Moyen Poodle: Your Complete Guide

The moyen poodle is a newer size of poodle that falls between the miniature and standard sizes of this dog. While they are still considered a purebred poodle if they come from purebred parents, there are a few appearance differences that set the moyen poodle apart from other sizes of poodles.

If you are considering adding a poodle to your family and you’re interested in the moyen poodle, it’s important to learn all you can about this unique breed. Our complete guide gives you an overview of this breed and provides you with all of the information you need to help this pup thrive.

Quick Look at the Moyen Poodle

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Moyen Poodles?

The word ‘moyen’ is French for medium, and it makes sense that it would be applied to a poodle of this size. The moyen poodle falls in between the sizes of standard poodles and miniature poodles, and they are the result of crossing a standard-sized poodle with a miniature poodle.

Moyen poodles are most popular in Europe, where breeders actively work to create this size of poodle, and it may be difficult to find a moyen poodle in the United States.

The American Kennel Club only recognizes three sizes of poodles – the toy, miniature, and standard sizes. The moyen poodle is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique International as the official fourth size of poodle.

Moyen poodles are commonly mistaken for both miniature poodles and standard poodles, depending on whether they are on the smaller or larger size. There isn’t an exact date when the moyen poodle came into existence, but this size of poodle has become more popular throughout recent years due to their more manageable size.

What Do Moyen Poodles Look Like?

The moyen poodle looks very much like a regular poodle – they have a slender and athletic body, long muzzle, alert eyes, and an open, curious expression.

Their fur may be curly, with the potential for cording depending on their genetics, and they typically come in solid colors. Black, shades of brown, and shades of white or cream are all popular colors for poodles, and bi-color poodles may be seen, but they aren’t as common.

What Size Is a Moyen Poodle?

The moyen poodle is medium-sized. They stand between 10 and 15 inches, and they weigh between 33 and 42 pounds. Moyen poodles on the smaller side may cross into the sizing of a miniature poodle, while those on the larger side might cross into the sizing of a standard poodle.

What Is a Moyen Poodle’s Coat Type and Length?

The moyen poodle has the typical coat type and length of a regular poodle. You can expect it to be around medium-length and dense. They will have thick curls, and some might even have corded fur. In general, the coat of a moyen poodle is high maintenance to ensure it stays looking its best and free of mats or tangles.

What Is a Moyen Poodle’s Temperament?

The moyen poodle is a lively, friendly, and social breed. They are often eager to please their owners and they form strong bonds with their families. Moyen poodles are intelligent, and they may easily be trained. They are observant and loyal, and they enjoy high amounts of activity alongside their owners.

You may find that your moyen poodle is a little on the anxious side. It’s important to help encourage them with training and socialization to stop any anxious behaviors from taking root in your dog.

Are Moyen Poodles Good With Kids?

Moyen poodles are good with children, and poodles in general make good companions for children of almost any age. These dogs are loving and playful, and they will enjoy the chance to play with children outside or inside.

It’s important that any children who will be interacting with your moyen poodle know how to do so safely, as rough play might result in injuries on both sides by accident.

Are Moyen Poodles Good With Other Animals?

The moyen poodle is generally social, and they get along well with other animals, especially if they have been properly socialized and introduced to these animals when growing up.

You should keep in mind that moyen poodles do have a historical lineage of working as hunting dogs, and they might be prone to chasing small animals including small cats. Proper training can help to avoid these behaviors.

Are Moyen Poodles Aggressive?

Moyen poodles are not known to be aggressive, and these dogs aren’t prone to developing aggressive behaviors throughout their lives. They may become anxious from time to time, but training, socialization, and ample time spent with your moyen poodle will prevent any destructive behaviors that could potentially develop.

Do Moyen Poodles Bark?

The moyen poodle is known to be a more vocal dog breed, and these dogs will bark to alert their owner of things outside or to simply express their feelings about a situation. The moyen poodle can be trained to curb excessive barking habits, but you can expect this dog to simply be more vocal throughout their lives despite any training received.

Are Moyen Poodles Affectionate?

Moyen poodles are affectionate to their families, and they enjoy spending time being active or cuddling up with their owners after a long day. This breed is very loyal and forms strong bonds with their families, and they tend to warm up to strangers fairly easily.

Are Moyen Poodles Intelligent?

The moyen poodle is intelligent, and they are known for being both clever and observant. This breed has an eager-to-please attitude when it comes to learning new things with their owners. Their high intelligence plus patience enables them to learn complex tricks or tasks when necessary.

Because they are so intelligent, moyen poodles do need lots of mental stimulation throughout their lives to stay happy.

Are Moyen Poodles Energetic?

Moyen poodles are high-energy dogs, and they do typically need a lot of exercise to stay happy. However, moyen poodles that are on the smaller side won’t have incredibly extensive exercise needs.

On average, you will need to take your moyen poodle on two to three medium-length walks each day in addition to dedicating between 30 minutes and an hour of playtime to them each day. Take your moyen poodle out on runs in open spaces and visits to dog parks so they can run openly and play with other dogs regularly.

Are Moyen Poodles Easy to Train?

This breed is easy to train, as they are intelligent, willing to listen to their owners, and generally eager to please. Moyen poodles have the capacity to learn even complex tricks, and they enjoy the mental stimulation that comes with including training in their daily routine.

Are Moyen Poodles Good Watchdogs?

Moyen poodles are alert and loyal to their families, and they do make good watchdogs. However, these dogs are quite vocal, so they might need to be properly trained so they only alert their owners by barking when an actual threat is seen outside their homes.

Are Moyen Poodles Good Service Dogs?

Standard poodles are one of the most popular choices of breeds for service dogs, and moyen poodles do have the capacity to act as certain types of service dogs.

Due to their medium size, these dogs might not have the strength for some service dog acts, such as mobility support. However, they might be able to guide individuals, serve as a psychiatric service dog, or alert hearing and visually impaired individuals.

The moyen poodle also makes a good emotional support animal or therapy dog, as they are very faithful companions. They also enjoy sticking by their owner’s side, which is something that emotional support animals are good at doing.

How to Care for a Moyen Poodle?

The moyen poodle is a high-energy, friendly breed that needs plenty of exercise to stay happy. This dog will need access to outdoor spaces where they can run around off leash in addition to a couple of walks each day. You will need to provide your moyen poodle with interactive toys and dedicate playtime to them each day so they stay happy.

Moyen poodles need to be brushed regularly, and they should be bathed or trimmed as needed. It’s easy for their curly or thicker fur to become matted and tangled, so you should prepare yourself for the extensive grooming needs of this dog before adopting one. If your moyen poodle’s fur is corded, then professional grooming will be necessary regularly.

Give your moyen poodle their own space in your home complete with a bed and toys. Make sure they aren’t left alone for too long, as they can become lonely or develop anxiety. Keep your moyen poodle trained to help with mental stimulation and to ensure they stay well-behaved and feed your dog a healthy diet based on their size and caloric needs.

Regular vet visits should also be on the agenda to keep your dog happy and healthy.

Do You Need to Groom a Moyen Poodle?

Like most poodles, moyen poodles have higher than average grooming needs. The coats of these dogs are curly and thick, and some moyen poodles may have corded fur. This dog will need regular brushing to stop tangles and mats from forming, and they will likely need to be bathed and professionally trimmed on a regular basis.

Do Moyen Poodles Shed?

Despite their medium-length fur, moyen poodles aren’t known to be heavy shedders. The curly fur of these dogs often traps hair, which prevents them from shedding it around your home. They do need to be brushed to remove this fur and keep their coats looking and feeling healthy. Moyen poodles might be hypoallergenic, but this does depend on their lineage and inherited traits.

What Health Problems Do Moyen Poodles Have?

Many dogs, moyen poodles included, are prone to certain health issues due to genetic reasons. It’s important to be aware of the health conditions your moyen poodle might get so you can look out for signs and get problems treated before they become serious.

Health issues that moyen poodles commonly encounter include allergies (both skin and environmental), diabetes, epilepsy, and heart diseases.

Take your moyen poodle to a vet regularly and ensure they have a healthy diet and get lots of exercise to prevent serious health issues from cropping up and going ignored.

How Long Do Moyen Poodles Live?

On average, a moyen poodle will live between 12 and 15 years. A healthy lifestyle and regular veterinary care can help your moyen poodle live a long, healthy, and happy life.

What Should a Moyen Poodle Eat?

How much your moyen poodle should eat depends on their exact size and the caloric content of the food you are feeding. You can feed your moyen poodle either wet or dry food, or you can give them a combination of these foods split up into two or three meals per day. On average, you may feed your moyen poodle between one and two cups of food per day.

Speak with a veterinarian if you have any questions about feeding your moyen poodle throughout their life.

Is a Moyen Poodle the Right Dog for Me?

Moyen poodles are a charming breed that stands in between the miniature and standard purebred poodles in terms of size. This dog has many of the traits that make poodles popular, and their sweet expression, intelligent nature, and loving, loyal attitudes towards their families make them a great choice for families in need of a canine companion.

The moyen poodle is the right dog for you if you are interested in the poodle breed but don’t want a larger standard-sized poodle and miniature poodles are too small for you.

Individuals with active lifestyles, those looking to adopt a friendly dog into a family that already has animals will be a great fit. In addition, those who want an easily trainable dog should consider adding the unique moyen poodle into their homes.