Last updated on September 4th, 2021 at 06:46 pm
Keeping track of your Standard Poodle’s weight and height is a vital part of being a Standard Poodle owner.
One of the joys that come with owning a Standard Poodle is the joy of watching your poodle grow. It is always a delight to see your standard poodle puppy get bigger on its way to adulthood. However, many times, your eyes will play tricks on you. You might not notice the growth of your puppy because you see your puppy every day. Or, you might think your Standard Poodle is growing too fast. However, numbers don`t lie. Regularly measuring your Standard Poodle will give you insight into your Standard Poodle`s growth.
Regularly weighing and measuring your Standard Poodle will tell you how your Standard Poodle is developing, so it is important to know how to do it right.
Although size can vary somewhat from one Standard Poodle to the next, an abnormally big or small size can reveal issues. Some of the reasons your standard poodle may be of abnormal size are:
- Diet issues: Feeding your Standard Poodle too much food will make them too big, feeding them too little food may make them too small.
- Purebred: The weight and height of your Standard Poodle can tell you if your Standard Poodle is a purebred.
- Health problems: If your Standard Poodle is losing weight too fast or gaining weight too fast, your standard might have a health problem.
Measuring your Standard Poodle will tell you Standard Poodle has any of these problems.
In this article, I will teach you how to accurately measure and track the weight and height of your Standard Poodle.
How To Weigh a Standard Poodle
The easiest way to weigh a Standard Poodle is also the most obvious one: using a normal bathroom scale, weigh yourself while you hold your poodle, and then subtract your own weight from the total weight. This is a relatively low-effort option and can be done using any basic bathroom scale that you likely already have.
However, although this option is easy, it is also an inaccurate one. Bathroom scales are already somewhat inaccurate when measuring humans alone, and the degree of inaccuracy only compounds as you also weigh your Standard Poodle. These common bathroom scales rely on the person being measured standing still, with their weight being evenly distributed between their two feet.
Furthermore, your standard poodle may be too heavy for you to safely lift it up. Therefore, we do not recommend that you use this method to weigh your standard poodle if your standard poodle is too heavy for you to lift up.
Moreover, keeping your balance on a bathroom scale while you’re holding a Standard Poodle can be fairly difficult, especially if your standard poodle is larger or more restless. Moreover, holding your Standard Poodle like this will also offset your center of gravity. This will only make the reported weight even more inaccurate. So, while this method works in a pinch, I recommend that you ultimately plan to buy a dedicated scale to weigh your Standard Poodle.
I used this bathroom scale method to weigh my standard poodle, and I compared the result with that of weighing her on a vet`s scale. I calculated her weight to be 56 pounds with the bathroom scale method. However, she weighed 59 pounds on the vet`s scale, an error of 3 pounds. I hope this gives you an idea of how accurate/inaccurate the bathroom scale method is.
How To Accurately Weigh a Standard Poodle
Buying a scale specifically made for weighing pets will help you make sure that you are weighing your standard poodle with a consistent degree of accuracy. These scales are usually made to be used by veterinarians, so they are sturdy and reliable.
One important thing to consider selecting a pet scale for weighing your Standard Poodle is that Standard Poodles can weigh from a few pounds as a puppy to 70 pounds as an adult. Therefore, the scale that you should select for a standard poodle should be able to handle the weight range of a Standard Poodle. Moreover, the scale should be accurate for small weight range as well as the heavyweight range.
To help you out, we have collected this list of a few affordable and durable scales that are excellent for use in weighing your Standard Poodle.
1. W.C Redmon Precision Digital Pet Scale
This scale has a capacity of up to 225 pounds. Very capable of weighing standard poodles without any hassle.
The W.C Redmon scale has multiple useful features, including its memory of previous weights. It is designed to be easy to use for the standard consumer while still offering vet-grade accuracy.
Key Features
- Large platform
- Weight capacity of up to 225 lbs, capable of weighing both Standard Poodles and larger pets
- Keeps memory of previous weights
2. ZIEIS 70 Lb. Capacity | Digital Scale
This scale from ZIEIS is able to weigh up to 70 lbs! The Standard Poodle can weigh up to 70 lbs, so this scale will be able to weigh most Standard Poodles with ease.
This scale features a stainless steel platform (measuring at 16” x 12”) with a flat design. This large, flat design allows you to weigh your Standard Poodle while it is in its cage. If you are having trouble getting your poodle to stay on the scale, the manufacturers recommend placing it in its kennel first. Just remember to subtract the weight of the kennel!
The scale offers quite a few customizable settings, including the option to force your scale to stay on even after a few minutes of inactivity. If your Standard Poodle is a bit more rowdy and you foresee yourself having to take a while to get them on the platform, this option may be perfect for you.
Key Features
- Wide, flat, stainless steel platform
- Weight capacity of 70 lbs
- Customizable power and inactivity settings
How Often Should You Weigh Your Standard Poodle?
Standard Poodle owners should be regularly weighing their dog. But how often is “regular?”
During the first six months of your poodle’s development, your Standard Poodle will grow rapidly. It’s important to keep consistent and frequent measurements during the first six months of your poodle’s life. Veterinarians recommend weighing your dog at least once every two to three weeks during the first four to six months of their life. This will let you get a good grasp on how your poodle is developing and make sure that they are growing into a healthy, happy pup.
Once your standard poodle has reached its adult size, a Standard Poodle should be weighed at least once every six months. Your Standard Poodle should also be weighed every time they go to the veterinarian’s office.
Weigh your Standard Poodle more often if you introduce a new change to their diet or exercise routine. Take bi-weekly as you experiment with their regimens, and make sure to adapt their routine as you get more and more results.
If your Standard Poodle is going through a significant health procedure, such as surgery or new medication, keep track of their weight. Even if these procedures go perfectly, they can often be a very stressful time for a dog, and this stress can in turn affect their weight and eating habits. Specifically, be sure to weigh your poodle regularly before and after they get spayed or neutered.
How To Keep Track of Your Standard Poodle’s Weight
Simply weighing your Standard Poodle is only half the battle. You should keep written or digital records of your Standard Poodle’s weight as they develop! This will allow you to more accurately see trends and potential issues as they come up. Plus, it can be fun and nostalgic to look back at how your poodle has grown over the years!
Never rely on your memory alone to remember your poodle’s weight. Changes in your Standard Poodle`s weight can be subtle at first glance but have a large effect overall that you might not notice. Instead, choose a record-keeping method that works for you and commit to it.
As we said before, the W.C Redmon digital scale that we recommended comes with a built-in memory system that can remember your Standard Poodle’s prior weight. This can be helpful, especially for comparing changes in weight as you weigh your poodle. That said, it can be limited when it comes to tracking weight over time. It may also lead to some confusion if you use the scale for weighing different Standard Poodles at different times!
One simple solution is to make a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets that keeps track of your dog’s weight. This can be done with only two or three columns, and you can also use this data to make a graph and visually track your Standard Poodle’s weight.
If you aren’t great with spreadsheets, there also plenty of apps on both Android and iOS that can do this job for you; for example, the Google Play Store has the app “Dog Health” while the Apple App Store has “Pawprint—Pet Health Tracker,” both of which will let you insert your dog’s weight and graph it over time.
You can also take a more traditional, pen-and-paper approach to record-keeping the size of your Standard Poodle. If you regularly bullet journal, you can create a spread made specifically to keep track of your poodle’s weight.
If you’d prefer having a journal dedicated to your poodle, we recommend this Poodle Owners Record Notebook on Amazon! It not only comes with space for weekly notes that you can use to keep track of your poodle’s weight, it also has plenty of other neat additions such as a spot for your poodle’s vaccination history!
How To Measure and Record Your Standard Poodle’s Height?
Weight isn’t everything! Your Standard Poodle’s weight will also depend heavily on their height, so it’s important to keep track of both. That said, if you have never measured a dog’s height before, it may be difficult to try it for the first time.
One’s impulse may be to measure up to your Standard Poodle’s head, but this is actually considered to be incorrect. The head constantly moves up and down, so it does not work as a consistent marker when measuring a dog’s head. Instead, the accurate way to measure your standard poodle`s height is to measure from the paws to the highest point of your poodle’s shoulder blades, called the withers.
When measured to the withers, the height of an average adult Standard Poodle can be up to 27 inches, but the American Kennel Club mentions that they can be as short as 15 inches tall.
To measure your Standard Poodle, set them standing against a wall. Feel for their withers, and then use a tape measure to measure from their paws to the withers.
If you are willing to put in a bit more effort and money, you can also use a wicket to measure your Standard Poodle`s height. Wickets are what dog shows frequently use to measure a dog’s height, and they can be quickly made out of a few pieces of PVC pipe or bought online.
You can also swap out a tape measure for a height wall chart, like the one shown below. These are typically meant for babies and children, but they work just fine for dogs and Standard Poodles as well! If you are interested, you can check out the below height chart here on Amazon.
Dual-Purpose Scale for Both You and Your Poodle
Again, we do not recommend relying on using the same scale for both you and your poodle, especially if your Standard Poodle is at its adult size. However, if you are already in the market for a scale for yourself and your Standard Poodle is on the smaller or younger side, we recommend the Ozeri Touch 440 lbs Total Body Bath Scale.
Ozeri Touch 440 lbs Total Body Bath Scale
This scale has a built-in function for measuring babies and small pets. All you have to do is press the Tare button in the middle of the scale. It will blink an indicator tell you when to step onto the scale by yourself, and then blink a second indicator to tell you when to step onto the scale with your Standard Poodle .
Because it is built into the scale, this will be somewhat more accurate than if you were to try and subtract the two weights by yourself. It may not be as accurate as a dedicated dog scale, but it can get the job done!
Key Features
- Weight capacity of up to 440 lbs
- Tare technology that can be used to measure your Standard Poodle
- Primarily meant for use as a bathroom scale for humans.
Conclusion
Measuring your Standard Poodle’s weight and height can be tricky when you’re starting out, but once you get a hold of the right tools and tricks, you’ll be able to take consistent reliable measurements every single time. By keeping an eye on your poodle’s height and weight measurements, you can help ensure that they grow healthily.
