10 Things You Should Know Before Judging the Poodle

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, September 2017 issue.

10 Things You Should Know Before Judging the Poodle

The question of how to approach judging Poodles is one to which I have dedicated much thought. Although judging is at its core the evaluation of breeding stock, the dog show in its modern incarnation often obscures this basic intent. With so much attention paid to “the glamour” at shows, many times the flashy or dramatic exhibits steal the show to the detriment of this basic tenet of judging. Although they may appear to be the same, constraints of time and procedure separate the judging experience from evaluation in the role as a breeder. The standard for the breed is your touchstone, however, a simple reading is not enough, rather, it should serve as the framework and a starting point for study and conversation in order to reach understanding of how to apply it to the actual dog.

What I would like to introduce here is nothing new or original; simplify things to make them memorable and accessible, keep the breed history and function at the heart of your decision-making process and, finally, always remember to ask the question: if I were breeding this breed which one would I take home? Keep it simple; distill everything down to its most basic. Dog people are by and large visual people; this commonality is like part of our genetic code and why we find a beautiful dog appealing in the first place. Focus on breed-related basic shapes; the outline or silhouette is a shape defined by the arrangement of anatomical components.

Get the shape right and the pieces and parts are usually arranged properly. Details are also shapes, the eye, the foot, the profile of the head, even the negative space from underline to the ground between the front and rear legs is a shape relating information pertinent to evaluating a breed. Be familiar with and apply basic ideas; the Poodle temperament, attitude, and presence govern so much of the way it is perceived in the ring, how it greets its environment, people, places, and things is central to the concept we term Poodley. The Poodle outlook is self-assured, inquisitive, and unflappable. This outlook is the key to why it carries and presents itself in a proud and elegant fashion. Breed history is paramount. What a breed looks like is the result of many generations of selective breeding that began with the desire to mold a dog ideally suited for a specific purpose.

Although our breed wears many hats, its adaptability grows from traits emphasized to meet the requirements to perform well in its original role of water retriever. Each aspect of the Poodle relates to this history. General appearance is so succinctly and elegantly phrased in the standard there is little that can be written or said to further illuminate. It should be the benchmark in breeding and judging. ‘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 an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself.’ Whether breeding or judging, you at times will have an individual dog or bitch that may possess attributes that make it a good dog but with no resemblance to this description.

It can be a good dog and not be a good Poodle. General descriptions are placed at the beginning of written standards precisely for this reason; everything that follows is subjugated to this explanation of the essence of a breed. Put simply, be this first. I know this will come as a disappointment to some, but I will not be retelling the standard here. So what I will do is go back to my original premise that all things stem from the original purpose. Read the standard with an eye to why… oval eyes, smallish to medium size, relatively deep-set (read between the lines here: large, round, and protruding are taken out of our options by being deemed major faults). The description of the skull and muzzle envisions a head that is streamlined yet strong with enough room to accommodate a thoughtful, capable brain. The ears described are large and placed in such a way as to be at or below eye level and close to the head.

All of the above facilitate moving through tough marsh grasses and brush and diving in water without injury, yet providing enough strength to carry a duck. Other details in this section are aesthetic. Dark eyes and chiseling may not enhance performance, but the expression is more attractive as a result. The duck surely does not care, but I do. The body is squarely built with a very precise approach outlined to arrive at this square; breastbone to point of rump approximating the height from the highest point of the shoulders to the ground. This formula, using the exterior most points to establish length, although mathematically square, has the appearance of a dog taller than long. With additional Poodle-specific embellishment (our trim), the effect can become even further exaggerated. The chest is deep, moderately wide, with well-sprung ribs allow maximum lung capacity.

This overall design makes for a powerful, agile swimmer, facilitates moving through brush, and has the added bonus of being elegant. The head is the hardest thing to grasp and teach to both novice breeders and judges. Why this is true, I am not quite sure. The initial reaction is usually correct. Most people understand that one expression is prettier than the other, but the ‘why’ is more difficult to grasp or impart (you could spend the time allotted for a seminar on this topic alone). Read the standard, talk to knowledgeable people, and look at a lot of faces. Comparison in the midst of a group of dogs can be the most enlightening experience when tackling this feature of the Poodle. The legs are straight and parallel (we will avoid the round bone/oval bone controversy for now). The amount of bone is also a difficult topic, and the proportional concepts are somewhat subjective. What is the proper bone-to-size ratio? To do the job, the bone only needs to be substantial enough to remain strong, and finer bone contributes to the overall elegance. There is also the argument of the ‘swimmer or runner’s build.’

Long, fine bones and the elongated muscles that usually accompany them are strong, efficient, and require less oxygen. That’s all I got—it still remains relatively subjective. There will always be breeders and judges who like them by the pound. Feet are seemingly straightforward, or are they? ‘Rather small, oval in shape with toes well arched and cushioned on thick, firm pads.’ These are strong and flexible, great for rugged terrain, mud, and water. If you spread the toes (not in the ring, please), they are moderately webbed, although not like Aqua Man. The paper or splayed foot that is a major fault would most certainly hinder the dog in its task. However, there is something to consider that is not addressed in the standard and rarely discussed. Breeders and spectators alike usually laud the cat foot we see with some frequency; nonetheless, they would be equally as detrimental as the splayed foot and contrary to our breed’s purpose. A dog possessing those feet would sink to his elbows in mud and have to be rescued.

Now, before I get the emails and angry phone calls, I am not trying to rewrite the standard nor do I foster some sinister agenda. I include this merely to demonstrate some of the logical questions that arise when reading from this perspective. Contrasting those rather extreme options helps to clarify the significance of the foot described in our standard. Poodles should be moved at a straightforward trot and not at the all-out run becoming more prevalent with each passing show. Movement is very basic; they are a sound, double-tracking breed. The additional description provided is significant and what separates ours from many other breeds. ‘Light springy action’ and ‘effortless’ were included to define the way that the movement should be accomplished and contribute to the elegant, proud, air of distinction in our general description.