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Poodle

Poodle
Photo: Tim Wilson from Blaine, MN, USA / CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia

55 Poodles in the atlas. Every number on this page has a source.

Population-genetic snapshot of Poodles in the Sniff Atlas, source-graded Mendelian carrier frequencies from Donner 2023, and nutrition guidance tied to the genetic findings above.

Also known as Caniche and Pudelhund.

See in the atlas → From CanVAS
The plain version

Poodles have a moderately diverse genetic background. They typically weigh about 57 pounds and often live around 14 years. Their look and size can vary, but they’re known for their curly coat and friendly nature. So far, no specific genetic health concerns have been flagged in this breed, but it’s always a good idea to talk with your vet about any health questions.

What the atlas says about Poodle

In the atlas, the Poodle clusters consistently as Poodle (100% of the 55 dogs here). Genetic diversity is high (mean heterozygosity 0.3312), reflecting either a mixed-breed cluster or breeds with broad genetic backgrounds. At the trait loci, LCORL runs lower than average (36% here vs 83%); RSPO2 runs higher than the atlas average (100% here vs 55%).

Mean heterozygosity is 0.331, notably high, indicates broad genetic background. High breed predictability score (1.31), individual dogs of this breed reliably cluster together genetically.

Median lifespan is 14.0 years, about 2.3 years longer than a typical dog of 26.0 kg, an unusually positive longevity for this size.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Poodle

Computed from the 18,477 research dogs in the Atlas.

Dogs in the Atlas
55Founders
26 from Hayward2016, 24 from Shannon, 5 from Chen
Genetic diversity
0.33Moderate
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Ranks 78th most genetically tight of 107 ranked breeds.
What does genetic diversity mean?

How varied a breed's gene pool is — the share of gene spots where a typical dog of the breed carries two different versions rather than two identical ones.

How to read it: Higher = more diverse. Among well-sampled breeds it ranges roughly 0.22 (least diverse) to 0.33 (most diverse).

Diversity is a strength, not a verdict on any individual dog. Lower diversity means it's worth paying attention to recessive-risk testing — not that a dog is doomed.

Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 27.70 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
What does within-breed variation mean?

How much individual dogs within the breed differ from each other genetically.

How to read it: Higher = more internal variety among individuals of the breed.

Sensitive to how many dogs of the breed we've sampled.

Related breeds
Gave rise to
In the Non-Sporting group
Explore the full lineage map →
VBO foundation stock (breeding records) · AKC breed group
Relatedness is documented lineage + kennel family. Genetic-ancestry distance measures diversity, not kinship, so it isn't used here.
How long they live
14years (life expectancy)
95% CI 13.8–14.1 · VetCompass, McMillan 2024, n=6,427. source
What does typical lifespan mean?

The median age dogs of the breed tend to reach.

How to read it: Higher = longer-lived. Compare to longevity-for-size to see whether it's just a size effect.

Drawn from population lifespan records; individual dogs vary widely with care, genetics, and luck.

Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP.

Body size
IGF161%
HMGA248%
SMAD254%
LCORL36%
STC261%
ADAMTS1734%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA1862%
FGF4·CFA1276%
Coat
RSPO2100%
FGF556%
KRT7198%
MC1R83%
Ear set
MSRB380%
Skull shape
BMP396%
SMOC266%
n = 55 dogs · high confidence · CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · Sniff Atlas
Names & origins

Other names

The Poodle is also recorded as Caniche and Pudelhund.

Identified as Poodle (VBO:0201048) in the Vertebrate Breed Ontology (Mullen et al. 2025, CC-BY 4.0) · registry IDs FCI 172 · iDog 188 · VeNom 19045.

Temperament

What Poodles tend toward

Tendencies from owner surveys of purebred Poodles — a leaning across the breed, not a prediction for any one dog. A bar’s strength shows how much of that behavior breed actually explains: for most it’s faint, because the rest is your dog, their training, and the life you give them.

Biddabilitybreed ~18%
biddableindependent
Agonistic Thresholdbreed ~9%
assertivediffident
Dog Sociabilitybreed ~8%
less sociablehighly sociable
Human Sociabilitybreed ~11%
less sociablehighly sociable
Toy-directed Motor Patternsbreed ~18%
toy-directednot toy-directed
Environmental Engagementbreed ~9%
high engagementlow engagement
Arousal Levelbreed ~8%
arousedcomposed
Proximity Seekingbreed ~13%
affectionatealoof
n = 98 dogs · Morrill et al. 2022, Science, Darwin's Ark (CC0)
Owner-reported purebreds; each factor n ≥ 25. "Breed ~%" is the share of this behavior explained by breed.
What you see when you look at a Poodle

What does the genome say about how a Poodle looks?

Poodles look the way they do because of a small set of fixed and near-fixed morphology genes that, taken together, define the visible breed. Each translation below pairs the gene with the trait an owner actually sees, the breed's allele frequency at that locus, and a one-clause causal phrase.

Where the breed-defining genes act, mapped on a generic dog-body key — and how fixed each marker is in the Poodle. The figure is the most-settled marker we read in that region; the full per-locus panel is below. (The silhouette is a shared anatomical guide, not this breed's outline.)

Body sizeIGF1 · 61%Skull shapeBMP3 · 96%EarsMSRB3 · 80%Leg lengthFGF4 CFA12 · 76%Coat & colorRSPO2 · 100%
CanVAS trait-locus panel (Brundage 2026)
15 morphology markers read across 5 regions. Allele frequency = how fixed a marker is in this breed, not whether your dog carries it.

Size and build

IGF1 sits at 61% for the small-body allele. IGF1 is the gene that sets dog body size from Chihuahua to Great Dane. Intermediate frequencies typically keep a breed in the mid-sized range rather than tipping toward the larger working forms.

IGF1what this gene does

IGF1 is a gene that plays a key role in determining a dog's body size. It influences how much a dog grows, affecting overall stature.

For your dog: Knowing about IGF1 gives you insight into your dog's size traits, but it’s just one part of the bigger picture when it comes to their health and care.

Full IGF1 gene page →

HMGA2 sits at 48%. HMGA2 is a chromosome-10 size locus that acts together with IGF1, and intermediate frequencies reflect partial commitment to the dominant size variant.

HMGA2what this gene does

HMGA2 is a gene that influences body size in dogs, helping determine how big or small a dog grows.

For your dog: Knowing about HMGA2 helps you appreciate the genetic factors behind your dog's size, but it doesn't signal any health issues.

Full HMGA2 gene page →

SMAD2 sits at 54% at the chromosome-7 height locus.

SMAD2what this gene does

SMAD2 is a gene involved in regulating body size by influencing how cells grow and develop.

For your dog: Knowing about SMAD2 helps understand your dog's size traits but isn't linked to health issues; no immediate action needed.

Full SMAD2 gene page →

LCORL sits at 36% at the NCAPG/LCORL height locus on chromosome 3.

LCORLwhat this gene does

LCORL is a gene that influences body size in dogs. It helps determine how big or small a dog might grow.

For your dog: Knowing about LCORL helps you appreciate the genetic factors behind your dog's size, but it’s just one piece of the bigger picture when it comes to health and care.

Full LCORL gene page →

STC2 sits at 61%.

ADAMTS17 sits at 34%. ADAMTS17 is a body-size locus also linked to lens disorders.

ADAMTS17what this gene does

ADAMTS17 is a gene that influences body size and also plays a role in certain eye conditions. It affects the structure of tissues in the eye and elsewhere in the body.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry ADAMTS17 variants, it’s worth discussing genetic testing and eye exams with your vet to stay ahead of potential issues.

Full ADAMTS17 gene page →

Leg length

The FGF4 retrogene on chromosome 18 sits at 62%. This is the leg-length variant. The intermediate frequency means some dogs in this breed carry the short-legged allele and some do not.

The FGF4 retrogene on chromosome 12 sits at 76%, the chondrodystrophic variant.

Coat type, length, and color

RSPO2 is near-fixed at 100% for the furnishings allele, the genetic basis of the eyebrows-and-mustache pattern seen in Schnauzers and Wheaten Terriers.

RSPO2what this gene does

RSPO2 influences the texture and appearance of a dog's coat, particularly the presence of 'furnishings' like mustaches and eyebrows. It helps determine whether a dog has that distinctive wiry or textured look.

For your dog: If your dog has those wiry eyebrows or a mustache, RSPO2 is part of the reason—no health worries, just a coat feature worth knowing about.

Full RSPO2 gene page →

FGF5 sits at 56% for the long-coat variant. Coat length is influenced by other loci as well, so intermediate FGF5 frequencies do not always correspond to intermediate visible coat lengths.

FGF5what this gene does

FGF5 is a gene that influences the length of a dog's coat. It acts like a natural switch, telling hair follicles when to stop growing longer fur.

For your dog: If your dog has a notably long or short coat, FGF5 is likely part of the reason—no action needed, but it’s a neat genetic detail to know.

Full FGF5 gene page →

KRT71 is near-fixed at 98% for the wavy/curly variant. Coat curl phenotype varies across breeds at this fixation depending on modifier loci, and visible expression is not always curled even when the locus is fixed.

KRT71what this gene does

KRT71 is a gene that influences the curliness of a dog's coat. It helps determine whether a dog's fur is straight or has a distinctive curl.

For your dog: If your dog has a curly coat, KRT71 is likely part of the reason; it’s a natural variation, not a health concern.

Full KRT71 gene page →

MC1R sits at 83% at the representative SNP. MC1R controls the switch between red-to-gold pigment and black-to-brown pigment, with the e/e homozygous genotype producing the gold-to-red spectrum. Substrate frequencies at this SNP depend on the array's polarity, so visible coat color in the breed is a more reliable indicator than this single number.

MC1Rwhat this gene does

MC1R is a gene that influences coat color in dogs, affecting how pigments are produced in the fur.

For your dog: Knowing about MC1R gives insight into your dog's coat color but doesn't relate to health issues.

Full MC1R gene page →

Ears

MSRB3 sits at 80% for the drop-ear allele, which is why ear set varies across the breed.

MSRB3what this gene does

MSRB3 is a gene involved in the development of ear shape and structure in dogs.

For your dog: Understanding MSRB3 helps explain why your dog's ears look the way they do, but it isn't linked to any health issues.

Full MSRB3 gene page →

Skull shape

BMP3 is at 96%, contributing to the breed's brachycephalic skull shape.

BMP3what this gene does

BMP3 is a gene that influences the shape of a dog's skull, particularly contributing to a shorter, broader head shape known as brachycephaly.

For your dog: If your dog has a broad, short skull, it's worth discussing with your vet how this might impact their health, even though BMP3 isn't directly tied to illness.

Full BMP3 gene page →

SMOC2 sits at 66%, contributing to the breed's moderate head shape.

SMOC2what this gene does

SMOC2 influences the shape of a dog's skull, particularly affecting how flat or short the face appears.

For your dog: If your dog has a short nose, it's worth discussing with your vet how this trait might impact their health over time.

Full SMOC2 gene page →
Mendelian-disease genetics

What genetic diseases do Poodles carry?

From a panel of 250 Mendelian-disease variants screened in 1,054,293 dogs (Donner et al. 2023), Poodles carry 28 of them at observable frequency. Carrier frequency is not clinical risk. Most recessive variants require two copies for disease expression; many dominant variants show incomplete penetrance. Read this as a population fingerprint of what's in the gene pool, not a per-dog prediction.

Chondrodystrophy and Intervertebral Disc Disease Risk (CDDY)
Autosomal dominant
high 100.0%
n = 1 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000157-9615 · omia.org →
FGF4what this gene does

FGF4 influences leg length by affecting bone growth, leading to shorter legs in certain breeds.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry this gene, it's worth discussing spinal health with your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t guarantee problems.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
high 50.0%
n = 1 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000263-9615 · omia.org →
SOD1what this gene does

SOD1 is a gene that helps protect cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.

For your dog: If your dog is a carrier of SOD1 variants, it's worth discussing with your vet, but remember carrier status doesn't mean your dog will get the disease.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy risk factor (Discovered in the Doberman Pinscher; PDK4-related)
Autosomal dominant (Incomplete penetrance)
moderate 3.0%
n = 3,555 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:000162-9615 · omia.org →
PDK4what this gene does

PDK4 helps regulate how cells use energy, especially in the heart muscle.

For your dog: If your dog is one of the breeds known to carry this gene, it’s worth discussing heart health with your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t mean your dog will develop disease.

Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism (Discovered in Poodles)
Autosomal dominant
moderate 2.7%
n = 4,203 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000247-9615 · omia.org →
Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (prcd-PRA)
Autosomal recessive
low 8.2%
n = 3,547 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001298-9615 · omia.org →
PRCDwhat this gene does

PRCD is a gene involved in the health of a dog's retina, the part of the eye that detects light and helps with vision.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry PRCD changes, it's worth discussing eye health and potential genetic testing with your vet.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Discovered in the Chihuahua and Poodle)
Autosomal recessive
low 6.3%
n = 48 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002203-9615 · omia.org →
TNXBwhat this gene does

TNXB is a gene that helps produce a protein important for connective tissue, which supports skin, joints, and other structures in the body.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry TNXB variants, it's worth discussing with your vet, especially if you notice unusual joint flexibility or skin issues.

Osteochondrodysplasia (Discovered in the Miniature Poodle)
Autosomal recessive
low 2.1%
n = 94 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001400-9615 · omia.org →
SLC13A1what this gene does

SLC13A1 is a gene that helps transport important molecules involved in bone and cartilage health. It plays a role in maintaining the structure and function of these tissues.

For your dog: If your dog is one of the breeds known to carry this gene variant, it’s worth discussing with your vet to understand what it means for their bone health and care.

Cone-Rod Dystrophy (cord1-PRA/crd4)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low 1.1%
n = 3,550 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001432-9615 · omia.org →
RPGRIP1what this gene does

RPGRIP1 is a gene involved in the function of photoreceptor cells in the eye, which help dogs see in different light conditions.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry RPGRIP1 mutations, it’s worth discussing with your vet to understand the risks and monitor eye health.

Von Willebrand's Disease, Type 1 (vWD 1)
Autosomal recessive
low 1.1%
n = 4,202 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001057-9615 · omia.org →
Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (NEWS)
Autosomal recessive
low 0.64%
n = 4,203 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001471-9615 · omia.org →
Ichthyosis (Discovered in the Golden Retriever)
Autosomal recessive
low 0.29%
n = 4,203 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001588-9615 · omia.org →
PNPLA1what this gene does

PNPLA1 is a gene involved in maintaining the skin's barrier by helping produce essential fats that keep the skin healthy and hydrated.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry PNPLA1 variants and shows persistent dry, flaky skin, it's worth discussing with your vet to understand if genetics might be playing a role.

Cystinuria Type I-B (SLC7A9 p.A217T)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low 0.14%
n = 4,203 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:001880-9615 · omia.org →
SLC7A9what this gene does

SLC7A9 is a gene that helps transport certain amino acids in the kidneys. It plays a role in how the body handles cystine, an amino acid that can form crystals.

For your dog: If your dog is a carrier, it’s worth discussing with your vet to monitor urinary health and catch any issues early.

Bleeding disorder (Discovered in the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog; P2RY12-related)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 3,555 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001564-9615 · omia.org →
P2RY12what this gene does

P2RY12 is a gene that helps control how platelets stick together to form blood clots, which is essential for stopping bleeding.

For your dog: If your dog is from one of these breeds, it’s worth asking your vet about P2RY12 to understand any potential bleeding risks, especially before surgery or injury.

MDR1 (Multidrug Resistance 1) Medication Sensitivity
Autosomal dominant
low <0.1%
n = 3,555 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001402-9615 · omia.org →
ABCB1what this gene does

ABCB1 is a gene that helps control how certain drugs are processed and cleared from a dog's body.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed that carries this gene variant, ask your vet about medication sensitivities before giving any new drugs.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Discovered in the Golden Retriever; GR_PRA2)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,203 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001984-9615 · omia.org →
Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 1 (Discovered in Mastiff-related breeds; CMR1)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 3,555 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001444-9615 · omia.org →
BEST1what this gene does

BEST1 is a gene that helps maintain the health of the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It plays a role in keeping the cells in the retina functioning properly.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry BEST1 variants, it’s worth discussing retinal health with your vet, especially if you notice any vision changes.

Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 4,203 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001466-9615 · omia.org →
DNM1what this gene does

DNM1 is a gene that helps nerve cells communicate properly by managing how they send signals during muscle activity.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to one of the breeds known to carry this gene variant, it's worth discussing EIC with your vet, especially if your dog is very active or shows signs of weakness during exercise.

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 3,555 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000218-9615 · omia.org →
NHEJ1what this gene does

NHEJ1 is a gene involved in repairing breaks in DNA, helping maintain the integrity of genetic information in cells.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to one of the breeds known to carry this gene variant, it's worth discussing testing with your vet to understand any potential eye health risks.

Skeletal Dysplasia 2 (SD2)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 3,555 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001772-9615 · omia.org →
COL11A2what this gene does

COL11A2 is a gene that helps produce a type of collagen important for healthy bones and cartilage.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry COL11A2 variants, it's worth discussing genetic testing with your vet to understand any risks.

Early-Onset Progressive Polyneuropathy (Discovered in the Greyhound)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,203 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:002120-9615 · omia.org →
NDRG1what this gene does

NDRG1 is a gene involved in nerve cell function and maintenance, helping keep the nervous system working properly.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry NDRG1 variants, it’s worth discussing with your vet, especially if you notice any mobility issues.

Plus 8 more at lower frequency. Full table available via the API when shipped.
Source: Donner J et al. 2023. Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics 19(2):e1010651 · Evidence: Limited (DTC ascertainment, tag-SNP proxy) · Confounding MEDIUM · License CC-BY-4.0 · Phene IDs from OMIA (Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney; DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70).
Sample size in this breed: 7,853 dogs from the Donner 2023 cohort.

Which Mendelian variants matter most for Poodles?

The Donner 2023 cohort of Poodles (substrate breed designation: “Poodle”) returned no Mendelian variants at observable carrier frequency in this breed. This is not the same as “Poodles have no genetic disease.” It means the tested variants, the ones segregating visibly in other breeds, do not appear above detection threshold in the Poodle population sampled.

The absence of high-frequency monogenic disease does not eliminate genetic risk. Poodles carry the FGF4 retrogene at 62% (CFA18) and 76% (CFA12). In chondrodystrophic breeds like Dachshunds and Corgis, these variants shorten limbs and raise intervertebral disc disease risk. Poodles do not express shortened limbs, and whether IVDD risk is elevated in Poodles carrying these alleles is not yet established. The morphology alleles above shape the breed’s structure and coat, but none segregate at disease-threshold frequency in the current dataset.

This clean bill of genetic health on the Mendelian side is not the same as permission to ignore screening. Poodles develop hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (inherited but polygenic, not monogenic), ear infections, and Addison’s disease. The Poodle Club of America maintains a health survey. Those conditions are real; they are not captured in a single-variant test.

How should I test my Poodle?

The practical recommendation for Poodles is not a Mendelian panel, but orthopedic and ophthalmologic screening. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals tracks hip dysplasia evaluations for Poodles at ofa.org. The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) tracks progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts in Poodles. For breeding stock, OFA hip and elbow radiographs and CERF annual eye exams are the established standard. Genetic counseling through a board-certified veterinary geneticist is useful when you are planning a cross and want to understand the polygenic risk landscape.

What should I feed a Poodle?

Poodles do not carry high-frequency Mendelian disease, which simplifies feeding choices compared to breeds with documented monogenic vulnerabilities. The breed’s typical health concerns, hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, ear infections, and Addison’s disease, are polygenic or environmental in origin, which means feeding strategy tracks breed size and life stage more than it tracks a single genetic bottleneck.

Poodles come in three size classes, and feeding must track size. Standard Poodles (45 to 70 pounds) are large-breed dogs. Miniature and Toy Poodles (15 to 35 pounds and under 15 pounds, respectively) have different caloric density requirements and hypoglycemia risk. A Standard Poodle puppy requires the same large-breed controlled-calcium formulation (calcium-to-phosphorus ratio 1.1:1 to 2:1 per NRC 2006) that any large-breed pup needs. Miniature and Toy Poodles eating a toy-breed formula are less at risk for orthopedic disease but more at risk for blood-sugar crashes if meals are skipped.

Ear infection is among the most common dermatologic complaints in Poodles (Poodle Club of America health survey, poodleclubofamerica.org). Poodles’ non-shedding coat traps moisture and debris in the ear canal, creating a chronic infection risk. High-omega-3 diets (from fish oil or flax) and regular ear cleaning are the environmental controls; feeding cannot eliminate the anatomic predisposition. Choose a formula that supports skin barrier integrity, one with adequate linoleic acid and a bioavailable protein source.

Progressive retinal atrophy is inherited but polygenic, not monogenic. The condition emerges in adulthood and is not prevented by diet, but antioxidant support (vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene) does not hurt and tracks the preventive logic applied in breeds with documented PRA variants. A maintenance diet with adequate antioxidants is reasonable for adult Poodles of all sizes.

What we don’t know

The absence of detected Mendelian variants in the Poodle cohort could reflect several things: true genetic health at the loci tested, insufficient sample size (the cohort is small), sub-population stratification (Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodles may have different allele frequencies and were likely pooled), or ascertainment bias in which Poodles were genotyped. A larger, size-stratified sample would clarify whether the clean Mendelian read is durable.

Progressive retinal atrophy is documented in Poodles clinically and is heritable, but the genetic architecture remains unsettled. No single PRA variant dominates Poodle cases the way PRCD does in some other breeds. The loci driving PRA in Poodles and the penetrance landscape are not yet known.

Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism) is well-recognized in Poodles and appears to be heritable, but genetic studies in this breed are limited. The inheritance pattern and any associated variants are not yet published.

Frequently asked questions about Poodles

Are Poodles prone to any genetic diseases? Poodles do not carry the high-frequency Mendelian variants detected in some other breeds. Hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and Addison’s disease do occur in Poodles but are polygenic or environmental, not single-gene. The Poodle Club of America maintains a health survey tracking these conditions.

How long do Poodles typically live? Poodles have a median lifespan of 14.0 years in the atlas dataset. Lifespan varies by size class; Toy and Miniature Poodles tend to outlive Standard Poodles, though breed-wide size-stratified lifespan data have not been published in a peer-reviewed source we can cite here.

Should I do a DNA test on my Poodle? A genetic Mendelian panel is not indicated for Poodles, since the breed does not carry high-frequency single-gene variants. For breeding stock, orthopedic screening (OFA hip and elbow radiographs) and ophthalmologic screening (CERF certification) are the established standard.

What is the most common health problem in Poodles? Ear infections are among the most commonly reported health complaints in Poodles, driven by the breed’s non-shedding coat and ear-canal anatomy (Poodle Club of America health survey, poodleclubofamerica.org). Regular ear cleaning and high-omega-3 feeding support prevention but cannot eliminate the anatomic predisposition.

What should I feed my Poodle? The choice depends on size class. Standard Poodles should eat a large-breed adult or puppy formula with controlled calcium (calcium-to-phosphorus ratio 1.1:1 to 2:1 for puppies per NRC 2006). Miniature and Toy Poodles eat toy or small-breed formulas. All Poodles benefit from diets supporting skin-barrier health (adequate linoleic acid) and ear health (adequate omega-3 fatty acids).

Are Poodles good with children? Yes. Poodles of all sizes are highly trainable and affectionate. Standard Poodles are sturdy enough for active families. Toy and Miniature Poodles require careful supervision around very young children due to their small size and fragility.

Do Poodles have any behavior problems? Poodles are working dogs bred for water retrieval and were selected for intelligence and trainability. They require regular mental and physical exercise. Under-exercised Poodles are prone to anxiety, excessive barking, and destructive behavior. Daily training and activity are non-negotiable.

What is the best diet for a Poodle? Any complete-and-balanced diet formulated for the breed’s life stage and size class. The breed has no documented vulnerability to grain-free diets flagged by FDA or breed-club advisories. Choose a formula with adequate skin-support nutrients (linoleic acid, vitamin E) and omega-3 fatty acids to support coat and ear health.

A gift to human medicine

Poodles are a natural model for human disease

Because the same genes cause the same conditions across species, the inherited conditions documented in Poodles help researchers understand, and work toward treating, the human diseases they model. This is the dog advancing human medicine. The breed models the human disease; it does not have it, and this is not a prediction for your dog.

Human equivalents via OMIA → Mondo / OMIM. Model-of, not identity.
Documented in OMIA

Every condition recorded in the Poodle

Beyond the testable carriers above, OMIA's literature catalogue records 5 genetic conditions in the Poodle, 4 of which have a known human equivalent. This is the documented landscape across all Poodles ever studied, not a prediction for any one dog.

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA); Nicholas, Tammen & Sydney Informatics Hub, DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70
Documented in the breed's literature is not carrier status and not a forecast for an individual dog. Human equivalents are mapped via Mondo/OMIM. Carrier frequencies (above) are the separately-measured testable subset (Donner 2023).
The data behind this page

Where every number on this page came from.

This page draws on three primary data sources. Carrier frequencies for the Mendelian section come from Donner et al. 2023 (CC-BY-4.0). We grade these data at evidence Limited because the cohort is a direct-to-consumer ascertainment, which biases toward owners who chose to test their dogs. The panel also uses tag-SNP proxies for some variants rather than direct causal-variant assays. Limited is a study-design grade, not a quality grade: the Donner cohort is the largest open canine-genotype dataset in existence and we are grateful for it. We rate the confounding MEDIUM.

Population-genetic dimensions (heterozygosity, intra-breed PCA distance, nearest neighbors, trait-locus frequencies) come from CanVAS (Brundage 2026), harmonized through the Sniff Atlas. The exact release date and verification commit are pinned at the bottom of the page so a researcher can trace a number back to a specific snapshot. The disease-gene-variant graph comes from OMIA (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals; Nicholas, Tammen, and the Sydney Informatics Hub at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney; retrieved April 2026, DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70).

What this page does not yet have. Inheritance modes and per-disease penetrance evidence from Donner 2023 are now in the structured data for every variant the panel covers. Mondo, OMIM, Ensembl, and HGNC cross-references on gene pages remain pending, they arrive in December 2026 alongside the imputed 9.67M-variant CanVAS dataset via the OMIA SQL dump absorption. Until then, gene IDs carry NCBI Gene and OMIA phene URLs only; the wider human-homolog and disease-ontology cross-reference set fills in with that release.

How to cite this page. The computed dimensions on this page are derived from the open Sniff Atlas v1.0.1 (Gehring 2026, doi:10.5281/zenodo.20566358, CC-BY 4.0). Full citation formats including BibTeX, RIS, and CITATION.cff at sniff.world/cite.

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References
  1. Donner J, Freyer J, Davison S, Anderson H, Blades M, Honkanen L, et al. (2023). Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics 19(2):e1010651. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1010651
  2. Brundage J, et al. (2026). CanVAS: a harmonized canine variant atlas. bioRxiv. doi:10.64898/2026.04.13.718238
  3. Nicholas, F.W., Tammen, I., & Sydney Informatics Hub. (2026). Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) [dataset]. The University of Sydney. https://omia.org. doi:10.25910/2AMR-PV70 (retrieved April 2026).
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Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · Donner 2023 · OMIA