Skip to content

Standard Poodle Vs Miniature Poodle. The Differences. Which Is Better?

Last updated on July 11th, 2021 at 11:24 pm


So you know that the poodle is the right dog for you, but you’re not quite sure whether you want a miniature poodle or a standard poodle. You’ve already narrowed it down to those two sizes, but which one will be the best size for you? The size of poodle you choose will depend on your family, lifestyle, the size of your yard, and your budget. 

The main difference between a standard poodle and the miniature poodle is size. An adult Standard poodle has a height between 24 inches and 27 inches and weighs between 38 pounds and 70 pounds. An adult miniature poodle has a height between 10 inches and 15 inches and weighs between 10 pounds and 15 pounds.

The size difference between a standard poodle and a miniature poodle leads to other differences between these two poodle varieties that you should be aware of.

For example, a standard poodle will require more grooming than a miniature poodle because the standard poodle has a bigger body surface area than a miniature poodle. This means grooming a miniature poodle will be easier than grooming a standard poodle.

Furthermore, smaller dogs generally live longer than smaller dogs, therefore, a miniature poodle will outlive a standard poodle, provided all other conditions in the life of both dogs are the same. The lifespan of a miniature poodle is longer than the lifespan of a standard poodle.

However, in terms of personality and temperament poodles, the standard poodle and the miniature poodle have similar personalities and temperaments if both raised in the same environment.

The table below summarizes the main differences between a standard poodle and a miniature poodle.

Standard PoodleMiniature Poodle
Weight40 pounds to 70 pounds10 pounds to 15 pounds
Height24 inches to 27 inches10 inches to 15 inches
Average Puppy Price$2000$2560
Average Lifespan12 years14 years
Grooming NeedsHighMedium
SheddingLowLow
Kid FriendlinessHighHigher
Good Companion DogYesYes
Barking levelMediumMedium
TrainabilityHighHigh
IntelligenceHighHigh
Comparison of the standard poodle and the miniature poodle
Standard Poodle versus Miniature Poodle

Which Size Poodle is a Better Pet? 

Both the standard poodle and the miniature poodle make amazing pets. Both the standard poodle and the miniature poodle are usually affectionate, eager to please, smart, and agile.

The exact temperament of your specific poodle will depend more on the temperament of his parents and on his environment. The temperament of your specific poodle depends less on its size.

Both miniature and standard poodles make amazing pets, but you should consider your lifestyle, the size of your home, and the size of your yard when deciding what size poodle you should get. If you love to go camping and you have an RV or a camper, you might want to consider a miniature poodle as their smaller size is better for camping life. On the other hand, if you live on an acreage and love to go for jogs in the morning, you will probably want a standard poodle who will enjoy running with you and will have plenty of space to run at home.

The question isn’t what size poodle is a better pet? But rather, what size poodle is a better pet for your specific lifestyle? When you consider your hobbies and interests, the space you have in your yard and home, and your daily living routine, you will be able to decide which size of poodle will fit best into your lifestyle. 

Next, we will compare the standard poodle and the miniature poodle based on specific factors such as

  • Grooming needs,
  • Puppy prices
  • Lifespan/Life expectancy
  • Family friendliness
  • Health Problems
Standard Poodle versus Miniature Poodle

Standard Poodle Grooming vs Miniature Poodle Grooming

Grooming is a major consideration for poodle owners. Many people looking for poodles for the first time don’t realize the time and financial commitment that goes into their grooming. The grooming needs of poodles are significant.

The larger the poodle, the more expensive it is to groom. Thus, standard poodles are more expensive to groom than miniature poodles.

If you choose to do your own grooming, the larger poodles will take you much longer time to groom. If you plan on taking your poodle to a professional groomer, you will want to look at your budget and decide if you can financially commit to keeping a standard poodle well-groomed. A miniature poodle will still cost money to have groomed professionally but will cost less than a standard poodle. 

Standard Poodle versus Miniature Poodle

Miniature Poodle vs Standard Poodle Lifespan

In many breeds, you will find that the larger versions have much shorter lifespans. The poodle breed is an anomaly. Although the lifespan of a standard poodle is shorter than the lifespan of a miniature poodle, the difference is not a lot. The standard poodle only has a slightly shorter lifespan than the miniature poodle. The average life span of a standard poodle is 12 years and the average lifespan of a miniature poodle is 14 years

Standard Poodle vs Miniature Poodle Size

The main difference between a miniature and a standard poodle is, of course, the size.

A miniature poodle stands 10 inches to 15 inches tall in height. Even though the word “miniature” makes you think these are tiny dogs, that is not the case.

The toy poodle is the smallest of the poodle breeds, a toy poodle stands at 9 inches to 10 inches tall and weighs only 5 to 12 pounds.

On the other hand, the miniature poodle weighs 10 pounds to 17 pounds. A standard poodle is the largest of the poodle breeds, standing 18 to 24 inches at the withers and weighing between 40 pounds to 70 pounds on average. So the largest miniature poodle could be just a couple of inches shorter than the smallest standard poodle.

When you’re deciding on the size of poodle you want, you should ask to see the parents and make sure that the miniature or standard poodle parents are the sizes that you were imagining.

Poodle sizes

Standard versus Miniature Poodle shedding

Both the standard and the miniature poodle are considered hypoallergenic dogs that do not shed. They are generally good for people who suffer from dander allergies, although an allergy to dog saliva will not be solved by a non-shedding dog such as the standard poodle. Therefore, you could be allergic to poodles if you have an allergy to dog saliva.

However, most people who are allergic to dogs are allergic to their dander, and poodle dander is very low, making them one of the best breeds for allergy sufferers. They do not shed, either. If it has been months since they have been groomed, you may notice little tufts of hair that fall out just like human hair falls out. Most of the time, however, any loose hair gets trapped in their coats and is removed during grooming. Most people who own poodles report no shedding, and this is true of both the miniature poodle and the standard poodle. The size of the poodle does not affect the shedding.

If a poodle does start shedding a lot, this is usually the result of a medical condition and should be treated. 

Standard Poodle versus Miniature Poodle

Standard Poodles vs Miniature Poodles price

On average, the price of a miniature poodle is slightly higher than the price of a standard poodle. The average price of a miniature poodle is $2560 while the average price of a standard poodle is $2000.

Note, there is a wide range in the prices of a poodle, irrespective of if it is a miniature poodle or a standard poodle.

The differences in prices for poodles are usually related to how much health testing was done on the parent dogs and whether or not the parents were show champions or competitors.

You will usually see different prices for show quality and pet quality poodles. If you plan to rescue a poodle, prices will be similar for a standard and a miniature poodle. 

Standard Poodle Temperament Compared to Miniature Poodle Temperament

When it comes to poodle temperament, the size of the poodle is not the main driving factor. The temperaments of the parents, the environment in which the puppies were raised, and life experiences make up the temperament of your specific poodle. That being said, as miniature poodles come from similar lines and standard poodles come from other lines, some trends can be observed when it comes to the difference in temperament between standard and miniature poodles.

Many people have reported that their miniature poodles are slightly higher in energy than their standard poodles. Miniature poodles also tend to follow their owners around the house, whereas standard poodles can tend to be more aloof. This is not always the case, however. You will want to meet the parents of your poodle puppy or spend some extended time around your rescue poodle to see if his temperament is conducive to your lifestyle. 

Difference Between Miniature Poodle and Standard Poodle Origin

There is some controversy over where the standard poodle breed originated, but most agree that the breed first came about in Germany. The poodle breed was originally bred as the standard size, and they were used to retrieve waterfowl.

The standard poodle is most closely related to what was once Germany’s water spaniel. It was similar to the English Water Spaniel from England, the Barbet from France, and the Irish water spaniel from Ireland. Germany’s water spaniels quickly became known for their intelligence, and then they were taken to France and used to perform in the circus. At this point, they were bred down in size over time so that they could travel more easily. From these breeding practices, we now have a variety of sizes of poodles. 

Which Size of Poodle Is Better with Kids? 

Both standard and miniature poodles are good with kids, but the standard poodle can be particularly calm and affectionate with children. Miniature poodles can also be great with kids. Some parents might fear that the standard poodle might be too large for little kids and knock them over or otherwise hurt them accidentally. Other parents might be concerned that a miniature poodle puppy would be too fragile for little children to handle. 

Which Size of Poodle Makes a Better Companion Dog? 

When you’re looking for your next companion, you need to evaluate your lifestyle to determine whether the standard or the miniature is a better fit for you. Both make excellent companions, but they might enjoy slightly different lifestyles. For example, if you like to hunt and want to train your poodle to be a hunting companion, you will want to look for a standard poodle that comes from hunting lines.

On the other hand, if you have a smaller yard and/or home and you are looking for a poodle that you can bring with you everywhere you go, you’ll want to look for a miniature poodle from parents of calm temperaments. Both sizes of poodle make excellent companions, but your lifestyle will help you determine what size is better for you. 

Which size of Poodle gets Along Better with Other Dogs?

Both the standard poodle and the miniature poodle get along well with other dogs. A standard poodle might tend to be more playful with other dogs, while a miniature poodle might tend to stick close to its owner, but this is not necessarily the case.

Again, the way your poodle behaves around other dogs depends more on his temperament and how well you have socialized him than on his size. Whatever size poodle you get, socialize him with other well-behaved dogs early and often if you want to have a poodle that gets along well with other dogs. 

Miniature Poodle vs Standard Poodle Intelligence

Generally, poodles are very intelligent dogs. However, some claim that the standard poodle is the smarter of the two sizes, but that is not necessarily the case. Standard poodles are most often used for hunting and so they may tend to come from lines that are bred for high trainability, whereas miniature poodles are usually bred as strictly companion dogs. However, you will find that miniature poodles are highly intelligent as well, and either size poodle is easy to train when compared with other breeds. 

Miniature Poodle versus Standard Poodle Trainability

Poodles are very easy to train because they are very obedient and always very eager to please you.

The American Kennel Club’s breed comparison tool lists both the standard and the miniature poodle is highly trainable and eager to please. 

Miniature Poodle compared to Standard Poodle Barking

There is not a notable difference in the level of barking between a standard and a miniature poodle. Both the miniature poodle and the standard poodle are medium barkers.

The poodle breed has a high watchdog ability, so you will probably notice that your poodles are quiet unless they hear someone near the door or walking past your house. Both the miniature and standard poodle will bark to alert you when someone is on your property, but neither breed is likely to bark incessantly when left alone or otherwise.

Standard Poodle and Miniature Poodle comparison exercise needs

Standard and Miniature poodles are both active and intelligent breeds, and this means they need an outlet for that energy and intelligence.

Standard poodles will need more room to run and may require slightly more exercise, but Miniature poodles can be just as active, and they require daily exercise as well.

Poodles tend to enjoy agility training, and they learn it very quickly. This could be a fun way to exercise your poodle and help him use his intelligence. 

Miniature Poodle vs Standard Poodle Health Issues

To learn more about the health problems that poodles are prone to, check out our article on poodle health problems.

There are some genetic diseases and health concerns that poodles of all sizes can suffer from and others that tend to present themselves in one size more often than the other. Miniature and standard poodles alike can suffer from progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), and Von Willebrand Disease (VWD). If you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder, you will want to ask if your puppy’s parents have been genetically tested for at least these three diseases. They are easily preventable by testing the parents and avoiding breeding two carriers of the disease together. 

Other diseases tend to be specific to the size of your poodle. Hip Dysplasia, for example, is rarely seen in the miniature poodle but is a concern in standard poodles. If you are purchasing a standard poodle puppy from a breeder, ask if the parent dogs have had their hips x-rayed and screened for hip dysplasia. They will be able to show you proof of this screening. While miniature poodles are less likely to suffer from hip dysplasia, you might find Patellar Luxation in the miniature poodle. This is also a condition parent dogs can be screened for to help reduce the likelihood of producing puppies with this condition. 

Bloat and congenital heart disease tend to affect standard poodles at higher rates than miniature poodles. 

Different forms of cancer can affect both the standard and miniature poodle that cannot be tested for or screened out as a preventative measure. 

Mini Poodle vs Standard Poodle behavior problems

Miniature and standard poodles are both highly trainable and eager to please, which often means they have fewer behavioral problems than other breeds. That being said, behavioral issues can and do happen in poodles of all sizes.

Sometimes these issues can stem from temperament, but other times they can stem from the environment. If you rescue a poodle or have a poodle who has been rehomed, you might notice behaviors that stem from your poodle’s previous environment.

Your poodle might act skittish around people, indicating he may have been mistreated. Your poodle may not know how to behave around people or other dogs, indicating that he may have been left alone too often in his previous home. Keep in mind that these behaviors are not always a result of being mistreated, so be careful about making accusations. There are many reasons poodles might suffer from behavioral issues. The best way to correct these behaviors is to find an animal behaviorist or professional trainer near you. 

Miniature Poodle vs Standard Poodle Popularity

The standard and miniature poodles are both popular, although there might be more standard poodles out there than miniature poodles. For a while, people were interested in owning very tiny poodles, and toy poodles were popular. However, recently poodle buyers are trending back toward a medium size because they seem to be the healthiest. A medium-sized poodle can be a small standard or a larger miniature poodle. Both of these sizes are popular.

Which Size Poodle Makes the Best Pet? 

Miniature and standard poodles both make good pets. The question to ask is which size makes the best pet for you. If you have a large yard and an active lifestyle full of hiking, jogging, and hunting, then a standard poodle might be right for you. If you have a moderately active lifestyle but want a poodle that fits in your lap for a car ride and will do well in an apartment, you should consider the miniature poodle. Both are loving, affectionate, and intelligent.