I have no dogs, but I work with dogs. Standard poodles are truley one of the nicest breeds that cross my grooming table. But yes.....grooming can be rather expensive and upkeep at home is extensive. Pam, I believe, keeps Bella in a short, easy to maintain clip. MOST standard poodle owners do NOT. A longer clip that leave the hair longer on the legs is the most popular but can run you $80 every 6 weeks and that is ONLY if you do not allow the dog to get matted in between groomings. Personality wise, I have NEVER met a standard that I did not like. They are playful, but not hyper like the smaller ones can be. They are smart and gentle and seem to be well-behaved and quieter than smaller poodles.
Just my 2 cents.