Appearance
Most poodles are proportionally long legged dogs. Unlike many breeds, poodles come in a variety of sizes, distinguished by shoulder height. Standard poodles are 15 inches and over, while miniature poodles are 10 to 15 inches, and toys are under 10 inches. Very small "Teacup" poodles have been bred, however they are not recognized as a distinct standard by any of the kennel clubs.
Coat and Color
Poodles have dense, curly, non shedding hair that grows year round and requires regular grooming. Most are solid colored, and many registries only allow solid colors in conformation shows. Solid colored poodles may either hold their color or fade to a lighter shade. Usually, the ears and the thicker guard hairs hold more of the original color than other hair.
Poodles have hair instead of fur causing them to be non shedding and hypoallergenic. Texture ranges from coarse and woolly, to soft and wavy. Poodle show clips require many hours of brushing and care per week. Poodles are usually clipped down, as soon as their show career is over, and put into a lower maintenance cut. Pet clips are much less elaborate than show clips and require much less maintenance.