Moyen Poodle vs Standard Poodle: Which Is The Better Dog?

The Poodle is a beautiful dog that has many owners around the world. According to the AKC, there are three types of Poodle – Toy, Miniature, and Standard. But in Europe, there is one more – the Moyen Poodle.

By doing a Moyen Poodle vs Standard Poodle comparison, their only difference is their size. The Moyen Poodle is situated between the Standard and the Miniature one. It is 15 – 20 inches tall and has the same curly Poodle coat. In this article, we explain more about this interesting Poodle variant.

• What Is A True Moyen Poodle?
• Moyen Poodle Size Comparison
• Moyen Poodle Coat Types
• The Moyen Poodle Temperament
• Taking Care Of A Moyen Poodle
• How Much Do Moyen Poodles Cost?

What Is A True Moyen Poodle? 

The word “Moyen” is a French word meaning medium. It is used for Poodles that are between Standard and Miniature Poodles in size. In Germany, it is also referred to as Klein. A true Moyen Poodle has a height of 15-20 inches and a weight of 15-35 pounds. In America, this Poodle doesn’t exist.

Where Does It Originate?

Even though it is the national dog of France, the Poodle actually originates from Germany. It has records of originating in the 15th century when it was used as a gun dog and water dog. It was later brought to America and officially accepted by the AKC in 1887.

Moyen Poodle Size Comparison

In order to explain the Moyen Poodle, we need to look at the accepted European sizes for the Poodle. From smallest to biggest, we have the:

• Toy Poodle – less than 10 inches tall, around 4-6 pounds heavy.
• Miniature Poodle – 10-15 inches tall, around 10-15 pounds heavy.
• Moyen Poodle – 15-20 inches tall, around 15-35 pounds heavy.
• Standard Poodle – 20-24 inches tall, around 40-70 pounds heavy.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Moyen Poodle is not accepted. Instead, Standard Poodles are considered any Poodles taller than 15 inches.

Moyen Poodle Coat Types

Poodles are known for their magnificent coats, which a lot of owners like to give interesting haircuts to. They have long curly coats that come in a few colors. 

According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the organization that accepts Moyens, the coat can have five colors:

• Brown
• Black
• White
• Grey
• Fawn

That said, when we look at the accepted coat colors according to the AKC, we can find a few more. There, Apricot, Blue, Cafe Au Lait, Cream, Silver, and Silver Beige are also accepted.

The Moyen Poodle Temperament

The personality of the Moyen and the Standard Poodle is the same and they only differ in their size. Poodles are known to be very affectionate and lively dogs. Sometimes, a Poodle will pick a favorite family member, but it will also respect the whole family. They are perfect family dogs and get along well with children.

Poodles are highly intelligent dogs that are eager to please. They need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation during the day to stay happy. They can also suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. Moyen Poodles might fit better compared to Standard ones due to their smaller size.

Taking Care Of A Moyen Poodle

Caring for a Standard vs Moyen Poodle won’t be any different. Both sized dogs need regular vet checkups, proper diet, exercise, training, and grooming,

Health And Lifespan

The Moyen Poodle can have a long life expectancy from 10 to 18 years. It is mostly a healthy dog, but there are a few common health issues.

• Addison’s disease – This disease affects the adrenal gland. It causes it to produce smaller amounts of the hormone cortisol. This leads to symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, digestive issues, and weight loss.
• Epilepsy – This neurological disease causes the central nervous system to misfire and work improperly. This leads to focal or generalized seizures that can range from mild to life-threatening.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy – This is a disease of the eye that causes a deterioration of the retinal cells. In time the Poodle will lose its night vision, develop poor eyesight, and even go blind.
• Hip Dysplasia – This disease affects the hip joints. It causes a misalignment in the ball and socket joint of the hip. This causes the dog to experience pain, have difficulty walking, and start limping.

Nutrition

Different sizes of Poodles may need different amounts of food to be healthy. Toy and Miniature Poodles might do better with dog food made for small breeds. A cup of food a day will be enough for them. Moyen and Standard Poodles will need dog food meant for middle-sized dogs. One to two cups of food a day will be enough for them.

Make sure that you feed them food that is of good quality. Find companies that you trust and that your vet recommends. It should contain a lot of protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fatty acids. It shouldn’t contain a lot of carbs and artificial ingredients.

Exercise And Training

In order to maintain a healthy Moyen Poodle weight, the dog needs to have enough exercise. Poodles are energetic dogs and need up to an hour of exercise every day. This can be split into two sessions during the day. You can take your Poodle walking, running, hiking, or playing games with it to keep it active. Due to its intelligence, it also needs mental stimulation.

Training the Poodle is important and will be easier due to its high intelligence. Sometimes, Poodles can get a bit stubborn and you will need to be persistent. If they aren’t trained and socialized properly, Poodles might start biting.

Grooming

Grooming will be the same regardless of the Poodle size differences. Poodles are known for their lavish curly coat that needs to be maintained. They need to be brushed daily, or once every two days to prevent mats and knots from forming. 

Poodles will start smelling bad if they are not bathed regularly. Bathing it once every 3 weeks will prevent bad smells. Just make sure you use a shampoo meant for dogs. The Poodle coat should also be trimmed regularly. This can either be done by a professional groomer or the owner. Besides that, Poodles need their nails trimmed, teeth brushed, and ears cleaned regularly.

How Much Do Moyen Poodles Cost? 

Usually, the smaller the Poodle is, the more it costs. If you can’t find any Moyen Poodles in the USA, you can try looking for a small Standard Poodle.

Cost Of Buying

A Moyen Poodle can cost anywhere from $600-$2000. The price will depend on the parents of the breed. If their parents have won any dog shows, you should be expecting a higher price. The breeder should give you all information you need about the pup. They should let you see its parents and see if they have any unwanted genetic defects.

Some Moyen Poodles include Classic Canine Moyen Poodles, The Moyen Poodle, and Noir Poodles.

Cost Of Adopting

A cheaper way to find Moyen Poodle puppies will be to search for one in a rescue shelter. This is a humane way to get yourself a pup, as you will give a home to a dog that really needs one. One drawback of this is that you might not get a puppy, but a full grown Moyen Poodle.

There are no rescue shelters that are specifically for Moyen Poodles, but you can try some Poodle shelters like NorCal Poodle Rescue and IDOG Rescue.

Moyen Poodle vs Standard Poodle – A Summary

The Moyen Poodle is described as a Poodle with a size between the Standard and the Miniature Poodle. It is accepted as a separate size variation in Europe, but not in America.  Moyen Poodles have a size of 15-20 inches in height and around 15-35 pounds in weight.

Besides their size, Moyen Poodles don’t have any differences compared to other Poodles. They are affectionate, friendly, and intelligent dogs that fit perfectly in any family. 

Moyen Poodles are healthy dogs and need to be fed a high-quality diet meant for their size. They should be groomed regularly and you can even give them a nice haircut. The price for these pups is different and can vary according to many factors.

FAQ

Are Moyen Poodles hypoallergenic?

No breed is truly hypoallergenic, but yes, the Moyen Poodle is considered a hypoallergenic breed. In fact, all Poodles are known for their low-shedding coats. This dog is a great choice for people that have allergies.

Which size Poodle is the healthiest?

All Poodles are generally healthy dogs. That said if you compare the lifespan of the Moyen vs Miniature Poodle, you can notice that smaller dogs live longer. So Toy Poodles will have the longest lifespan, and Standard Poodles the shortest.

Are Moyen Poodles Barkers?

Moyen Poodles are considered to be moderate barkers. There are some reasons that will cause a Poodle to bark more. These include separation anxiety, fear of loud noises, boredom, or excitement.