the 22 and 27-inch range and weigh approximately 40-60 pounds.

Like most large dogs, they require regular walks and vigorous exercise.

Standards do not seem to come into rescue as frequently as miniatures.