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Standard Silver Poodle – Everything You Need to know

Poodles are intelligent and stylish dogs often admired for their beauty and intelligence. However, Silver Poodles are a rarity among the Poodles due to their distinct silver-colored coat. The silver coloration occurs due to a couple of silver allele V genes. The presence of this gene dilutes the gray color and yields a perfect silver. Surprisingly, a Silver Poodle is born with a black coat that clears in the face and paws by the age of 6 weeks. The coat gradually transforms to a silver color before they reach two years of age. The gradual lightening of the coat to another color is termed ‘clear.’  Additionally, silver breeds are recognized as pure breeds.

Standard Silver Poodle Pros and Cons 

Pros    Cons    
Intelligent   High Grooming Needs  
Hypoallergenic  Excessive barking  

Standard Silver Poodle Basic Information

  • Name: Silver Standard Poodle  
  • Height: Over 15 inches  
  • Weight: 40 to 70 pounds  
  • Color: Solid Blue 
  • Coat: Thick, Curly, and Wiry  
  • Hypoallergenic: Yes  
  • Energy: Medium to High   
  • Activities: Therapy Dogs, Companion Dogs   
  • Group: Non-Sporting Group 
  • Barking Level: High
  • Shedding Level:  Low
  • Litter Size: 1 to 3 Puppies    
  • Life Span: 10 – 18 Years  
  • Other Names: Puddle, Caniche  
Features  Standard Poodle  Standard Silver Poodle
          Image      
Origin  Germany, France  Germany
Height  Over 15 inches  Over 15 inches  
Weight  40 to 70 Pounds  Males 45 – 70 poundsFemales 45 – 60 pounds
Size  Medium  Medium
Group  Non-Sporting  Non-Sporting
Children Compatibility  High  High
Family Compatibility  High  High  
Pets Compatibility  Medium to High  Medium to High  
Barking Level  Low to Medium  Low to Medium  
Shedding Level  Low  Low  
Hypoallergenic  Yes  Yes  
Grooming Needs  High  High  
Overall Health  Low to Medium  Low to Medium  
Energy  Medium to High  Medium to High  
Exercise Needs  Medium to High  Medium to High  
Trainability  High  High  
Activities  Therapy Dogs, Companion Dogs  Therapy Dogs, Companion Dogs  
Complication in breeding    No  No
Life Span  10 to 18 Years  10 to 18 Years  

Standard Silver Poodle Personality

Silver Poodles come in toy, miniature, and standard sizes. The silver coloration first appeared in miniature Poodles, then passed on to the other sizes. Additionally, Silver Poodles come in various shades, such as sparkling platinum that ranges from white to a beautiful pewter color. They may have brown or black eyes. Their ears are long, flat, and dangle close to their head. They have a moderately rounded skull with an elongated muzzle. Their topline is flattened and ends with a tail. The legs of Poodles are in proportion with their body size with tiny oval-shaped feet and curved toes.  

Standard Silver Poodles grow to a minimum height of 15 inches and have a life span up to a maximum of 18 years. Female Poodles weigh between 40 and 50 lbs. whereas males weigh between 60 and 70 lbs. They have a natural affinity towards people, kids, family, and home. But with strangers, they require some time to warm up. 

The silver color of these Poodles occurs due to a recessive gene. Therefore, they are a rarity. Additionally, this color is possible only if both the parents are Silver Poodles. For this reason, Silver Poodles are more difficult to breed.   

Friendliness Overview

  Affection Level                               High    
Family-Friendly    High    
Kid-Friendly    High   
Pet-Friendly    Medium to High  
Strangers-Friendly    Medium to High  

Adaptability Overview

Good for New Pet Owners    High  
Good for Apartment Living    High    
Sensitivity Level    Medium  
Tolerates being alone    Low   
Cold Tolerance    Medium  
Heat Tolerance    Medium to High  

Standard Silver Poodle Temperament

The Standard Silver Poodle is very smart, noble, dignified, and loyal. They are elegant companion dogs who love to be playful. With a protective instinct, they warn the entry of strangers with a bark. These dogs have a calm temperament but they quickly sense a lack of authority and become quite destructive. Additionally, they turn out to be disobedient and are challenging to control. Hence, it is vital to establish yourself to be the pack leader when dealing with these canines. However, these dogs also don’t respond to harsh discipline. So it is necessary to spend time with them in the form of pack walks to keep separation anxiety and behavioral issues at bay.   

Standard Silver Poodle Training

Due to high intelligence, Standard Silver Poodles are easily trainable. They are pretty active and can learn commands quickly. They have a fantastic memory, which makes them good learners. They can be trained for agility and obedience. They are suitable for canine sports like tracking, water retrieving, and dock diving. Consistent training coupled with positive reinforcement enhances their learning. Like every dog, early socialization skills are vital for Standard Silver Poodles to improve their compatibility with other pets and children.  

Trainability Overview

Easy to Train    High   
Intelligence    High   
Prey Drive    Low to Medium   
Tendency to Chew, Nip & Play-bite    Medium to High  
Tendency to Bark or Howl    Low to Medium  
Wanderlust Ability    Medium   
Attention/Social Needs    High    

Standard Silver Poodle Exercise Needs

Although Standard Silver Poodles are active and lively, they are predominantly indoor dogs. Unless taken outdoors, they may quickly develop boredom. For this reason, they have to be physically and mentally stimulated. They can be assigned with any exercise that involves water, jogging, and walking. Therefore, swimming is an excellent exercise for them.

Additionally, games like puzzles and activities stimulate them mentally. You should also take caution while walking along with them as they tend to act as pack leaders if they lead and become disobedient. Further, enrolling them in obedience training is essential to keep them from developing destructive behaviors.  

Exercise Needs Overview

Energy Level                                    Medium to High   
Exercise Needs                               Medium to High   
Playfulness                                      High    
Intensity    Medium  

Standard Silver Poodle Grooming

Hair

  • Standard Silver Poodles have thick and wavy hair that can be groomed, shaved, trimmed, or clipped.  
  • As Poodles are hypoallergenic and don’t shed much, they easily collect loose hairs in their coats. To avoid quick matting of loose hair, you must brush them daily. 
  • Further, their tearful eyes stain the hair below them. These stains will be visible for Poodles with a lighter coat. To combat staining, you may dry the area around the eyes and face with an alcohol-free pet wipe or warm wet washcloth.  

Coat

  • To maintain a clean, short, and tangle-free coat, Poodles have to bathe and be groomed regularly every three to six weeks.  

Ears 

  • Poodles have drop-down ears that prevent their ear canal from drying, making them prone to ear infections. Hence, they have to be checked every week for dirt, redness, or a foul odor. To prevent infections, wipe your poodle’s ears with a cotton ball dipped in pH-balanced ear cleaner.  
  • Additionally, consult your vet or groomer to check if the hairs that grow in a Poodle’s ear canal must be plucked. 

Teeth 

  • A daily tooth brushing helps your Poodle maintain good oral health. It prevents tartar buildup, gum disease, bad breath, and bacteria. 

Nails  

Grooming Overview 

Amount of Shedding                      Low  
Tendency to Drool    Low  
Tendency to Snore    Low  
Easy to Groom    Low  

Standard Silver Poodle Health

Silver Poodles are healthy dogs who lead a long life. But they may be vulnerable to specific health conditions, which you may have to be aware of as a pet parent. They include:

  1. Addison’s Disease 

This disease occurs when the adrenal glands secrete inadequate adrenal hormones, posing a severe threat to a dog’s survival.

Symptoms of Addison’s disease

  • Vomiting
  • Poor Appetite
  • Lethargy

With the onset of more severe symptoms, performing a series of tests helps diagnose this disease. Some of the painful symptoms include: 

  • Stress 
  • High Potassium levels 
  • Interference with heart function 
  • Severe Shock 
  • Death
  1. Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus

Bloat or GDV is a life-threatening condition prevalent in deep-chested dogs such as Poodles. When bloat occurs, your pet’s gut becomes distended with gas and twists. This trapped gas hampers your canine’s ability to belch or vomit. This inability blocks the average return of blood to the heart, causing a drop in blood pressure leading to shock. If untreated, this shock could eventually lead to death. 

Causes Of Bloat: 

  •  When they are fed more than one large meal per day. 
  • They eat rapidly 
  • Drink large volumes of water after eating. 
  • Exercise vigorously after eating. 

Symptoms of Bloat: 

  • A distended abdomen 
  • Excessive salivation 
  • Retching without vomit 
  • Restlessness 
  • Depression 
  • Lethargy 
  • Weakness 
  • Rapid heart rate
  1. Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s disease results due to excessive production of the hormone cortisol. Depending upon its severity, your poodle may need surgical intervention or medications.  

Causes Of Cushing’s disease:

  • Imbalance of the pituitary
  • Imbalance of the adrenal gland

Symptoms of Cushing’s disease:

  • Excessive drinking 
  • Frequent urination 
  1. Epilepsy: The common cause of epilepsy is inheritance and it presents itself in mild or severe form

Other Causes of Epilepsy:

  • Metabolic disorders
  • Infectious diseases of the brain
  • Tumors
  • Exposure to poisons
  • Severe head injuries

Symptoms of Epilepsy

  • Frantically running as if being chased
  • Staggering
  • Hiding
  1. Hip Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia is a heritable condition that occurs when the thigh bones don’t fit aptly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint.

Other Causes of Hip Dysplasia: 

  • Injuries 
  • Excessive weight gain 
  • Wrong exercises 

This condition causes defects or injury to the hip bones and joints and worsens without treatment.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs include:

  • Reduced activity and movements
  • Reluctance to rise, jump, run or climb
  • Lameness in the hind limbs
  • Reducing thigh muscle mass
  • Swaying, “bunny hopping” gait
  • Grating in the joint during movement
  • Enlarging shoulders
  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  1. Hypothyroidism

An underactive thyroid gland results in hypothyroidism.

Consequences of Hypothyroidism:

  • Epilepsy
  • Hair loss
  • Obesity
  • Lethargy
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Pyoderma and other skin conditions
  1. Legg-Perthes Disease

This condition occurs when the rear bones of the legs don’t receive enough blood supply. As a result, the connection between the hind bones and the pelvis falls apart. Toy breeds are most prone to this condition of the hip joint.   

Symptoms of Legg-Perthes in dogs include:

  • Limping 
  • Atrophy of the leg muscle occurs when puppies are 4 to 6 months old.

Treatment:

Legg-Perthes is treatable through surgery, but the creation of the scar tissue renders a false joint to the puppy, which makes it pain-free. 

  1. Progressive Retinal Atrophy 

The gradual deterioration of the eye’s retina marks the progression of this disease. Affected dogs exhibit symptoms of night-blindness which slowly progresses to complete loss of vision. Most affected dogs adapt well to their limited or lost vision if they continue to reside in the same environment.  

  1. Patellar Luxation

A painful condition that occurs due to the dislocation of the kneecap that slides out of its position. Despite being a crippling condition, many dogs adapt well to this abnormality.  

  1. Optic Nerve Hypoplasia

Optic nerve hypoplasia is a congenital disability that affects the development of the eye’s optic nerve. It leads to loss of vision and abnormal pupil response.  

  1. Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) 

Sebaceous adenitis is the most prevalent among standard Poodles. It is an inherited condition characterized by inflammation and gradual destruction of the skin’s sebaceous glands. The absence of this gland shows symptoms in dogs aged 1 to 5 years such as:

  • Dry and scaly skin
  • Hair loss on top of the head, neck, and back.

Severely affected dogs can have

  • Thickened skin and
  • An unpleasant odor
  • Secondary skin infections
  1. Von Willebrand’s Disease

This disease is a genetically transmitted blood disorder characterized by an inability to clot. 

Symptoms of Von Willebrand’s Disease:

  • Excessive bleeding post-surgery or injury  
  • Nosebleeds 
  • Bleeding gums
  • Bleeding in the stomach or intestines.

Unfortunately, treatment is currently unavailable for this illness. Hence, it would help if you didn’t breed dogs with this disorder.  

Standard Silver Poodle Diet and Nutrition

Standard Silver Poodles are prone to obesity. As a result, they have to be fed a portion of high-quality dry food. The recommended daily amounts may range from 1.5 to 3 cups, divided into two meals a day. However, food consumption depends largely upon an individual dog’s size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.  

Standard Silver Poodle Living Condition

Standard Silver Poodles are the best choice for new pet owners and can be accommodated well in an apartment. They are not much sensitive to noise but crave constant companionship, making them prone to separation anxiety. As a result, these dogs shouldn’t be left alone for long. Additionally, their thick coat is not cold-resistant; hence they shouldn’t be exposed to freezing temperatures.  

Adding a Silver Standard Poodle to Your Family

Things to Remember Before Buying a Silver poodle

Silver Poodles are born black, and the process of clearing transforms them into Silver Poodles. However, some Poodles may seem patchy during this transformation: part silver and dark gray. This patchiness is part of the clearing process. Hence an adult Standard Silver Poodle can have darker and lighter spots.  

Cost of a Standard Silver Poodle

Standard Silver Poodles are pricier when compared to other poodle colors. Additionally, it is vital to buy a Poodle from a reputable breeder who can assure his health. A Poodle from such a breeder costs anywhere between  $2,500-$5,000.

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