Standard Poodle Forum:
Poodle temperments?

Our family wil be getting our new poodle puppy in about 5 weeks. After doing extensive research on which breed would be perfect for our family we decided on the Standard Poodle. We are anxiously awaiting our new addition. Now I am suddenly starting to hear horror stories about this particular breed, that they can have bad temperments. I was even told by 2 different people that they were attacked by a Standard Poodle. I know this could be true of any breed. I thought the Standards had great temperments for the most part. Has anyone ever encountered a bad experience with a Standard?

You can find bad examples in any breed. Responsible breeders do not use dogs with poor temperaments in their breeding program. There are also environmental factors - puppies need to be properly socialized and taught good manners. The Standard Poodle is a wonderful breed and, as a general rule, a great family dog. However, your children also need to be taught how to behave with their dog and that the puppy is a companion, not a plaything to be mauled and mishandled.