Have you ever watched a dog show and wondered about those strange Poodle haircuts? Did you know that Poodles have been portrayed wearing the famous Continental clip in paintings dated as far back as 1533?
Contrary to what many people believe, the Poodle breed originated in Germany and the name is derived from the German word, pudel, which means ‘splashes in water.’ Poodles are sometimes thought of as “foo foo” dogs but, in history, they worked as water retrievers or fowl dogs. And there really is a good reason for those pom poms and shaved areas.
If a Poodle’s coat is allowed to grow naturally, it will fall into long rope-like cords, which absorb water and quickly become heavy, obviously hampering the dog’s ability to move in water. For this reason, Poodle owners clipped their dogs, however, they left the chest, vital organs, and joints covered to protect them from the cold German climate. That weird looking topknot was left as a place for the owner to tie a colored ribbon so that his dog could be identified from a distance as it worked in the water.
For the Poodle, beauty and brains go together. In spite of their elegant and stylish appearance, Poodles hold second place only to the Border Collie in a recent dog intelligence ranking. They have exceptional talent for sniffing out contraband and have been used as guide dogs, hearing ear dogs, and therapy dogs as well. In 1935, a Standard Poodle won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s Best of Show prize. Since then, eight more, including Miniature Poodles and Toy Poodles, have claimed the title. They also score high in obedience and agility competition.
In the early days of the breed, as French nobility took an interest in the Poodle, the ladies began clipping and decorating their dogs in various fancy styles. Eventually the Poodle was named the national dog of France .This is why some refer to them as French Poodles.
Today, Poodles are popular as companion pets and you may see them wearing many different haircut styles from maintenance to fancy, including the puppy cut, the sporting cut for active dogs, lamb trim, kennel trim, summer trim, Dutch trim, or the more glamorous English Saddle or Continental cuts which are mainly seen in the show ring. A good groomer will offer pictures of various cuts for Poodle owners to choose from. Poodles have a dense, cottony undercoat that sheds and easily becomes matted in the outer coat. Daily brushing and combing, with a full grooming every 6 to 8 weeks, helps prevent unsightly and painful mats.
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