My family had a miniature poodle. She brought new meaning to the phrase “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. (She could also be the cuddliest thing around, though.)
Most of the standard poodles I see these days don’t have the pom-pom haircuts. Just loads of curly fur. Perhaps (we can only hope) the silly poofter haircut days for standards are over.
If only the dog show people felt the same way. Every time I see one of those silly Louis XIV haircuts reach the Best In Show round, I think “Not the poodle! For God’s sake, DON’T GIVE IT TO THE POODLE!” This year, I was gratified to look in the program of the annual show here in SF and see that they havn’t given the top prize to a poodle in many many years (maybe never).
Poodles are great dogs, but if they had any idea how stupid their owners make them look they wouldn’t sit still (or play dead, roll over, or fetch) for it.
Re Tough Poodles: A man I knew told me a story about when they were kids. They were playing down at the end of the street, and their standard poodle was with them. A german sheperd came along and stated growling at the kids. The poodle killed it.
Margueritem: Little known fact: Poodles, contrary to stereotype, are not French. They’re German. Specifically, they’re German hunting dogs. They were bred to be retrievers for duck hunters. The ridiculous hairdos we see on them today were actually to leave fur around the vital organs (the chest) to keep them warm but streamline them so the weight of all that wet fur didn’t slow them down while they were retrieving a duck.
I thought the curliness of the fur was more to provide buoyancy rather than warmth. If organ warmth were the issue I would think the midriff would be as vital as the chest, yet the midriff is (in show dogs) clipped to the skin. I’m pretty sure the pompons on the hips and legs are for joint warmth, though.
My understanding is that the main reason they’re clipped at ALL is because poodle fur doesn’t reach a certain length and stop; if you don’t clip it, it keeps growing. Cutting to a uniform, intermediate length it seems to me would be just as practical (if not moreso) than these ridiculous bouffant-alternating-baldness styles that have become so prized (which styles DID, I think, originate when the German-originating “puddle-hound” became the favorite of the French kings).
tabbylynn over 15 years ago
“Delicate Flower” ? “Essence of Grace and Beauty” ? what dog are they talking about? lol
margueritem over 15 years ago
Standard poodles are tough, in spite of those silly haircuts.
ladywolf17 over 15 years ago
reminds me of my little chihuahua Pepe he thinks he’s a big killer dog. (woof)
greeneyedtxn over 15 years ago
True love is blind. She has moved on from them,so they need to forgive each other and move back to being friends.
brian anderson creator over 15 years ago
I’ve always loved tough poodles. The ironic contrast between their hairstyle and personality kills me.
alondra over 15 years ago
Wonder what they’d think if they could see her now?
TiggerLeBounce over 15 years ago
I saw a standard-sized poodle once rather than one of the little toy yappers. Under that silly haircut is some serious muscle!
rayannina over 15 years ago
While they were thinking romance, she was home watching “NYPD Blue” …
VancouverRaven over 15 years ago
My family had a miniature poodle. She brought new meaning to the phrase “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. (She could also be the cuddliest thing around, though.)
risitas over 15 years ago
Perhaps Lily had this in mind for her victim:
(Exclusive interview by Baba-Wawa)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUoZkCB9q08
farren over 15 years ago
Most of the standard poodles I see these days don’t have the pom-pom haircuts. Just loads of curly fur. Perhaps (we can only hope) the silly poofter haircut days for standards are over.
fritzoid Premium Member over 15 years ago
If only the dog show people felt the same way. Every time I see one of those silly Louis XIV haircuts reach the Best In Show round, I think “Not the poodle! For God’s sake, DON’T GIVE IT TO THE POODLE!” This year, I was gratified to look in the program of the annual show here in SF and see that they havn’t given the top prize to a poodle in many many years (maybe never).
Poodles are great dogs, but if they had any idea how stupid their owners make them look they wouldn’t sit still (or play dead, roll over, or fetch) for it.
ninmas over 15 years ago
my dog’s name is lilly, and she’s nothing like this
margueritem over 15 years ago
Re Tough Poodles: A man I knew told me a story about when they were kids. They were playing down at the end of the street, and their standard poodle was with them. A german sheperd came along and stated growling at the kids. The poodle killed it.
VancouverRaven over 15 years ago
Margueritem: Little known fact: Poodles, contrary to stereotype, are not French. They’re German. Specifically, they’re German hunting dogs. They were bred to be retrievers for duck hunters. The ridiculous hairdos we see on them today were actually to leave fur around the vital organs (the chest) to keep them warm but streamline them so the weight of all that wet fur didn’t slow them down while they were retrieving a duck.
fritzoid Premium Member over 15 years ago
I thought the curliness of the fur was more to provide buoyancy rather than warmth. If organ warmth were the issue I would think the midriff would be as vital as the chest, yet the midriff is (in show dogs) clipped to the skin. I’m pretty sure the pompons on the hips and legs are for joint warmth, though.
My understanding is that the main reason they’re clipped at ALL is because poodle fur doesn’t reach a certain length and stop; if you don’t clip it, it keeps growing. Cutting to a uniform, intermediate length it seems to me would be just as practical (if not moreso) than these ridiculous bouffant-alternating-baldness styles that have become so prized (which styles DID, I think, originate when the German-originating “puddle-hound” became the favorite of the French kings).