Standard Poodle vs Portuguese Water Dog

A Poodle (Standard)
Photo: John Leslie from London, UK
A Portuguese Water Dog
Photo: Silke Hollje-Schumacher

Side by side

Standard Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Adult weight
Males 27–32 kg (60–70 lb); females 18–23 kg (40–50 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 19–25 kg (42–55 lb); females 16–22 kg (35–49 lb)2
Height
Males 45–60 cm; females 45–60 cm3
Males 50–57 cm; females 43–52 cm2
Lifespan
Median 14 years4
Median 13 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy3
Retrievers & water dogs2
Coat
Curly coat or corded coat3
Wavy coat or curly coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
No sourced figure
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
No sourced figure
Exercise
A modest amount
Plenty
Class
Family
Sport

Which suits you

Size
The Standard Poodle is a little larger on average: about 25 kg (55 lb) as an adult, against 21 kg (45 lb) for the Portuguese Water Dog.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Standard Poodle lives longer: a median of 14 years, against 13 for the Portuguese Water Dog.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Portuguese Water Dog, and a modest amount with the Standard Poodle.
Temperament
They differ most on handler demand (Standard Poodle: needs steady training; Portuguese Water Dog: needs an experienced owner) and on sensitivity (Standard Poodle: needs a calm, predictable home; Portuguese Water Dog: average).
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

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.

Portuguese Water Dog
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is energetic and intelligent, with a strong liking for water and a close attachment to its family.

The Standard Poodle page →The Portuguese Water Dog page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Standard Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Standard Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Standard Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour6. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home7,8.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Standard Poodle grows to the heavier adult, about 25 kg against the Portuguese Water Dog's 21 kg.
Standard Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
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More comparisons

Compare the Standard Poodle with
Standard Poodle vs Toy PoodleMiniature Poodle vs Standard 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 ·