Based on the (USA) Revised 1997 Reformatted Standard. Copyright Robert Cole

First decide which one of the three white Miniature Poodles presented in Continental Clip best represents ideal. Then identify the combined 13 visible faults possessed by the two remaining less fortunate bitches. Later we will examine these same three bitches less their pom, bracelets, puffs and discover a further 16 faults.

Make your choices now! Find the faults! Place them 1st, 2nd and 3rd !

 Only one of the three is worthy of an award. The other two bitches serve to display numerous faults.
All have been made the same 15-inch maximum height because the short legs on one would be
immediately apparent to the practiced eye.

Bitch A has seven visible faults; Bitch C has six visible faults. Bitch B represents typical. Bitch B is square, her length of body equal to height. Her oval shaped eyes are very dark and there is no falling away under the eyes. Her ears are set on level with eye. The skull is moderately rounded and is equal in length to straight muzzle with a slight but definite stop dividing the two. Cheekbones are flat. Teeth meet in a complete scissors bite. The head is carried high on a neck of good length with skin fitting tightly at the throat. Shoulders are well laid back and flow into a topline that is level except for a slight hollow just behind the shoulder. Lydia Hopkins, author of The Complete Poodle, avoids mention of "slight hollow"; and Ernest H. Hart, author of The Poodle Handbook, expresses a concern that degrees of interpretation of "slight hollow" could lead to weak and unsound backs. I personally have no problem with 'slight hollow'. However, if the Poodle was a shorthaired breed and the slight hollow visible, I wonder how long it would last and what effect would its loss have on ability? The "chest deep" should be expanded to include down to level of elbow and definite tuck-up should receive mention, so should foreleg length. The slightly longer foreleg than depth of body (11 to 10) depicted in my 1986 treatise and in this update is validated in the 1992 Poodle Club of America Illustrated Study. I would describe the Poodle's foreleg as moderately long. The feet are described as "rather small, oval in shape with toes well arched and cushioned on thick pads". The front pasterns are described merely as strong. I depicted the front pasterns a having a slight slope. The loin is "short, broad and muscular". In my 1986 depiction of typical, I gave the Poodle's short loin a slight arch; however, in this update, I elected to conform to the Club's official illustrated ideal's topline. The official depiction of topline is far from level but it does allow for a horizontal croup and a higher (12 o'clock) tail set than I previously drew. (The Club's other preferred tail set is the 12:30 angle in Bitch C). The hindlegs on my representation of typical conform to the Standard's excellent description, which in part says "stifles 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 points of the rump". With this concise direction, there is no excuse for dramatically long lower thighs. BITCH A: Her (1) dished muzzle and (2) large round eyes disturb, as does her (3) light bone, (4) low tail set, and lack of angulation at (5) stifle and (6) hock. The (7) too far forward position on the body of her front legs upsets balance suggesting that her forequarter assembly is steep. BITCH C: Her lack of (1) chin is a more serious fault than her (2) Roman nose or her (3) disturbingly pronounced cheeks. She lacks a Poodle degree of (4) tuck-up and her (5) lower thigh is too long. This is the bitch with the (6) short foreleg. Some people see her as long in body until compared to Bitch B. _________________ OK, now examine the same three bitches less their pom poms, bracelets, puffs etc. Shaved off is equivalent to a hands on examination.

 

BITCH B represents typical and exhibits the Poodle virtues described earlier. BITCH A has eleven more exposed faults. BITCH C has five more exposed faults. BITCH A (1) Her skull is domed rather than moderately rounded (2) Her ewe neck is a major fault (3) Her shoulders (major fault) and (4) upper arm and (5) front pasterns are all steep. This steepness has moved the front assembly forward on the body disrupting static balance and creating a hole between the front legs. This same steepness forces the body to raise above (6) the elbow. Forcing the body to raise to 15 inches has produced a taller than long Poodle. Ironically, if she were too long in body or too short on leg she would be square. As it is (7) her rib cage is too short, and (8) her loin is too long. (9) Her long loin arches to strengthen this unsupported part, complimenting a (10) curved rather than level croup. (11) The low set tail was visible before the shave but the faulty curl in the tail wasn't. I always conclude my hands-on examination of the Poodle topline by running my hand up the tail, however whatever I found, it would not disturb me as much as any of the other 10 faults would. BITCH C (1) The loose skin at her throat is more noticeable now; so is her (2) slightly short neck, her (3) front pasterns have too much of a weak slope, and her (4) rear pasterns are SICKLE HOCKED, and (5) her paper feet hidden in part by artful grooming are a major fault.

 

For more information about
Correct Standard Poodle or Dog Structure, check out:

The Complete Standard Poodle (Hardcover)

Poodle Club of America Illustrated Breed Standard

PUPPY PUZZLE

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