Moyen vs Standard Poodle: The Differences (With Pictures)

In the United States, you don’t often hear of the Moyen Poodle. However, this term is much more common in Europe, where Moyen means “medium.” These Poodles are just like the ones we know today, but they're slightly smaller than a Standard Poodle.

In Europe, the Moyen Poodle is between a Miniature Poodle and a Standard Poodle. In the United States, there isn’t a size in the middle. However, several kennel clubs in Europe do recognize this differing size.

This size is becoming more popular in the United States. However, it is not recognized by the American Kennel Club right now.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Moyen Poodle Overview

Moyen Poodles are “medium” Poodles. These dogs originated from France and surrounding countries, where they were the result of Standard Poodle's interbreeding with Miniature Poodles. When you first breed these two dogs together, the size can differ a lot. You will get some Poodles that are Standard size, some in the middle, and some that are Miniature size.

It usually is not until after four generations of breeding medium dogs together that Moyen Poodles have a reliable size. Therefore, most dogs that fall into this category have been Moyen Poodles for quite a while.

Even in America, Moyen Poodles are typically imported from Europe—as opposed to the kennel making their own.

Grooming ✂️

These dogs require the same amount of grooming as any other Poodle. Usually, companion animals get a much easier-to-care-for cut, like a puppy cut. Show dogs require a lot of grooming, so their cut usually isn’t chosen for companion animals.

Of course, because these dogs are smaller, they usually don’t require as much brushing. Their grooming sessions are shorter and less expensive. Plus, they don’t have as much body surface to brush. In the end, this leads to them being much easier to care for.

Availability

Often, fully grown Moyen Poodles are hard to find in the United States. You typically have to import them from Europe. However, there are a few American breeders that do produce these dogs. Be sure you’re receiving a canine that has been in a Moyen breeding line for a while. American breeders producing their own Moyen lines are fine as long as the dogs now have a reasonable size guarantee.

You don’t want to purchase a Moyen Poodle only to find that the puppy grows to a Standard size.

Price

In America, these dogs can be a bit more expensive because they're harder to find. However, they aren’t so expensive that they’re impossible for the average person to find. In many situations, they may not even be much more expensive than Standard.

Suitable For:

The Moyen Poodle size is slightly smaller than a Standard Poodle. Therefore, they may do better in apartments and similarly small spaces. They're also great for people who just don’t want a larger dog. But, they can be more expensive and harder to find, largely because this size isn’t popular in the United States.

Standard Poodle Overview

Standard Poodles were the “original” Poodles. However, we don’t know exactly where they came from. Germany is often understood to be the birthplace of the Poodle. However, France also claims that it was the original birthplace. (Though, most experts do agree that it was probably Germany.)

The Standard Poodle was then bred into other sizes. For instance, the Miniature Poodle came out first after small Poodles were bred together. Then, the Poodles got even smaller as Toy Poodles. Next, the Poodles were bred together to create the Moyen Poodle.

However, Standard Poodles are still considered the original size. They're the largest of all Poodles.

Grooming ✂️

These dogs require a lot of grooming. However, they do not shed, which is always a plus. They require regular haircuts and plenty of brushing to prevent tangles. Because they are large, their haircuts take quite a bit of work (and money). These are some of the most expensive dogs to groom—even if you get them in a basic, low-maintenance cut.

Therefore, plan to pay more to get these dogs groomed properly. Grooming a Poodle is absolutely necessary and a required expense.

Availability

Standard Poodles are pretty common. After all, they were the type of Poodle in the beginning. Therefore, they are extremely common today throughout much of the world. You can find Standard Poodle breeders throughout much of the United States. Most of the time, you’ll be able to choose between breeders, as there are usually multiple kennels in an area.

Therefore, if you don’t want to look hard for a dog, the Standard Poodle is probably the best option.

Price

Standard Poodles can be expensive because of their size. It takes a lot of money to feed and house these dogs while breeding. Therefore, their puppies tend to cost a bit more. Furthermore, these dogs also cost more to own. They require more food, and their vet bills tend to be more expensive.

Suitable For:

The Standard Poodle is, well, standard. It is easy to find breeders, and everyone knows what a Standard Poodle is. They are a bit more expensive to purchase and own, requiring lots of grooming and more expensive care. But they can fit in well with many different families, provided that you can afford their care and provide them the proper amount of exercise.

Sizing Differences

The only difference between these dogs objectively is their size difference. If you had a Moyen Poodle and a Standard Poodle next to one another, they would be mostly the same except for their size.

The Moyen Poodle is slightly smaller than the Standard Poodle. However, the line between these two dogs can be thin. In the United States, many Moyen Poodles would be categorized as smaller Standard Poodles. It’s only in Europe where the Standard Poodle is divided further into the Moyen size. Therefore, in the United States, Moyen Poodles may be called Standard Poodles.

However, dogs advertised as Moyen Poodles are usually smaller. Standard Poodles can be quite large by comparison.

Which Breed Is Right for You?

Which breed you choose largely depends on whether you can find a Moyen Poodle in your area and what size you prefer. Some people prefer smaller sizes, so they may decide that waiting for a Moyen Poodle is worth it. Others may decide that being able to get a puppy quickly (and with the right characteristics) is more important than the size.

However, for the most part, these dogs are extremely similar. Therefore, you do not need to feel pressured to choose the right one. If you have already decided that a Poodle fits your lifestyle, choosing between a Moyen and a Standard Poodle will be easy.

• See Also: Black Poodle: Facts, Origin & History (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Top - Lisjatina, Shutterstock | Bottom - chili71, Pixabay