Many pet owners and breeders have a soft spot for Poodles, and I completely understand. They wouldn’t rank as the 7th most popular breed in the AKC if they weren’t an ideal family companion.
However, despite this favorable status, some are still hesitant to buy them because of size considerations. If you are one of those dog enthusiasts who want a Poodle that is not too big as the standard and not too small as the mini, then the news I’m about to share will surely make your day!
Poodle pups now come in medium sizes called the Moyen Poodle. They go by many names, but they are basically the in-between size of the standard and mini puppies.
Want to learn more about them? I suggest you read this guide from beginning to end and note some crucial facts and tips I’ll share about this furry canine companion.
What Is a Moyen Poodle?
A Moyen Poodle is a medium-sized Poodle that is believed to have originated in Europe. Their size fits between the standard and mini pups, and they are quickly gaining popularity among the canine community. They have the same temperament as their other Poodle cousins, which makes them ideal pets.
The term “Moyen” is actually a French word, which means medium. This name is more widely used even though the Moyen Poodle variety has many aliases. Here are some of the names that are used to address them:
Klein Poodle
Medium Poodle
Barbone
Chien Canne
Caniche
What Does the Moyen Poodle Look Like?
Generally, the only difference between the Moyen Poodle and other Poodle sizes is their height and body mass. Their appearance is pretty much the same; that’s why they are regarded as one of the most stunning breeds.
Here’s a detailed description of their physical features:
Head: When viewed from the side, it is noticeable that their head and muzzle are roughly parallel. They have a long skull, which is a bit rounded at the top. Their cheeks are also flat and clean-looking.
Eyes: Their eyes look alert, thanks to its oval shape. Usually, Moyens with black pigment have dark brown eyes, while those with liver pigment have dark brown to dark amber eyes.
Body: They are squarely built, which means that their body’s length is equal to their height. Their chest is moderately broad and well-filled.
Legs: Their forelegs are straight, and when viewed from the front, they are parallel. When it comes to their hindquarters, it is muscular and broad on their second thighs.
Tail: Their tail is set high and straight. It is also customarily docked to match its size.
Coat: Their harsh, dense, and curly coat is perhaps their most identifiable physical feature. They are usually presented in traditional trims, but there are a few pups that are corded.
Check out these adorable Moyen Poodle puppies.
Moyen Poodle Puppy Ariel from PrincelyPoodles.com<a href="https://youtu.be/gfC07J_oV54" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FgfC07J_oV54%2F0.jpg" alt="Moyen Poodle Puppy Ariel from PrincelyPoodles.com" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Below are some of the acceptable colors for Moyen Poodles:
Apricot Moyen Poodle
Photo from @peetupoodle(IG)
Black Moyen Poodle
Photo from @toby.life(IG)
Blue Moyen Poodle
Photo from @sporttipuudelit(IG)
Silver Moyen Poodle
Photo from @sandiegopoodle (IG)
White Moyen Poodle
Photo from @maia_the_jaguar_dog (IG)
Red Moyen Poodle
Photo from @benjimoyenpoo(IG)
Brown Moyen Poodle
Photo from @silvishorselife(IG)
The Process of Breeding Moyen Poodles
First-generation Moyen Poodles are usually bred from crossing a standard and a mini pup. However, this process doesn’t guarantee a complete uniformity in size. Some puppies will be smaller or larger than the others.
Current data on breeding Moyens suggests that it will take about four generations before producing “true to type” medium Poodles.
It would be better if you can talk to the breeder and ask about the pup’s generation before placing a reservation for their upcoming litter to avoid size disappointment.
Do Kennel Clubs Recognize the Moyen Poodle?
Unfortunately, the American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize Moyen Poodles even though they aren’t a new breed but a size variation. Here are the only sizes acknowledged by the AKC:
Standard Poodle: This is the largest Poodle form, which stands at 20 to 23 inches. They weigh between 45 and 80 pounds.
Miniature Poodle: A mini Poodle is another variety that is well-loved by many. They weigh 14 to 18 pounds and stand at 11 to 15 inches.
Toy Poodle: This is the smallest Poodle recognized by the AKC. They often weigh less than 10 pounds, and most of them are only 6 to 9 pounds. In terms of height, they only measure 6 to 10 inches.
If the AKC does not recognize the Moyen Poodle, the United Kennel Club (UKC), on the other hand, treats them like the Standard Poodles. In fact, they can compete in dog shows that are meant for standard-sized pups.
How Big Do Moyen Poodles Get When Fully Grown?
I know you’ve been wondering what the actual size of Moyen or Klein Poodles is, so here’s the answer:
Height: around 15 to 20 inches (38 to 50 cm)
Weight: around 40 to 50 pounds (9 to 13 kg)
Moyen Poodles fall precisely between the standard and mini pups. If you find owning a full-sized Poodle too demanding or afraid that you might accidentally hurt a tiny Poodle, then this medium one’s for you.
Note that a Klein Poodle’s size may also vary depending on their generation.
Are Moyen Poodles Rare?
Moyen Poodles aren’t that rare. However, those who have an apricot and red coat color are not that easier to find.
The apricot coloration of a Moyen Poodle’s coat is due to a recessive gene. This is, in fact, the last Poodle color to be recorded as of today. Meanwhile, the red color of Moyen Poodles is closely related to the apricot shade.
Pups with red coats carry the Rufus gene which is responsible for the change of appearance of a brown and apricot coat.
In case you come across these rare types of Moyen Poodles, expect that you will be charged a relatively large amount of money because they can’t easily be bought anywhere else. They are highly sought after, which increases their monetary value.
Moyen Poodle Temperament: Do They Make Good Family Dogs?
In this section, I’ll be discussing what makes Moyen Poodles great family pets and why they rank as the 2nd smartest breed according to Stanley Coren, a well-known canine psychologist.
Here’s a detailed review of the Moyen Poodle’s temperament and behavior:
They carry themselves proudly. It seems like there is an air of distinction and dignity unique to them.
They are very loving and loyal to their family.
They are highly intelligent dogs. Some even claim that they have human-like wit.
They are inherently mischievous because they learn fast.
They love to play, and they have a goofy streak.
They are eager to please their owner, although it takes time for them to warm up to strangers.
They have a calm disposition if they are able to burn off their energy.
They aren’t high-strung due to their size, like most people believe.
They are protective of their owner’s home and property, although they don’t immediately attack.
They are easy to train since they are quite obedient.
They do well with kids.
Although it seems that medium Poodles almost have a perfect temperament, you have to keep in mind that these ideal behaviors are achieved through early training and socialization.
If the Klein Poodle isn’t given enough time to be with other humans and pets, they tend to shy away or be ultimately aggressive.
Moyen Poodle Health Issues
The average lifespan of a Moyen Poodle is 12 to 15 years. However, some do not reach old age because they acquire the common diseases that afflict their breed. They are the following:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This is an eye disease that can lead to blindness if not detected and cured early. Symptoms of this disease include glassy eyes, dilated pupils, and night vision problems.
Epilepsy: Canine epilepsy symptoms are drooling, confusion, strange movements, sudden unconsciousness, pacing, and stiff limbs. Early diagnosis will make a big difference in dogs with this condition.
Addison’s Disease: When your Moyen Poodle’s adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol, they may become lethargic, anxious, and depressed. Some of them may even experience some sort of digestive problem.
Hypothyroidism: This is caused by a lack of thyroid hormones, which leads to hair loss, excessive hunger, weight gain, and a weak immune system.
Hypoglycemia: This sudden drop in blood sugar levels is fatal to Moyens. This disease’s symptoms include weakness, shivering, shaking, tripping, slowed breathing, and head tremors. If this is not treated promptly, this may cause a canine coma.
Sebaceous Adenitis: This is a skin problem caused by an inflammation of the sebaceous glands. Dogs affected by this condition may lose their hair or may easily acquire skin infections. The vet has to do a skin biopsy to diagnose this.
Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease: This disease degrades a dog’s bone quality because of the reduced blood supply on their thigh bone. The most common sign of this is limping, which is treated through surgery.
Tracheal Collapse: This chronic disease affects the dog’s windpipe. Their airway is obstructed, which leads to coughing and other symptoms.
Luxating Patella: According to VCA Hospitals, Moyens with a luxating patella have kneecaps that don’t move naturally or move out of its usual place. This can be corrected through surgery.
There are some Moyen Poodles who are lucky enough not to experience these diseases. But for those who do, early veterinarian diagnosis can have a significant impact on their recovery.
How to Care for Your Medium Poodle’s Basic Needs?
Taking care of Moyen Poodles is similar to that of a Standard Poodle. You must provide their nutritional requirements, cleaning and grooming needs, exercise, training, and regular health check-ups. These are all discussed in detail below.
Food and Diet
To figure out the best dog food for your Moyen Poodle, it is better to consult your veterinarian because they can suggest a type of kibble that suits your dog’s age and activity level. Never feed your Klein Poodle with fatty table scraps because not all human foods are safe for them.
Also, do not give too many treats to your dog unless they are needed for training. This will help them avoid obesity that is associated with a number of canine diseases.
Living Conditions
Medium Poodles are excellent for apartment living. You’ll find out that they are not very active indoors, and they only love lying beside you or anywhere comfortable.
Unlike bigger and bulkier dogs, they do not require a yard to play with, and you can engage them in thoughtful activities inside your home.
Training
Since Moyen Poodles are very eager to please, they are also easily trained. They are known to be intelligent dogs, too; that’s why they may learn tricks that are not totally pleasing.
In teaching them, make sure that the routines are fun and positive. Also, be very consistent with what you are asking from them.
If you trained them properly, there is a good chance that they will excel in several canine sports like agility, tracking, and obedience. They may also pass diving and retriever hunt tests.
Here are the essential training types for your Klein Poodle:
Obedience Training: This is needed for establishing correct and acceptable puppy behaviors.
Socialization: Exposing the pup to different people, places, and sounds makes well-adjusted dogs, which is equally important as obedience training.
Housebreaking: Housebreaking or house training your Moyen can be taught through a series of routines. One of the most effective strategies is rewarding them with treats when they eliminate outdoors.
Crate Training: By learning how to hold their bladder while at their crate, they won’t soil their sleeping quarters.
Leash Training: Moyens who are trained to go out on a leash can make your walks pleasant as well as the other passing pedestrians.
Below are some of the things you have to avoid in training this Poodle variety:
Using forceful or harsh methods
Using collars and choke chains
Useless repetition
Training your dog when you are already frustrated
Failing to practice in between training
Command nagging
Poisoning of cues
You’ll learn more about this on AKC’s guide on the most common mistakes to avoid when training a dog.
This is a video of a medium Poodle that has successfully completed the two-weeks of off-leash training. Check this out.
Moyen Poodle Off Leash Dog Training - Darcy | Los Angeles, CA | OffLeash SoCal<a href="https://youtu.be/2I-63BZlpuk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F2I-63BZlpuk%2F0.jpg" alt="Moyen Poodle Off Leash Dog Training - Darcy | Los Angeles, CA | OffLeash SoCal" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
And this is a video of Tinkerbell, a 6 month old Moyen Poodle, before and after obedience training.
Tinkerbell, a 6 month old Moyen Poodle, Before and After Obedience TrainingVideo<a href="https://youtu.be/39yjYN_hih4" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F39yjYN_hih4%2F0.jpg" alt="Tinkerbell, a 6 month old Moyen Poodle, Before and After Obedience TrainingVideo" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Exercise
Moyen Poodles have a moderate need for exercise, so you better engage them in activities that will match their energy level. Since they love water, you can bring them for a swim and have them show you their Olympic skills.
But if you aren’t too outdoorsy, there are some activities that you can do inside your home that will help run out their energy.
You can have them retrieve balls, toys, and sticks. This is an excellent exercise for their minds and bodies, especially because they are originally bred as hunting dogs.
Cleaning and Grooming
Cleaning and grooming Moyen Poodles is a must. I strongly recommend that you bring them to a professional pet groomer every four to six weeks because their coat isn’t that easy to manage.
If you are on a budget or you want to take care of them personally, you have to learn how to brush their coat so it won’t mat near the roots.
Bathing, nail trimming, and checking your medium Poodle’s ears are also essential parts of their overall grooming routine.
Healthcare
If you bought your medium Poodle from a responsible breeder who routinely tests his breeding stock, then you won’t have much of a problem.
But if you don’t, and you noticed that there is something wrong with the way your puppy behaves or looks, it is better to immediately bring them to the veterinarian.
Also, schedule annual visits to ensure that they are well. Here are some recommended tests for Moyen Poodles:
Moyen Poodle Price: Do They Cost More Than Other Poodles?
The Moyen Poodle is considered a premium dog by many breeders; that’s why they cost a significant amount of money more than the other Poodle sizes. Reputable breeders sell them at around $2,000 to $3,000.
But they can go all the way up to $4,000 if they came from a known bloodline or their breeder is well-established. Just be careful in choosing who you transact with and avoid puppy mills, pet stores, and backyard breeders at all costs.
Here are eight tips on how to find and work with a responsible breeder:
Meet the breeder so you can check the facility where he breeds and keeps his pups.
Ask questions to know whether the breeder is knowledgeable.
Request to see the pup’s parents to sense your dog’s temperament, appearance, and size.
Be patient and let the pup stay at the kennel to mature and socialize.
Get a full medical history or proof of health screenings like OFA and CERF certificates.
Check out breeders associated with kennel clubs because they have met health testing standards and undergo continuous breeding education.
Ensure that the breeder offers a lifetime guarantee of the pup.
Ask for a written contract.
If finding a reputable breeder is too much of a task for you or you don’t want to shed off any of the amounts I have mentioned above, another option would be to adopt from shelters and rescues.
Adoption fees only cost $50 to $400. Usually, this covers medical care, food, and transportation costs.
Places to Find Moyen Poodle Puppies for Sale and Adoption
Let me make this Moyen Poodle hunting easy for you. Here are some places where you can buy a Moyen pup:
Noir Poodles: Noir Poodles is located in Lebanon, Missouri and they breed and raise pups using culture methods in a home environment.
Magenta Bay Poodles: Magenta Bay Poodles is run by a small in-home professional breeder located in southeastern New York. The best thing about them is that they offer health checks and guarantees for their puppies.
Scarlet’s Fancy Poodles: Scarlet’s Fancy Poodles is headed by the breeder Linda DeBlauw. They are located at Central Coastal California, and you can book an appointment to visit them.
There are also several rescues and shelters where you can adopt a medium Poodle. They are the following:
Carolina Poodle Rescue: Carolina Poodle Rescue has a long list of pets for adoption. You can view them on their website but before you apply, make sure you can take the pup home within 14 days.
Norcal Poodle Rescue: Norcal Poodle Rescue is the third largest Poodle rescue in the U.S. The pups are housed in a kennel, and you can visit them anytime you want.
Poodle Rescue of Houston: Poodle Rescue of Houston sums up their adoption in three steps: ensuring that you meet their prerequisites, submitting an adoption form, and visiting them by appointment.
Commonly Asked Questions
Do Moyen Poodles Shed?
Moyen Poodles shed, but it is very minimal because they only have a single coat. Unlike double-coated dogs who experience seasonal shedding, Poodles don’t blow their coats no matter the weather.
Are Moyen Poodles Hypoallergenic?
Moyen Poodles aren’t 100% hypoallergenic, but they can easily be tolerated by people who have allergies since they shed very little.
It would also be beneficial if they are groomed every 4 to 6 weeks to ensure that they won’t cause any allergic reactions to children and adults alike.
Are Moyen Poodles Heat and Cold Tolerant?
Unfortunately, Moyen Poodles don’t do well in cold weather because they do not have an undercoat. They can quickly get frostbite and go into a hypothermic state.
Similarly, they can’t handle too much heat. Leaving them under the sun is not a good idea because it is fatal to them.
Final Thoughts: Is the Moyen Poodle Right for You?
Moyen Poodles are among the easiest pets to manage. They aren’t as big as the Standard Poodle, so raising them and keeping up with their exercise requirements won’t take up much of your time.
Another good thing about them is that they aren’t as small as the mini ones. Your chances of accidentally hurting them are pretty slim.
If you are still unsure if medium Poodles are right for you, I suggest that you visit and observe them on a reputable kennel before deciding. After all, they’ll be your companion for several years.
You have to make sure they have the temperament and behavior you desire and that they are healthy enough to save you hundreds of dollars for health check-ups.
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