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Poodle |
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FCI standard Nº 172Effective from 01/08/2024 |
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Origin |
France | |
Translation |
Jennifer Mulholland, in collaboration with Raymond Triquet | |
Group |
Group 9 Companion and Toy dogs | |
Section |
Section 2 Poodle | |
Working |
Without working trial | |
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI |
Saturday 01 January 1955 | |
Publication of the official valid standard |
Wednesday 20 March 2024 | |
Last update |
Friday 05 April 2024 | |
En français, cette race se dit |
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Caniche |
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar |
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Pudel |
En español, esta raza se dice |
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Caniche |
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd |
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Poedel |
Usage |
| Companion dog |
Brief historical summary |
| Etymologically, the French word "caniche" (Poodle) comes from "cane", the French word for a female duck. In other countries, the name of the breed is associated with splashing around in water. Originally, this dog was used for wildfowling. It descends from the Barbet of which it has conserved many characteristics. In 1743, it was called the "caniche": the female of the barbet in French. Thereafter the Barbet and the Caniche (Poodle) were gradually separated. Breeders worked hard to obtain original subjects of uniform colour. The Poodle became very popular as a companion dog because of its friendly, joyful and loyal character and also because of its four sizes and different colours which everyone can choose according to preference. |
General appearance |
| Dog of medium proportions, with a characteristic frizzy coat which is either curly or corded. The appearance is that of an intelligent dog, constantly alert and active, harmoniously built, giving an impression of elegance and pride. |
Important proportions |
| • The length of the muzzle is approximately 9/10ths of that of the skull. • The length of the body (scapular ischial) is slightly superior to the height at withers. • The height at withers is practically equal to the height at the croup. • The height at the elbow is 5/9ths of the height at withers. |
Behaviour / temperament |
| A dog renowned for its loyalty, capable of learning and being trained thus making it a particularly pleasant companion dog. |
Head |
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Cranial region |
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Head |
Distinguished, rectilinear and in proportion to the body. The head must be well chiselled and neither heavy nor excessively fine. | |
Skull |
Skull: Its width is less than half the length of the head. The entire skull, seen from above, appears oval and seen from the side slightly convex. The axes of skull and muzzle are slightly divergent. Superciliary arches: Moderately pronounced and covered with long hair. Frontal furrow: Wide between the eyes, narrowing towards the occiput ,which is very pronounced. (In Miniatures it can be slightly less pronounced). |
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Stop |
Only slightly pronounced. | |
Facial region |
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Nose |
Developed, vertical profile; open nostrils. Black nose in black, white and grey subjects; in two-coloured black, two-coloured grey, black and fawn and in tricoloured subjects; brown nose in brown subjects, in two-coloured brown and brown and fawn. In fawn (apricot/red) and in two-coloured fawn subjects, the nose should be black or brown according to the intensity of the fawn colour. In light fawn subjects the nose should be as dark as possible. | |
Muzzle |
Upper profile is perfectly straight; its length is approximately 9/10ths of that of the skull. The branches of the lower jaw are almost parallel. The muzzle is strong. The lower profile of the muzzle is determined by the lower jaw and not by the edge of the upper lip. | |
Lips |
Moderately developed, rather tight, of medium thickness with the upper lip resting on the lower lip without hanging over it. Black in black, white and grey subjects; brown in brown subjects. In orange fawn (apricot) and red fawn subjects, the lips are more or less dark brown or black. The corner of the lips must not be pronounced. | |
Jaws and teeth |
Scissor bite. Strong teeth. | |
Cheeks |
Not prominent, shaped on the bones. The sub-orbital regions are chiselled and very slightly filled. Zygomatic arches very slightly pronounced. | |
Eyes |
Keen expression, placed at the level of the stop and slightly oblique. Almond shaped. Black or dark brown colour. In brown subjects the colour may be dark amber. Eyelids: The rims are black in black, white and grey subjects. In orange fawn (apricot) or red fawn subjects they may be brown or black. |
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Ears |
Rather long, falling along the cheeks, set on in the prolongation of a line going from the top of the nose and passing under the outer corner of the eye; flat, widening after the attachment and rounded at the tip, they are covered with very long, wavy hair. The leather should reach the corner of the lips. | |
Neck |
| Strong ,slightly arched after the nape, of medium length and well porportioned. The head is carried high and proudly. The neck, without dewlap, is of oval cross section. Its length is slightly less than that of the head. |
Body |
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Body |
Well porprotioned. The length is slightly superior to height at withers. | |
Withers |
Moderately developed. | |
Back |
Short. Topline harmonious and taut. The height at withers is practically equal to the height from the top of the croup to the ground. | |
Loin |
Firm and muscled. | |
Croup |
Rounded but not falling away. | |
Chest |
Reaching the elbow; its width is equal to 2/3 of depth. In Standard Poodles, the perimeter of the thorax, measured behind the shoulders, should be superior by 10 cms to the height at withers. Oval cross section, broad at dorsal part. | |
Side |
Belly and Flanks tucked up but not excessively so. | |
Underline and belly |
The point of the sternum should be slightly prominent and set rather high. | |
Tail |
| Set on quite high at the level of the loin (ideally carried at “ten past nine” compared to the topline). Tail docking is no longer authorized. |
Limbs |
Forequarters |
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Generality |
Perfectly upright and parallel, well muscled with good bone. The height from the elbow to the ground is slightly more than half the height at withers. | |
Shoulders |
Sloping, muscular. The shoulder blade forms an angle of approximately 110° to the humerus. | |
Upper arm |
The length of the humerus corresponds to that of the shoulder blade. | |
Carpal |
In continuous line with front of forearm. | |
Pastern |
Strong and almost upright seen in profile. | |
Forefeet |
Rather small, firm, of short oval shape. Toes are well arched and tight fitting. The pads are hard and thick. The nails are black in black and grey subjects. They are black or brown in brown subjects. In whites the nails may be any colour in the range from horn colour to black. In the fawns they are brown or black; according to coat colour, as dark as possible | |
Hindquarters |
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Generality |
Hind legs parallel seen from behind; muscles developed and very apparent. The hock joint is relatively well angulated; the coxal-femoral, tibial-femoral and tibial-tarsal angles should be pronounced. | |
Upper thigh |
Well muscled and strong. | |
Metatarsus |
Rather short and upright. The Poodle should be born without dewclaws on the hind legs. | |
Hind feet |
Rather small, firm, of short oval shape. Toes are well arched and tight fitting. The pads are hard and thick. The nails are black in black and grey subjects. They are black or brown in brown subjects. In whites the nails may be any colour in the range from horn colour to black. In the fawns they are brown or black, according to coat colour, as dark as possible. | |
Gait and movement |
| The Poodle has a light and springy gait. |
Skin |
| Supple, not loose, pigmented. Black, brown, grey and orange fawn or red fawn Poodles must be pigmented in accordance with the colour of their coat. In white Poodles, a silver coloured skin is sought after. |
Coat |
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Hair |
Curly Coats : Profuse of fine, woolly texture, very frizzy, elastic and resistant to pressure of the hand. It should be thick, well furnished, of equal length and form even curls. Corded Coats : Profuse of fine, woolly texture and dense, forming characteristic cords which should measure at least 20 cm. |
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Colour |
Solid colours : Black, white, brown. Brown should be deep, rather dark, uniform and warm. Any white marking in black and brown coats is highly undesirable. Grey, fawn Beige and its paler derivatives are not admitted. Grey must be uniform, deep, neither blackish nor whitish, but depending on age may present some shades of grey. Fawn must be uniform. Can go from pale fawn to red fawn or even be orange fawn (apricot). Eyelids, nose, lips, gums, palate, natural orifices, scrotum and pads are well pigmented. For light fawn subjects, all pigmentation should be as dark as possible. Any white marking in grey and fawn coats is highly undesirable. Other colours : Parti-coloured dogs, two colours Predominance of white colour, with the other being distributed irregularly : Black and white. Blue/grey and white. Fawn and white. Brown and white. (Some patches can appear on the white parts on the legs or the body, but they are not sought after) Predominance of a clear colour with white parts on the legs, forechest and sometimes a mask on the muzzle and/or tip of the tail (dogs with mantle, tuxedo) Brown coloured back Black coloured back Dogs with fawn coat colour : (predominance of one colour, with clearly defined fawn markings of a clear fawn colour) : Brown with fawn markings Black with fawn markings Mandatory fawn markings : • above each eye • on the cheeks and inside the ears • on the side of the muzzle • at the end of each limb and inside • on the chest, around the scrotum in males and around the vulva in females Fawn markings should not be charcoal or too pale. Any white marking is highly undesirable. Tricoloured : Black, white and marked with fawn. Fawn markings present at least on the eyebrows and around the scrotum in males and on the vulva in females. Other pluricoloured dogs : Brindle and white Brindle |
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Size and weight |
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Height at withers |
• Standard Poodles: Over 45 cm up to 60 cm with a tolerance of +2 cm. The Standard Poodle must be the enlarged and developed replica of the Medium Poodle of which it retains the same characteristics. • Medium Poodles: Over 35 cm up to 45 cm. • Miniature Poodles: Over 28 cm up to 35 cm. The Miniature Poodle must display the apprearance of a reduced Medium Poodle, retaining as much as possible the same proportions and without presenting any sign of dwarfism. • Toy Poodles: Over 24 cm up to 28 cm (sought after ideal: 25 cm) (with a tolerance of -1 cm). The Toy Poodle maintains, in its ensemble, the aspect of a Miniature Poodle and the same general proportions complying with all the points of the standard. Any sign of dwarfism is excluded; only the occipital protuberance may be less pronounced. |
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Faults |
| • Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work. • Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness. |
General faults |
 Roach or sway back. Tail set on too low. Too restless subject. Absence of 2PM1 is not taken into account. Absence of one or two PM2, if symmetrical. Absence of M3 is not taken into account. |
Serious faults |
| Partially depigmented nose. Snipey nose. Pointed muzzle. Arched bridge of nose. Absence of two PM2 if not symmetrical. Eyes too big or sunken, not dark enough. Ears too short. Croup falling away. Tail curved over the back. Rear anuglations too straight. Flowing or extended gait. Sparse, soft or harsh hair. Colour not clearly defined or not uniform: blackish grey or whitish grey, washed out fawn, cream, beige in browns or very dark brown. Subjects with solid coloured coat : undefined or not solid colour. |
Disqualifying faults |
| Aggressive or overly shy. Nose completely depigmented. Lack of type, particularly in head. Overshot or undershot. Absence of 1 incisor or 1 canine or 1 carnassial (P4 upper jaw, M1 lower jaw). Absence of one PM3 or of one PM4. Absence of three or more PM (except PM1). Absence of tail or naturally short tail. Dewclaws or evidence of dewclaws on rear limbs. Coat which is not solid colour. White marks. White hairs on feet. Height exceeding 62 cm in Standards and inferior to 23 cm in Toys. Any subject displaying signs of dwarfism, globulous skull, absence of occipital protuberance, very pronounced stop, prominent eyes muzzle too short and turned up, receding chin. Median furrow practically inexistant. Very light bone in Toys. Tail curled with the tip falling over the flank or the croup. For dogs with solid colour : any white marking on body and/or legs for all subjects other than the white ones. For dogs of another colour : o Dogs with coat of one colour, with a single isolated mark (mismarking). o Lack of harmony in the distribution of colours on the head. o White patch surrounding the eye (pirate marking). o White patch surrounding both eyes. |
Important |
| Addition to standard Judging a Poodle in a show does not mean it is judged in a grooming contest. It is not encouraged to stimulate over-grooming one’s dog. AUTHORIZED SHOW CLIPS The wearing of a moustache is authorized in all clips. “Lion Clip” : The Poodle, whether curly or corded, shall be clipped on the hindquarters up to the ribs. Also clipped : the muzzle, above and underneath from the lower eyelids; the cheeks; the forelegs and hindlegs, except for the cuffs or bracelets and optional motifs on the hindquarters; the tail, except for round or oblong terminal pompom. A moustache is required for all subjects. Leaving hair, called “trousers”, on the forelegs is admitted. “Modern Clip” : Leaving hair on all four legs is only admitted on condition that the following norms are respected : 1.Shall be clipped : a) The lower part of the forelegs, from the nails to the tip of the dewclaw, the lower part of the hindlegs to the same height. Machine clipping, limited to the toes only, is admitted. b) The head and the tail in compliance with rules described above. Shall be exceptionally admitted in this clip : • The presence, under the lower jaw, of short hair no longer than 1cm the lower line of which should be cut parallel to the lower jaw. A beard, called “goat’s beard”, is not permitted. • The suppression of the pompom on the tail. 2. Shortened coat : Over the body, in order to give “shot silk” effect on the line of the back, more or less long but at least 1cm. The length shall be gradually increased over the ribs and above the limbs. 3. Neatened coat : a) On the head which keeps a topknot of reasonable height as well as down behind the neck to the withers and the front, without discontinuity, to the shaven part of the foot following a slightly slanting line from the top of the forechest downwards. On the top of the ears and for a maximum of one third of their length, the coat may be cut with scissors or clipped in the direction of the hair. The lower part shall be left covered in hair whose length shall increase gradually, from top to bottom, to end in fringes which may be levelled. b) On the limbs, “trousers” making a distinct transition from the shaven part of the feet. The length of the hair increases gradually towards the top to display, on the shoulder and likewise the thigh, a length of 4 to 7 cm measured by pulling the hair to straighten it, in proportion to the size of the exhibit while avoiding any “fluffy” effect. The hind “trousers” must allow for the typical angulation of the Poodle to be seen. All other fancy clips which do not comply with these norms are eliminatory. Whatever the standard outline obtained by grooming, it should have no influence whatsoever on the placements in shows, all exhibits in the same class should be judged and placed together. “English Clip” : To the “Lion Clip” add motifs on the hindquarters, i.e. bracelets and cuffs. On the head: a topknot. For this clip the moustache is optional. The absence of demarcation on the hair of the hindquarters is tolerated. The topknot is optional (it is forbidden to use lacquer or any other substance to keep the topknot in place). “Puppy Clip” : Takes over the several shaven parts which characterize the Modern clip. On the head: a topknot of a reasonable height. The coat on the forequarters should form a ball, comparable to an ‘egg’ seen from the forechest up to the topknot. The so-called ‘trousers’ on the forequarters is preserved, accentuating the typical poodle angulation. The tail – save for a pompon – should have an oval or oblong shape. It should be clipped longer than wide with rounded angles. “Scandinavian clip or Terrier clip” : The clip is similar to that of the Modern clip, the difference being that the ears and tail may be shaven. |
NB : |
| • Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified. • The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying. • Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. • Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding. |
Bibliography |
| http://www.fci.be/ |
English (United Kingdom)