The Conformation Conversation

Official Standard of the Poodle

The Standard for the Poodle (Toy variety) is the same as for the Standard and Miniature varieties

except as regards heights.

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.

Proportion - To 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.

Substance - Bone 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. Forelegs -

Straight and parallel when viewed from the front. When viewed from the side the elbow isPage 2 of 3

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. Hindlegs

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 whilePage 3 of 3

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.

Value of Points

General appearance, temperament, carriage and condition.......30

Head, expression, ears, eyes and teeth.......20

Body, neck, legs, feet and tail.......20

Gait.......20

Coat, color and texture.......10

Approved August 14, 1984

Reformatted March 27, 1990