All About The Miniature Poodle Breed Standard

By Lisa A Collins

If you think a Miniature Poodle is just a smaller version of the Standard Poodle - you'd be right! The Miniature Poodle and the Standard Poodle are almost identical in their physical characteristics, their temperament, their needs and their incredible intelligence. The only difference is in their size.

The Miniature Poodle stands about eleven to fifteen inches tall at their withers (the highest point of the shoulder.) They only average about fifteen to seventeen pounds, compared to a Standard's average of fifty to sixty pounds

The miniature Poodle is between eleven and fifteen inches high at the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and is only about fifteen to seventeen pounds. In comparison, a Standard Poodle is at least fifteen inches in height and weighs an average of fifty pounds.

Any Poodle information for Standard Poodles tends to also apply to Miniature Poodles, only on a smaller scale. Their breed standards are identical (again, except for size). They should be lean, athletic dogs under remarkably puffy coats. Their expression should be happy and lively. Their trot should be lively and bouncy, with their heads and tails naturally held high. Many show Poodles have their tails half docked - a practice which is thankfully dying out.

The breed standard is usually based on looking at a Poodle in profile. In profile, a Miniature Poodle should stand square, have a level topline (spine) and a profile that looks somewhat chiseled and not heavily jowled. The preferred eye color for the show ring is a dark brown, but much lighter eye colors happen often in pet Miniature Poodles. The ears are floppy, with rounded ends and seem to hug the head. They may or may not have dewclaws.

The Miniature Poodle does not naturally grow the outrageous coats seen in the show ring. Their coats do need to be clipped every six to eight weeks or else they take on an evil life of their own. Many owners of pet Miniature Poodles choose the puppy clip, which mimics how the coat looked as a two month old puppy.

All coats of Poodle types are long and curly and are actually hair and not fur. Most Miniature Poodles fall short of their breed standard in many areas, but still can be purebred Miniature Poodles.

Miniature Poodles are a pretty distinctive breed, and usually are easily and accurately identified by even newbie shelter volunteers. Miniature Poodles, no matter what they look like, will make wonderful pets.