The Toy Poodle

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

The Toy Poodle

We have been actively involved in the Poodle fancy since 1976, with over 125 championships around the world, bred or owned by Calisa Poodles. Our first homebred puppy was also our first homebred champion: the white Am. Jap. Ch. Calisa’s Casanova of Norjean, in 1980. There were two equally lovely boys, Ralphie and Mickey, sired by Joe’s first Poodle and our first champion, Ch. Norjean’s Mark of Distinction, out of the puppy-pointed Arundel Pucker Power. Norma Strait took “Ralphie” and rapidly finished him, owner-handled, and sent him to Japan. Even with his extremely limited stud career in the States, Ralphie can be found in the background of many of the top-producing white Toys today. Mickey went to a wonderful couple and was neutered, as were all of our puppies, show quality or not, that went to permanent pet homes. The beauty and challenge of the red color attracted us early on.

Our first litter in reds produced Ch. Calisa Crimson Glory, the first red female to win an AKC Specialty BOV in the early 1980s. Showing the red puppy “Glory” in her first show to RWB to a seasoned Open Bitch, handled by Richard Bauer, was Lisa’s first and only foray into the point show ring. However, Glory was only the beginning of many firsts in reds: Calisa produced the first America and Canadian champion red dog, Canada’s first red puppy champion and first red Multiple Group Winner, the first red National Specialty Winner, the youngest red Poodle to win a US Specialty (his first time in the ring), the first red female AKC puppy champion, the first red American and Canadian puppy champion, and the red all-champion litter of four, making their red American and Canadian champion and AKC specialty-winning parents red Top Producer Poodles in both countries.

We also sent the first red Poodle to France, Calisa Little Red Waggin’, after placing in a PCA Puppy Class under Frank Fretwell. Calisa was home to the Australian Ch. Calisa Seeing Red At Shronde who went Reserve BIS weeks after emerging from quarantine. We have been extremely fortunate to have had strong support from many wonderful dog people throughout the years, including terrific pet owners and top professionals. We feel that exaggeration can be a problem in many—if not most—breeds of dogs, cats, and horses. Not only can over-emphasis on one feature affect performance, it definitely affects the pet owner’s perception of a particular breed of animal, and could be a contributing factor to the preponderance of “designer dogs.”

We feel that in Poodles, coat has improved immensely overall and great temperament is still the norm. Online, Poodles are accurately portrayed as intelligent and non-shedding, and inaccurately as yappy and coat care-free. We consider “nonsense barking,” as we refer to it, to be a trait from which to breed away. Since our puppies always would be rummaging about in the office when Joe might be on a conference call (in a definitely un-doggy business), unnecessary barking was a big no-no! We have had puppy owners call us after a week or more, asking if their Poodle will bark! (After they feel that they “own” you and are part of your team, they will bark—to alert and “squirrel!”) And Poodles do require regular hair care. A single night under the covers or curled in a furry bed can result in “bed head.” We have always felt that the only thing more fun, rewarding, and loving than a good Poodle is one that is also beautiful.

When moving from the side, Poodles should maintain the profile they possess standing and not lower themselves to the ground. Trim—ah yes—now we are truly through the looking glass. Entering our world requires a bit of, well, let’s say acceptance. The traditional Poodle trims are rooted in our history and you will have to do some homework to understand its origins and evolution (that could also be the subject of a seminar or rather lengthy article). It is what it is and it is here to stay – don’t be doggin’ our trims. There are ways to approach your physical examination of the dogs that garner the information you need without smashing the hair on top of the head flat or rooting through the hair. To be judging Poodles requires that you learn these techniques. Ask any Poodle person to help and you will be surprised how eager they are to educate prospective judges in this area. Coat texture is also an aspect of our heritage both genetic and vocational. Quite simply our coat and texture is a genetic attribute that was exploited and enhanced because it is both warm and it sheds water (what an asset for a job that requires you get wet). Unfortunately, for the most part you are not going to feel a lot of the best texture when you judge our breed. This is not because it no longer exists but simply a reflection of our time.

Most of the dogs in your ring will be immature specimens. In the past, when Poodle entries were much larger, it was easy for judges to get the sense of good Poodle coat texture. Many exhibits were in the two and a half to four year range. Today mature exhibits are relegated to the specials class with the median age remaining being under two. Find out what it should feel like but don’t expect it to be prevalent. Now to conclude the looking glass section. Dun – Dun – Dun – Hair Spray. Come on down to Glam-O-Rama or as I like to call it, your local dog show. Dog Shows are exotic, glamorous and exciting – that is part of the allure; exhibitors, judges and everyone who participates help to perpetuate this modern version of the dog show. The evolution of our trims incorporated and increased the use of hair spray (and other products) in the arsenal of tools to enhance, but we are hardly the only breed and in many instance not the worst offender. We are however the most obvious- really- we stand ten inches of hair on end. My advice in judging this phenomenon, well let’s say you live in a part of the world where people prefer their hair purple and standing on end. If it offends you the problem is you have to get used to it or relocate, but if you point and scream each time you see it, they will relocate you.

Can it be taken a bit too far – certainly, and you may act appropriately in those situations. Do, however, spend the time to define where the line is and what crossing it looks like. In conclusion, do your homework. Be reasonable. Be pleasant to exhibitors and Poodles alike. Be yourself. Don’t try to remake yourself to judge Poodles. It is important to bring your own personal experience and knowledge into the equation. Judge with clarity and conviction, be consistent and, above all, be true to the basic tenet of judging as you do effect the direction of the breed.