General
Appearance, Carriage and Condition
That
of a very active, intelligent and elegant-appearing dog, squarely built,
well proportioned, moving soundly and carrying himself proudly. Properly
clipped in the traditional fashion and carefully groomed, the Poodle has
about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself.
Size, Proportion,
Substance
Size
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.
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.
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.
As long as the Toy Poodle is definitely a Toy Poodle, and the Miniature
Poodle a Miniature Poodle, both in balance and proportion for the Variety,
diminutiveness shall be the deciding factor when all other points are
equal.
ProportionTo insure the desirable squarely built appearance, the length
of body measured from the breastbone to the point of the rump approximates
the height from the highest point of the shoulders to the ground.
SubstanceBone and muscle of both forelegs and hindlegs are in proportion
to size of dog.
Head and Expression
(a) Eyes-- very dark, oval in shape and set far enough apart and
positioned to create an alert intelligent expression. Major fault: eyes
round, protruding, large or very light.
(b) Ears-- hanging close to the head, set at or slightly below eye level.
The ear leather is long, wide and thickly feathered; however, the ear
fringe should not be of excessive length.
(c) Skull-- moderately rounded, with a slight but definite stop. Cheekbones
and muscles flat. Length from occiput to stop about the same as length
of muzzle.
(d) Muzzle-- long, straight and fine, with slight chiseling under the
eyes. Strong without lippiness. The chin definite enough to preclude
snipiness. Major fault: lack of chin. Teeth-- white, strong and with
a scissors bite. Major fault: undershot, overshot, wry mouth.
Neck, Topline,
Body
Neck well proportioned, strong and long enough to permit the head
to be carried high and with dignity. Skin snug at throat. The neck rises
from strong, smoothly muscled shoulders. Major fault: ewe neck. The
topline is level, neither sloping nor roached, from the highest point
of the shoulder blade to the base of the tail, with the exception of
a slight hollow just behind the shoulder.
Body
(a) Chest deep and moderately wide with well sprung ribs.
(b) The loin is short, broad and muscular.
(c) Tail straight, set on high and carried up, docked of sufficient
length to insure a balanced outline. Major fault: set low, curled, or
carried over the back.
Forequarters
Strong, smoothly muscled shoulders. The shoulder blade is well laid
back and approximately the same length as the upper foreleg. Major fault:
steep shoulder.
(a)Forelegs straight and parallel when viewed from the front. When viewed
from the side the elbow is directly below the highest point of the shoulder.
The pasterns are strong. Dewclaws may be removed.
Feet
The feet are rather small, oval in shape with toes well arched and
cushioned on thick firm pads. Nails short but not excessively shortened.
The feet turn neither in nor out. Major fault: paper or splay foot.
Hindquarters
The angulation of the hindquarters balances that of the forequarters.
(a) Hind legs straight and parallel when viewed from the rear. Muscular
with width in the region of the stifles which are well bent; femur and
tibia are about equal in length; hock to heel short and perpendicular
to the ground. When standing, the rear toes are only slightly behind
the point of the rump. Major fault: cow-hocks.
Coat
(a) Quality--(1) Curly: of naturally harsh texture, dense throughout.
(2) Corded: hanging in tight even cords of varying length; longer on
mane or body coat, head, and ears; shorter on puffs, bracelets, and
pompons.
(b) Clip-- A Poodle under 12 months may be shown in the "Puppy"
clip. In all regular classes, Poodles 12 months or over must be shown
in the "English Saddle" or "Continental" clip. In
the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes and in a non-competitive Parade
of Champions, Poodles may be shown in the "Sporting" clip.
A Poodle shown in any other type of clip shall be disqualified.
(1) "Puppy"--A Poodle under a year old may be shown in the
"Puppy" clip with the coat long. The face, throat, feet and
base of the tail are shaved. The entire shaven foot is visible. There
is a pompon on the end of the tail. In order to give a neat appearance
and a smooth unbroken line, shaping of the coat is permissible. (2)
"English Saddle"--In the "English Saddle" clip the
face, throat, feet, forelegs and base of the tail are shaved, leaving
puffs on the forelegs and a pompon on the end of the tail. The hindquarters
are covered with a short blanket of hair except for a curved shaved
area on each flank and two shaved bands on each hindleg. The entire
shaven foot and a portion of the shaven leg above the puff are visible.
The rest of the body is left in full coat but may be shaped in order
to insure overall balance. (3) "Continental"--In the "Continental"
clip, the face, throat, feet, and base of the tail are shaved. The hindquarters
are shaved with pompons (optional) on the hips. The legs are shaved,
leaving bracelets on the hindlegs and puffs on the forelegs. There is
a pompon on the end of the tail. The entire shaven foot and a portion
of the shaven foreleg above the puff are visible. The rest of the body
is left in full coat but may be shaped in order to insure overall balance.
(4) "Sporting"--In the "Sporting" clip, a Poodle
shall be shown with face, feet, throat, and base of tail shaved, leaving
a scissored cap on the top of the head and a pompon on the end of the
tail. The rest of the body, and legs are clipped or scissored to follow
the outline of the dog leaving a short blanket of coat no longer than
one inch in length. The hair on the legs may be slightly longer than
that on the body.
In all clips the hair of the topknot may be left free or held in place
by elastic bands. The hair is only of sufficient length to present a
smooth outline. "Topknot" refers only to hair on the skull,
from stop to occiput. This is the only area where elastic bands may
be used.
Color
The coat is an even and solid color at the skin. In blues, grays,
silvers, browns, cafe-au-laits, apricots and creams the coat may show
varying shades of the same color. This is frequently present in the
somewhat darker feathering of the ears and in the tipping of the ruff.
While clear colors are definitely preferred, such natural variation
in the shading of the coat is not to be considered a fault. Brown and
cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, dark
toenails and dark amber eyes. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream and white
Poodles have black noses, eye-rims and lips, black or self colored toenails
and very dark eyes. In the apricots while the foregoing coloring is
preferred, liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, and amber eyes are
permitted but are not desirable. Major fault: color of nose, lips and
eye-rims incomplete, or of wrong color for color of dog.
Parti-colored dogs shall be disqualified. The coat of a parti-colored
dog is not an even solid color at the skin but is of two or more colors.
Gait
A straightforward trot with light springy action and strong hindquarters
drive. Head and tail carried up. Sound effortless movement is essential.
Temperament
Carrying himself proudly, very active, intelligent, the Poodle has
about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself. Major
fault: shyness or sharpness.
Major Faults
Any distinct deviation from the desired characteristics described
in the Breed Standard.
Disqualifications
Size-- A dog over or under the height limits specified shall be
disqualified. Clip-- A dog in any type of clip other than those listed
under coat shall be disqualified. Parti-colors-- The coat of a parti-colored
dog is not an even solid color at the skin but of two or more colors.
Parti-colored dogs shall be disqualified.