Two out of the seven competitors in this year’s Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show were poodles! Standard, Miniature, and Toy poodles are different sizes in the same breed and are all held to the same standards.
- Standard poodle sizes: Fifteen inches or more at the shoulder.
- Miniature poodle sizes: Between ten and fifteen inches at the shoulder.
- Toy poodle sizes: Ten inches at the shoulder and smaller.
The poodle is said to have originated in Germany, though the breed is strongly associated with France. In fact, the poodle is the national dog of France! The Standard poodle is most likely the oldest variety of poodle; it was known as a water dog. In fact, that distinctive poodle haircut was designed to protect the joints and vital organs while swimming. All sizes of poodle are known to be strong swimmers; toy and miniature poodles were also used to hunt truffles in England, Spain, and Germany. The smaller paws and teeth were more gentle with the delicacies!
Poodles are intelligent, active, and quick to learn. They carry themselves proudly and with dignity, and are not known to be shy.
The poodle’s coat is naturally harsh and thick. With regular grooming, the coat stays curly; left alone, the coat will develop into cords. For show poodles, there are several different types of haircuts: the puppy clip, the English saddle, the Continental clip, and the sporting clip. With all of these cuts, the face, throat, feet, and the base of the tail are shaved. The infamous pompom on the end of the tail appears in both the puppy clip and the Continental clip.
Poodle trivia:
- In German, pudel means “to splash in the water”.
- The toy poodle was a favorite of Louis XVI and Queen Anne.
- American president Grover Cleveland owned a poodle.