kaylasmom is on the verge of getting her fourth guide dog (she checks into the school on March 26). She has been told that she will be receiving a male standard poodle. We don’t yet know the dog’s age.
All of her prior dogs have been Golden Retrievers, and they have all been very playful when off duty. They enjoyed rough-housing play such as rasslin’, fetch the ball, and tug-of-war. We have no idea what kind of play a standard poodle is likely to enjoy. Can anyone give us a lead or two?
Thanks.
Dog personalities vary just like humans do and how they are raised makes a big difference too, but when I was a kid our neighbors had a standard poodle and it was without a doubt the smartest dog I have ever known and loved to play with all of us. If I could have a dog where I live, I would definitely get a standard, they rock.
My MIL has a brown standard poodle. The dog is…odd to say the least. He is very smart but uses most of his mental energy to find something to pout about. I am convinced he is depressed and has an anxiety disorder as well. Sometimes he just finds a closet to hide in and just stays there for hours usually because someone slighted him in some way. He is also the only dog that has ever bitten me because I gave him head noogies once to try and cheer him up. He hates other dogs (like my Samoyed) if they take attention away from him.
In other words, he is a flamboyent drama queen from hell.
My dog was in dog school with a couple of standard poodles over the years. They were between the ages of 1 and 3. They seemed quite happy and playful. They jumped up on other dogs more than different dogs their size.
They barked a bit more than other large dogs too, but were really good at agility jumping. And always had a very cute goofy smile on their faces 
My Dad had a standard years ago. Not a patient man, he loved that dog (highly unusual for him). She was very smart, obedient and easy to train. She liked to crawl between the sofa back and the wall and would stay there for hours, until called. She was playful and loved to go for walks on a leash and to ride in the car.
I dogsat for a standard a few years ago. She was one of the smartest, happiest dogs I’ve ever met. Extremely well-behaved (her owners had her very well trained).
I’m much more of a cat person than a dog person, but Standard Poodles are awesome! Some of the ones I’ve dealt with are so smart it’s almost scary. I’ve never seen one used as a guide dog before but I think it will be wonderful. The Standards I’ve dealt with were playful, yet conscious of their training at all times.
Let us know how it turns out!
My parents have a standard poodle and he is extremely playful. He does have a tendency to start humping legs, though, despite being fixed.
I have a 13 year old standard. Despite his age he’s still friendly and playful.
Thanks again for all the responses. We’re really looking forward to Francis’s arrival, and we’ll be flexible about the type of toys we’re prepared to get for him.
Anybody know what kind of clipper I’m likely to need to keep him comfortable and matt-free? I doubt we’ll be able to foot the bill for those $75.00 pouffy hair-dos every couple of months.
Dang! Just when Mark Serlin could have proven useful around here…
We give ours what’s called a “lamb cut.” It’s a simple all-over trim – none of the shaved trunk and poof stuff. If you’re decent with a clippers you can do it yourself.
Remember to keep its ears clean and keep the fur out of them.
You should also ask around the local dog groomers about a “guide dog discount” - I briefly worked in the industry and quite a few groomers are willing to give their services either free or at a steep discount to guide dogs.
Please, none of those poufy show cuts! The poodles always look so self-conscious, like a little girl who has been dressed by a mother with no sense of style.
This holds true for veterinary care also. IME most (not all) veterinarians offer something, from totally free care to a discount, for guide dogs.
As far as the breed is concerned, standard poodles are one of my favorite breeds.
An A-5 blade (it’s a type of blade that fits the Oster A-5 clipper, a fairly standard type of clipper head) in the #4 size should do you for most of your grooming needs with a Standard Poodle. You’d probably want the face a little shorter, maybe a #7. You can trim the feet close if you’d like, but I prefer to just round them off and not shave the foot itself. (For almost all recognised Poodle cuts, you shave the foot. I think it’s ugly that way, but I’m wrong about lots of stuff.)
So, you can get by with a clipper (I like the Andis (brand) one better than the Oster (brand). It takes the same blades, but the plastic body is a little tougher.), a #4 and a #7 blade, plus a good pair of shears. And a metal toothed comb and a good slicker brush.
And nail trimmers and styptic powder.
Or you can ask a groomer if they offer a deal. As long as you just want something simple a good groomer should be able to work with you.
Judging an entire race/breed of animal based on the traits of an individual or two never makes sense. All dogs have the same potential for playfulness; variations happen on the individual level.
I would love to work with guide dogs after I finish school. Me, not a fan of poodles.
Maybe that will change after I start my practice.
Personally, I think a french-cut guide dog would be very cool.
My behind-the-house neighbours have 2 Standard Poodles, one is very playful (fetches, rough-houses) and one is not at all - not hostile, just completely apathetic.
Poodle /= Standard Poodle.
I would not judge standard poodles by your experience with min/toy poodles. They are totally different as far as behaviour.
I totally agree - I don’t like minature or toy poodles at all. To me they just barely qualify as dogs. Standards are an entirely different animal! The intelligence of these dogs astounds me every time.
Vetbridge, where have you been? I’ve missed you!