From the Poodle Standard, we must ascertain what is the correct type for the Poodle. Type to me is what makes the dog look like its breed, and I must for my own logic, start at one point and continue on from there. Correct type in a Poodle of any size, in my opinion, is apparent in examining the animal in direct profile.

Its balance of height to length of body? The Poodle is square. Its balance of bone to size (sturdy bone with refinement). It's balance of neck length to body length (a neck long enough to carry it's head proudly) Its proportion of head length to size of dog? Is the topline of the foreface straight, neither dished nor roman? Does the topline of the body appear level, neither sloping or roached? Does the elbow appear to be set directly under the highest point of the shoulder? Does the hindquarter place the rear foot just behind an imaginary line dropped from the pin bone to the ground, and stand with a nicely bent stifle and a short metatarsus? Is the tail docked to a pleasing length, does it appear straight, and is it high set, carried up, and is there a shelf or point of the ischium out behind the set on of tail? Does it seem that the tail was put on as an afterthought? If the Poodle is on the floor, a table, or on closely cropped grass, can you see that it has a beautiful, tightly formed, small Poodle foot--slightly spoon shaped, with short but not mutilated toenails. Is the color solid, and is the Poodle presented in correct trim, well groomed, and owning an air peculiar to-himself.

If all of this is pleasing, the Poodle on my first impression is typical, or can be considered to be within the guidelines set down in the standard to make him an acceptable specimen to do the work for which he was originally bred (a water retriever par excellence).

Side gait is the truest test of the balance and fit of its individual parts. Does the Poodle move as a unit, not dissolving into a mass of unrelated pieces? As it covers the ground, does the Poodle remain up and square, not lowering it's self as the German Shepherd does in motion? Is the head held in a pleasing position high with a gracefully arched neck; does the top line remain steady, the tail up and carried with confidence? Do the four legs move in correct tempo carrying the Poodle over the ground with grace and elegance. Does the front leg extend freely with no laboring action? Does the rear leg take a good forward stride-the rear foot actually covering the space just vacated by the front foot-at the trot? Is the rear leg able to follow thru its rearward push-unimpeded by a too sharply sloped croup? Hopefully the dog being gaited has been taught to move on a loose lead and at a moderate speed.

"Carrying himself proudly, very active, intelligent, the poodle has about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself." Also the Poodle may exhibit a sense of humor- and may play to the crowd for applause or appreciation!! All of this may be observed before you have touched the animal or really looked at this head, body and relative lengths of the bones of the skeleton relating to correct movement.

Coming and going: soundness; and once more around the ring to let you see that typical,
useful functional Poodle in side movement, The truest test, in my opinion, of the fit and
function of all parts. What you have done is to judge the overall picture, made your first
cut on type, and rewarded the soundest of your typical specimens. An untypical Poodle
that is sound is useless. A typical Poodle that is sound, IS PRICELESS!

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. This is the beginning of understanding Poodle

type. When you are approved to judge Poodles you are approved to judge all three varieties. The standard, except for size, is the same for all three. Since this article is for TNT, I will elaborate on the Toy Poodle. Size, over ten inches is a disqualification. You can train your eye to estimate size, but if in doubt, measure. It is not fair to put a quality Poodle at the end of the line because you think it may be over-sized. In Toys we have no minimum height requirement, all heights are to be considered equally. Our Standard states, diminutiveness shall be the deciding factor when all other points are equal. However I have never known all other factors to be equal! This statement was included in the Standard by the parent club to bring attention to the fact that type, balance and proportion can be as correct in a nine inch Poodle as well as a ten inch Poodle. When examining on the table, we check for disqualifying faults. When examining the Toy Poodle be gentle, but decisive with your hands. We use our hands to see what's under the coat.

Before you touch the Poodle, the expression is of utmost importance. Evaluate this, does it have an alert intelligent expression. A characteristic of the breed. Is the eye oval, dark in color? Then you can proceed with the manual examination. Starting at the head, check for correct proportions, occiput to stop about the same as length of muzzle. Are the cheek bones flat with a slight but definite stop--slight chiseling under the eyes. The ears should be set at or slightly below eye level. Teeth--white, strong and with a scissors bite. One of the problems in the breed is lack of underjaw. All of the above add up to the correct head type.

When examining the body it is not necessary to destroy the grooming. Your hand can go under the coat and feel for the correct lay back of shoulders. When checking for body, topline and heart-shaped ribs, go from rear to withers and feel the shape of body that way. This will also allow you to check for a short loin. Tail set--set on high and carried up. The tail may be carried at 12 or 1 o'clock. Then to the rear assembly--it should be muscular with well bent stifles, when standing the rear toes are only slightly behind the point of the

examination, if you have disturbed the grooming, take a second and put it back the way it was. Your exhibitors will appreciate your concern for their efforts to present their Poodle as well groomed as possible.

A note on checking feet when examining them on the table: sometimes they will not "make a foot." on the table. If I think the foot is flat or splayed, I will check for this again when they come back to me after gaiting. The feet are rather small, oval in shape with

Our clips are "traditional." Learning the clips (trims) can be challenging; the breed Standard and our Illustrated Study of the Poodle Breed Standard covers it quite well. You must be comfortable with the grooming; it is part our breed history. We have disqualifications for incorrect clips one of which concern the age of the Poodle. Poodles 12

as a judge, you must ask the age (from the steward) of any Poodle that is presented in Puppy Trim, entered in any class other then 6-12 month class. The Poodle must be in adult trim after one year of age, but may be shown in adult trim as a puppy. The puppy clip states: in order to give a neat appearance and a smooth unbroken line, shaping of the

Color is covered in our Standard; The coat is an even and solid color at the skin. Shading of solid colors is allowed. The clearing or various shades of silver, blues, browns, apricots and creams is acceptable. Silver and the various shades of gray are born black and clear slowly. As puppies they will show the true color at the skin (all over) but may have the remains of the dark birth color at the tips of their body coat and ears. Colors such as brown and apricot tend to lighten with age. The feathering on the ears may be darker. Creams also may have shading on the ears. On the lighter colored dogs, when injured the hair may come in at a darker shade and then clear to the color of the rest of the coat. The Phantom markings (Black and Tan markings such as Dobermans, Black and Tan Coonhounds, etc.) are not acceptable; they are a disqualification. This coloration may appear as black and tan, brown and tan, silver and tan, and the tan may be so light as to appear creamy or white. Parti-colored, two or more distinct colors is a disqualification also.

When accepting the responsibility of judging Poodles you must be comfortable with all three varieties. If you are aspiring to judge the Poodle I would recommend that you attend the Poodle Club of America National held in Upper Marlboro, MD. Judges Education is held yearly. We feel it is the most beautiful and comfortable show for all concerned that is held in this country. The "Cream Of The Crop" is always in attendance and vying for top honors---For information please contact me: Doris Cozart, Poodle Club of

Since the early 1990's, published standards for the Poodle have stated-color: all white, all black, all blue, etc. From that time forward all the approved AKC Standard have stated that the Poodle is a one colored animal.