FCI对于贵宾犬的分类是这样定义的：
Large Poodles : Above 45 cm up to 60 cm with a tolerance of 2 cm. The large poodle must be the enlarged and developed reproduction of the medium poodle from which he retains the same characteristics. 巨型贵宾：45厘米-60厘米，允许有2厘米的差异。巨型贵宾与标准贵宾仅仅是体形上的差异，他们有共同的特征
Medium Poodles : More than 35 cm up to 45 cm. 中型贵宾：背高35-45厘米。
Miniature poodles : More than 28 cm up to 35 cm. This poodle size must show in its ensemble the appearance of a reduced medium poodle, retaining as much as possible the same proportions and not showing any sign of dwarfism 迷你贵宾：背高28-35厘米。这种贵宾的外观必须像中型贵宾的整体缩小版，尽可能与中型贵宾保持同样的比例，不能显露出任何矮小的迹象。
Toy poodles : Below 28 cm (desirable ideal type, size of 25 cm). 玩具型贵宾犬应小于28厘米（25厘米是理想的、令人满意的体形）
AKC对于贵宾犬的分类与FCI有所不同，它是这样的：
The Standard Poodle is over 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulders. Any Poodle which is 15 inches or less in height shall be disqualified from competition as a Standard Poodle. 标准型：肩高超过15英寸（38厘米）。任何一种标准型贵宾犬肩高等于或小于15英寸都会从竞赛中淘汰。
The Miniature Poodle is 15 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders, with a minimum height in excess of 10 inches. Any Poodle which is over 15 inches or is 10 inches or less at the highest point of the shoulders shall be disqualified from competition as a Miniature Poodle. 迷你型：肩高等于或小于15英寸（38厘米），高于10英寸（25厘米）。任何一种迷你型的贵宾犬超过15英寸或等于小于10英寸都会从竞赛中淘汰。
The Toy Poodle is 10 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders. Any Poodle which is more than 10 inches at the highest point of the shoulders shall be disqualified from competition as a Toy Poodle. 玩具型：肩高等于或小于10英寸（25厘米）。任何一种玩具型贵宾犬超过10英寸都会从竞赛中淘汰。 作者: 情人湖畔钓鱼的� 时间: 2011-8-7 18:40
FCI的标准里60cm其实是上限，55cm对于标准贵宾（fci称为large poodle）来说是较为合理的身形。但是目前国内目前巨贵的误区便是越大越好。严重失格（超过65cm）的情况很常见。这种情况和另一种国内狗贩届自己杜撰出来的茶杯贵宾（20.5cm以下）两种情况合称中国贵宾饲养两大奇葩误区