I have to go along with Aly on this one. Poodles are terrific dogs. I've had 5 (4 are at the Rainbow Bridge). They come in three sizes so you have a lot of choices and they come in many colors too. If you were thinking of a dog the size of a giant schnauzer then a standard poodle would be the right size. They usually weigh about 45-60 lbs. as adults (males are usually at the upper end). There is NO shedding but you do have to commit to grooming every 4-6 weeks. It can be expensive unless you do it yourself like we do.