Miniature Poodle vs Standard Poodle

A Poodle (Miniature)
Photo: UszkarFoto92
A Poodle (Standard)
Photo: John Leslie from London, UK

Side by side

Miniature Poodle
Standard Poodle
Adult weight
4.5–6.8 kg (10–15 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 27–32 kg (60–70 lb); females 18–23 kg (40–50 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 28–35 cm; females 28–35 cm3
Males 45–60 cm; females 45–60 cm3
Lifespan
Median 14 years4
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy3
Coat
Curly coat or corded coat3
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
Sudden-onset diarrhoea (more likely)6
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Family

Which suits you

Size
The Standard Poodle is far larger: about 25 kg (55 lb) as an adult, against 5.7 kg (12 lb) for the Miniature Poodle.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Miniature Poodle: a lap or leaning dog; Standard Poodle: affectionate on its own terms) and on loyalty (Miniature Poodle: sticks close to its people; Standard Poodle: bonded to its family).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: keen to work with you.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Miniature Poodle
Companion & toy · Small

In temperament the Miniature is quick to learn, lively and alert, and keen to join in with its household. It can be somewhat reserved with strangers, and it carries itself with a proud, springy gait.

Standard Poodle
Companion & toy · Medium

In temperament the Standard is alert, quick to learn and energetic, moving with a springy gait and a proud carriage.

The Miniature Poodle page →The Standard Poodle page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Miniature Poodle
Standard Poodle
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Miniature Poodle
Standard Poodle
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Miniature Poodle
Standard Poodle
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Standard Poodle grows to the heavier adult, about 25 kg against the Miniature Poodle's 5.7 kg.
Miniature Poodle
Standard Poodle
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More comparisons

Compare the Miniature Poodle with
Miniature Poodle vs Toy PoodleStandard Poodle vs Toy PoodleLabradoodle vs Standard PoodleBichon Frise vs Standard PoodleGoldendoodle vs Standard PoodleBedlington Terrier vs Standard PoodleAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·