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.
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
StandardSilver 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 SilverPoodleGrooming
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
Trimming the nails once or twice a week prevents breakage and scratching.
Grooming Overview
Amount of Shedding
Low
Tendency to Drool
Low
Tendency to Snore
Low
Easy to Groom
Low
Standard SilverPoodle 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:
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
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
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
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
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.
An underactive thyroid gland results in hypothyroidism.
Consequences of Hypothyroidism:
Epilepsy
Hair loss
Obesity
Lethargy
Hyperpigmentation
Pyoderma and other skin conditions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
StandardSilver 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.
StandardSilver 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.
