The Poodle, A True Show Dog

First of all let’s take a look at the Poodle’s history; these dogs have a most interesting history, did you know that the Poodle can be traced all the way back to 30 A.D.?

One of the oldest dog breeds known to man, the poodle has appeared on Roman and Greek coins and on Roman tombs.

There is plenty of art about them from the fifteenth century. There are three main countries that the poodle, as we know it today, comes from: Russia, Germany and France.
The Poodles from Russia were sleeker looking creatures, kind of like a Greyhound or large Whippet; the Poodle coming from Germany, however, was a little thicker, a little fatter, with a more dens coat.

Now our Poodle buddies have received all kinds of names in the past, such as: Pudle (Water Dog), Caniche (Duck Dog) and Poodle (Splash in water).

There are references dating back to 1642, stating that the Poodle is a good sturdy swimmer, in fact the Poodle was used largely for Duck hunting, that’s where the funky hair comes from. The Poodles always had their hair cut in the popular, "show" fashion as we know it today, not because they looked particularly nice in it, maybe it was part of the reason, but the Poodle got that style because it was designed to keep important joints warm, and to reduce drag while the dogs retrieved fowl out of the water during cold French winters.

As time passed by, the Poodle did come to the dog shows but he did not get any real popularity until after World War Two, after the war they where considered, "The Thing" they were extremely fashionable. And quite frankly it has remained that way to this day. The Poodle was the most popular dog in America for quite some time, somewhere just over 20 years. That is some record!

There are three different types of Poodles, the Standard, the Miniature and the Toy. These dogs all have the same basic temperament, but of course, their sizes are different.

The ACK standard states that the Standard Poodle should be over 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulder, any dog that is 15 inches is disqualified as a Standard Poodle.
The Miniature Poodle should be between 10 inches or 15 inches, any dog that is less than 10 inches or above 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulder is disqualified from competing as a Miniature Poodle.

The Toy Poodle needs to be 10 inches or lower at the highest point of the shoulder. Any dog that does not meet the specifications will be disqualified from competing as a Toy Poodle. If two dogs come in as a tie then whichever dog is smaller will most likely be the winner.

The show Poodle, or any Poodle for that matter, should have a bright, intelligent look with a smooth gait; the overall appearance should be one of dignity and grace, marked by intelligence.

Some things to keep an eye on are the Poodle’s eye color, the coat and the coat and the coat. I think that is the major concern with most Poodle owners, "how do I keep the coat in top condition?" Well here are some tips.

Poodles need baths about every two to three weeks (regularly) there are several quality shampoos and conditioners that you can get, although not entirely necessary for the average pet, is recommended for the Poodle, to help keep the hair clean and free of mats.

Because the Poodle has such long, dens hair, people have come up with several different clips over the years, they are all nice, some are good for a laugh, but only three are accepted by the AKC. Whichever way you chose to do your dog is fine, as long as you like it, of course.

Note: It is a good idea to start clipping your puppy as soon as 6 weeks.

The Poodle is an extremely intelligent dog, that’s one thing that makes them extremely easy to train. One thing to remember though, they are energetic, like most hunting dogs, and because of this it is better for you and the dog if there is a backyard where he can vent some of his energy.

The Poodle is a true, people oriented dog, he is a lot of fun, and that’s for sure!