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      In the obedience ring, Poodles may be groomed in whatever style their owners desire, as their behavior and willingness to work with their owners are being judged, not their conformation.

      Pet Poodles and those not being shown in breed conformation classes at dog shows are usually groomed in styles designed for ease of maintenance. Often the body hair is clipped short, with the legs trimmed a bit longer. Some male Poodles sport tiny mustaches around the muzzles. The pet style is usually determined by the owner’s willingness and capability to maintain the coat in a well-groomed fashion. In addition, Poodles that spend a lot of time outdoors are usually kept shorter because it’s easier to keep the coat clean when the hair isn’t too long.

      While on the subject of coat, we must mention the fact that Poodles don’t shed or have an odor. Like that of humans, the hair keeps growing, which means that Poodles must be groomed on a frequent and regular basis all their lives. Poodles are highmaintenance dogs, and grooming can be costly and time- consuming. On the other hand, because Poodles do not shed, they are among only a few breeds whose hair will never be found on furniture and clothing, a real advantage. Many people who are allergic to dogs find that they can live without adverse reactions to Poodles because of this phenomenon.

       A black Standard Poodle youngster in show stance. This clip is often called a Puppy clip.

       An elegantly groomed white Standard Poodle in Continental clip with hip pompons.

       A Miniature Poodle in a typical English Saddle clip.

       When the topknot is full, it must be brushed out carefully to stand erect in a rounded pompon.

       COLOR

      Poodle colors are mind-boggling! For the purists, there are three choices: black, white and dark brown. For the more adventuresome, there are literally dozens of other shades, starting with cream to café-au-lait to pale apricot all the way to a deep, rich apricot that sparkles in the sunshine. From there, you can see deeper shades that reach eventually into rich chocolate brown. From coal black, you can descend to a deep gunmetal gray to various shades of plain gray and on toward silver-gray.

      Poodle puppies are often born darker in color than they will be as adults. Gray Poodles, for example, are born black, while dark chocolate puppies usually lighten to a soft milkchocolate shade.

      I have owned Poodles in black, gunmetal gray, light and medium gray, chocolate brown, deep apricot and even light butterscotch. As far as I’m concerned, choosing just the right dog to live with does not depend on its color. There are far more important features to consider than the color.

       Despite the large number of colors and shades that Poodles can exhibit, the most commonly seen Poodle color is probably white. Whatever the color, it must be solid in show dogs; particolored dogs are disqualified.

       Identifying the color of a Poodle can be perplexing. Some might call this a chocolate while others would say dark apricot.

      One last note on color, however. It’s important to point out here that café-au-lait and brown Poodles have dark amber eyes rather than the traditional black eyes. Also, their lips, eye rims and noses should be liver-colored instead of black. Apricots may have liver pigmentation and dark amber eyes, but black is preferred. In selecting a Poodle for showing, clear colors are preferred; solid colors are required.

       From gunmetal to silver, there is a magnificent range of gray shades seen in the Poodle.

       A wellappreciated color is the apricot with a black nose.

HEALTH CONCERNS

      Well-bred Poodles are hardy, long-lived dogs who enjoy good health all their days. However, Poodles can be subject to certain health conditions, and the wise Poodle puppy buyer should be aware of these problems and avoid them whenever possible.

      As with humans, Poodles have many health concerns that are hereditary in nature. Many of these can be avoided by careful investigation on the new owner’s part by asking the breeder about the health background of the puppy’s parents. For example, have the parents been tested for such conditions as cataracts that can cause blindness? Does either of the parents have epilepsy and, if so, how is it controlled? Has either parent experienced orthopedic problems and, if so, how serious were they?

      Here we take a closer look at some health conditions that have been found in Poodles as well as many other breeds of dog. Please note that not all Poodles experience these conditions. However, it behooves the puppy buyer to be well informed regarding potential health concerns of the breed under consideration. Also note that responsible breeders do not breed from any dog that is known to have or carry any hereditary problems.

       Most Poodles are as “healthy as a horse,” and some even get along well with an equine pal.

       EYE PROBLEMS

      A cataract is a cloudiness or film over the lens of the eye, categorized by age of onset, location on the eye and stage of the cloudiness. This condition is hereditary, and parents should be tested before breeding takes place to prevent this condition from being passed on.

      Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness,

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