[nycas21]

I'm doing a research between mini and standard poodles.

I read that the mini is more active then the standard poodle.

I heard the standard poodle is more reserved in nature? Is that good or bad with a family with 2 children ages 4 and 7 years old?

The mini i like because its less to groom then the standard and easy to carry or travel with.
Mini has less energy to burn vs standard.

Can the mini be playful towards my children also?

 

[PeggyTheParti]

I believe you got some good advice regarding children and poodles here: Miniature or standard

I think, more than anything, it’s going to come down to the individual dog, meaning you want to select a good breeder who will help match the right puppy to your family. Peggy would not have been a good fit, but some of her littermates have been very successful in homes with children.

Same goes for energy levels. These will vary between lines and even within each litter. You want what’s called an “easy keeper.” I know both spoos and minis that fit this description.

And same, too, with acceptance of strangers. This will vary, so you want to make sure you’re getting a puppy who is going to be comfortable with children coming over to your home. And then you need to put in the work to socialize the puppy positively, building on the foundation of his or her temperament. This is very hard to do right now with covid.

 

[Dianaleez]

Our mini loves children and strangers. We worked hard to help him be that way. Seriously, we brought neighborhood children over to play with him and slipped treats to strangers to give him when he was a pup.

He's very a very calm and laid-back little 17-pound dog in part because we are calm and quiet. We see that he gets enough exercise and dog activities each day to keep him happy.

But there's only so much we can do to shape his attitude. Each dog comes to us with a unique personality. We can help them bring out the qualities we like and discourage the traits we find trying, but we have to respect the doggy person they truly are.

Do your children want a big dog or a small dog?

 

[Raindrops]

I think you could easily find a mini that is a good fit if that is the size you feel comfortable with. Both minis and standards can be high energy but it varies among individuals. My mini is high energy but not really hyper. Just excitable at times. The important thing is to find a high quality reputable breeder that knows their lines very well and will be able to pair you with a puppy that has the temperament you want. In regard to children, minis can be great playmates but children must be taught to watch out for their safety especially when they are puppies. It is also important that children learn to respect a dog and give them space when needed. But with that in mind, minis are great family pets.

 

[nycas21]

Why are standard poodles reserved temperament based

 

[cowpony]

Why are standard poodles reserved temperament based

I wouldn't say all spoos are reserved. My boy Snarky would pretzel himself around strangers' legs if I let him. Pogo was more likely to hang back instead of initiating contact with strangers, but he was your best friend forever if you offered him a squeaky tennis ball.

I think there are two reasons for reserve. One is that poodles were originally gun dogs. Their job was to focus on the hunt and pay attention to their owner's commands, not run up to strange hunters. Another is that poodles suffer from being adorably fluffy, and people want to smoosh those curls. I'm sure a lot of times the dog thinks, "Eww, why is this weirdo groping me."

 

[nycas21]

Which poodle follows family members around the house more the mini or standard. I heard mini like to follow around .

 

[Asta's Mom]

My Asta is a laid back standard. Part of his job is to watch out after me or summon help when I need it. He is really in tune with me, a velcro dog to me, not so much my husband. Think you could find a mini or a standard that meets your needs. Have heard that minis are more active so you may want to consider a smaller sized standard.

 

[PeggyTheParti]

Peggy is a standard poodle and follows us everywhere, but she did this from day 1 as a puppy. It’s partly why we chose her. She also gets loads of attention on the street and happily soaks it all up. But....she will growl at people from a distance if she is worried. She is definitely a guard dog and not shy about communicating her feelings. My mini, in those situations, would have barked shrilly. Personally, I found the bark less embarrassing than the growl, but it was still mighty embarrassing at the time.

 

[cowpony]

My guys have always hung out with the person they think most likely to be doing something fun & interesting. So, if you want a clingy poodle, do stuff. Teach tricks (mine have always loved learning tricks: attention + food), take them on car rides, go for walks, toss them a ball while you watch TV.

 

[dogsavvy]

As a kid growing up, Mom had 2 mini Poodles, Fancy & Petty. Fancy was feisty, very good little watch dog, keenly aware of what belonged on the farm & what didn't. Petty was more laid back. I could play dress up with her. She wore my baby doll dresses, bonnets on her head, lay in the doll stroller, etc... Fancy on the other hand liked to hunt mice. She was busier. While I would sit & brush her out, she wasn't as patient with grooming. Our Doberman would get her down & pull stickers out of her curls & she would sit for that for hours. I guess I was too gentle. Silly Poodle. But she was also the dog who learned how to drive the neighbor's cattle or the hogs out of Mom's garden ( a very dangerous job for a dog so small). She learned how to be sly, sneak into the midst of them, bark like a mad thing & she'd race around, snarling & snapping & scare the animals off & of course the Dobermans would back her up. Both dogs, highly intelligent (Fancy more so than Petty but Petty was no dummy), both of the same breed & similar breeding, both raised & handled by the same people. Just totally different personalities.

My Standard male is almost 2 years old now. He can be very calm & laid back in the house but with the snap of the fingers he can be ready to romp & play, go run outside, annoy the squirrels & terrorize the ladies. He can be a prankster. At this age there are times when he'll crate himself & I can hear the feet tippy tapping & this is his sign to me that he's got energy & he needs to go out & blow it off. He'll go terrorize the squirrels or I'll take him out to run with the other 2 working dogs we have. He is also gentle enough to live with 2 very small Chihuahuas. There were pups in his litter even more laid back than he is. One beautiful pup that I believe was silver & white (or would be silver & white). He was so chill I don't know what it would take to get him excited. In the same litter my boy had a brother who was more alpha, a little hotter, needed a certain type of home. Nice pup just temperament very different than most of the litter. Good breeders know their pups & will be able to advise you.

A lot will depend upon your children & the personality of the dog you choose. You know your kids. If they're rough & tumbles & full of energy & would like to play chase games & play ball, etc... then you'll want a calm dog who is playful & who will enjoy those types of games & kids. Of course then you work with the incoming dog to learn how to safely play with the kids. On the flip side if you have the quieter kind of kid or particularly gentle children you'll want calm & more mellow. There is a bit of an art to matching up the right dog for the energy of the whole family so you'll want a breeder who listens to & understands your needs no matter which Poodle you choose.

You will probably be able to find most of what you want in either the mini or the standard. There are even breeders breeding smallish standard Poodles. My bruiser is probably around 75 pounds & he's getting more mass on him these days. That's one thing you can't undo is the size.

 

[dogsavvy]

Cowpony,

Some how I missed your post. You absolutely hit the nail on the head. When we are doing something with the dog & we do it well, we become more interesting.