Poodle
| Poodle | ||
|---|---|---|
 White Standard
Poodle.
|
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| Alternative names | ||
| Barbone Caniche Pudelhund |
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| Country of origin | ||
| Possibly France or Germany | ||
| Common nicknames | ||
| Classification and breed standards | ||
| FCI: | Group 9 Section 2 #172 | Stds |
| AKC: | Standard and Miniature: Nonsporting; Toy: Toy | Stds |
| The AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) is an optional recording service for purebred dogs that are not yet eligible for AKC registration. | ||
| The AKC Miscellaneous class is for breeds working towards full AKC recognition. | ||
| ANKC: | Group 7 (Non-Sporting) | Standard, Miniature, Toy Stds |
| CKC: | Standard and Miniature: Group 6 - Non-Sporting Dogs; Toy: Group 5 - Toys | Stds |
| The CKC Miscellaneous group is for breeds working towards full CKC recognition. | ||
| KC (UK): | Utility | Standard, Miniature, Toy Stds |
| NZKC: | Non-sporting | Standard, Miniature, Toy Stds |
| UKC: | Standard: Gun Dogs; Minitaure and Toy: Companion Dogs | Standard, Miniature and Toy Stds |
| Not recognized by any major kennel club | ||
| This breed of dog is extinct | ||
| Notes | ||
The Poodle is a breed of dog; specifically, it is a gun dog noted for its ability in the water and bird hunting skills. The English name comes from the German Pudel, or Pudelhund – from pudeln, meaning "to splash about". In France the poodle is known as a caniche and in Spain as a perro de lana (literally "wool dog").
Appearance
Breed standards call for a dignified, elegant carriage.
The breed comes in three sizes (as described by most breed registries):
- Standard: Over 38 cm (15 in) at the shoulder
- Miniature: Over 28 cm (11 in) high, but under 38 cm
- Toy: Under 28 cm (11 in) and 10 lbs or under
The American Kennel Club has a slightly different standard, with the maximum for Toys and the minimum for Miniatures at 25cm (10 in). The FCI standards divide Poodles into four groups: Large (45 to 60 cm), Medium (35 cm to 45 cm), Miniature (28 cm to 35 cm) and Toy (less than 28 cm with an ideal size of 25 cm).
Coat
Breed standards call for a coat of solid colour, one of black, white, brown, grey, blue, or apricot. "Parti" (partial), "phantom," and other coat colors exist, but are not acceptable in the show ring.
The fur on the animal's body is naturally curly, often in small tight clumps of small curly ringlets. Hair on the ears can be straight or slightly curly. With brushing, the dog's fur will still retain wavy or curly properties, but will soften and straighten somewhat.
The coat can be clipped in various styles. For show purposes, only three clips—the puppy clip (only for dogs one year old or younger), the Continental or Lion clip (with the instantly-recognisable 'mane'), and the English Saddle clip (with leg bracelets)—are acceptable. The traditional show-cut 'bracelets' of long fur covering the dog's leg joints are said to date back to winter hunts, where most of the fur was clipped short to facilitate swimming but the joints, lungs, heart, and kidneys needed protection from the cold. The pom-pom on the end of the tail served as a "flag" when the poodle dove under the water's surface. Clip styles for pets include the Kennel clip (fur same length all over) and other styles, generally variants of the Continental. Left alone, poodle fur will become corded in the manner of a Puli.
Corded Poodle
The Corded Poodle is a Poodle whose hair has been allowed to grow in the corded manner: it is not a distinct breed.
Most national registries recognize two coat types for Poodles: curly and corded. Some Poodles have coats which will more or less naturally cord, others must be coaxed into it, but virtually all Poodles are capable of having corded hair once their adult hair has been established. Puppies can be born with either type of coat, even in the same litter. Once cords have been established, they cannot be brushed out, but must be clipped away.
Breed historians seem to agree that the corded coat is the older of the two varieties. Corded coats are more difficult to take care of, and corded dogs fell out of fashion, in favor of those with wooly coats.
Hybrids
Many hybrids have been created by crossing a poodle with another breed, such as Labradoodles and Cockapoos. These "hybrids" are not, however, recognized breeds. Many breeders promote Poodle hybrids as actual breeds and charge more for them than is usually charged for a mixed-breed dog.
Main article: see Poodle hybrid.
Famous Poodles
- Algonquin from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
- Foo-Foo, Miss Piggy's pet on The Muppet Show
- Charley, pet of John Steinbeck; a champion black Standard Poodle played Charley in a TV miniseries.
- Georgette from Oliver and Company
- Vicki, pet of Richard Nixon
- Boye, pet of Prince Rupert of the Rhine
- Rufus, pet of Winston Churchill source: http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=414, retrieved July 31, 2005
- Fifi, pet of the Finsters on Rugrats
- Ooh La La, pet of Nanette Manoir on Angela Anaconda
- Daphne, from the third Look Who's Talking movie