Poodle – Standard-FCI No.172
INTERNATIONAL CYNOLOGICAL FEDERATION (AISBL)
General Secretariat: 13, Place Albert 1er B – 6530 Thuin (Belgium)
23 January 2015, Standard-FCI No. 172
Origin
France
Date of issue of the valid original standard
3.11.2014
Use
Companion dog
Classification according to F.C.I.
Group 9 – Companion and small dogs.
Section 2 – Poodle.
Without working test.
Short historical summary
Etymologically, the French word “caniche” comes from the word “cane”, meaning duck. In other countries, people associate the word with wading in water. Originally, these dogs were used in hunting waterfowl. They are descended from barbets, from which they have retained many character traits. In 1743, a “caniche” was called a female barbet. After that, the barbet and the poodle were gradually separated. The breeders put a lot of effort into obtaining the original monochromatic individuals. The Poodle has become very popular as a companion dog due to its sweet, cheerful and loyal nature, as well as its four sizes and different colour variations from which everyone can choose the right one for themselves.
Overall appearance
A medium-sized dog with the characteristic curly, shaggy or corded coat. With the appearance of an intelligent animal, always attentive, active, harmoniously built and with an elegant and proud appearance.
Important ratios
The snout-vent length is approximately 9/10 of the length of the cerebellum. The length of the trunk (scapular-ischial) slightly exceeds the height at the withers. The height at the withers is practically the same as the height of the back from the ground. The height of the elbow from the ground corresponds to 5/9 of the withers height.
Behaviour / Character
This dog is characterized by loyalty, docility and good trainability, which makes him an extremely pleasant companion.
Head
Noble, straight lines, proportionate to the size of the body. The head must be well modelled, not too heavy but not too soft.
Brain
Skull: Its width is less than half the total length of the head. When viewed from above, the skull appears oval, in profile it is slightly convex. The axes of the cerebellum and snout are slightly divergent. Supraorbital arches slightly convex, covered with long hair.
Frontal furrow: Broad between the eyes, tapering towards the occiput, which is very prominent. (In dwarf poodles, the occipital bump may be somewhat less prominent.)
Stop: Slightly pronounced, but by no means receding.
Facial part
Nose: Developed, vertical in profile, nostrils open. In black, white and silver dogs it is black; in brown dogs it is brown; in fawn dogs it may be brown or black depending on the intensity of the fawn. In light-coloured dogs the nose must be as dark as possible.
Snout: upper profile completely straight, length corresponds to about 9/10 of the length of the cerebellum. The branches of the mandible are almost parallel. Muzzle is strong. The lower profile of the snout is formed by the lower jaw, not by the edge of the upper lip.
Lips: moderately developed, rather dry, moderately strong, upper lip adjacent to lower lip, not overhanging. In black, white and silver dogs the lips are black; in brown dogs they are brown; in dogs with orange-fawn (apricot) and red-fawn colouration the lips are more or less dark brown or black. The corner of the lip must not be prominent.
Jaws/teeth: Complete scissors bite. Strong teeth.
Cheeks: Not protruding, formed by bones. Parts under eyes well shaped, not well filled. Jowl arches very little protruding.
Eyes: Eager expression, set level with the stop, slightly oblique. Almond-shaped. Black or dark brown in colour. In brown dogs the eye colour may be dark amber. Eyelid margin black in black, white and silver dogs; brown in brown dogs. In light-coloured dogs, the eyelid margins should be as dark as possible.
Ears: Quite long, falling freely along the cheeks, set in an extension of the line extending from the tip of the nose and passing under the outer corner of the eye; flat, broader under the set, rounded at the tips, covered with very long wavy hair. The skin of the auricle, when stretched forward, reaches the corner of the lips, ideally extending beyond it.
Neck
Strong, slightly arched behind the nape, medium length, good proportions. The head is carried high and proud. Neck without lobe, oval in cross-section. Its length is slightly less than the length of the head.
Body
Of good proportions. The length of the body is slightly longer than the height at withers.
Back line: Harmonious and distinct.
Cock: Moderately developed. The height at withers is practically equal to the height from the highest point of the back to the ground.
Back: Short.
Hips: Firm and muscular.
Hind: Rounded, not sloping.
Chest: The top of the sternum must be slightly convex and high set. Chest: Reaching up to elbow level; width corresponds to 2/3 of the depth. In large poodles, the chest circumference measured behind the shoulder blades must be at least 10 cm greater than the withers height. Oval in cross-section, wide in the dorsal part. Bottom line and belly: Drawn in, not emaciated.
Tail
Fairly high set, at hip level (ideally carried at ‘9h10min’ level in relation to the back line).
Limbs
Forelegs:
General view: Quite straight and parallel, well muscled, good bone structure. The height of the elbow above the ground is slightly greater than the height at withers.
Shoulders: Sloping, well muscled. The scapula forms an angle of approximately 110° with the humerus.
Upper arm: The length of the humerus corresponds to the length of the scapula.
Wrist: Forms an extension of the front of the forearm.
Thick, almost perpendicular when viewed from the side.
Forepaws: Rather small, firm, forming a short oval. Toes well arched, close fitting.
The pads are hard and strong. The claws are black on black and silver poodles. In brown dogs they are black or brown. In white dogs, the claws can be coloured in a range of shades from horn to black. In fawn poodles, the claws are brown or black; as dark as possible depending on coat color.
Hind legs:
General view: the hind limbs are parallel when viewed from behind. The musculature is well developed and very distinct.
Thighs: Well muscled and strong. Pronounced coxal-femoral angle.
Knee (lower leg): Strong femoral-tibial angle.
Hock: well angulated (marked tibio-tarsal angle).
Humerus and metacarpus: Fairly short and vertical. The poodle must not have hind feet at birth.
Hind paws: See forepaws.
Movement
The Poodle shall have a light and springy step.
Skin
Flexible, without laxity, pigmented.
The skin pigmentation of black, brown, silver and orange-faced or red-faced poodles must be consistent with the coat colour. For white poodles, a silvery skin is desirable.
Coat
Coat:
– Poodle with curly coat: rich, fine coat, texture resembles wool, very curly, flexible, resists hand pressure. It must be dense, rich, of uniform length, forming even curls.
– Poodle with corded coat: the coat is rich, fine, texture resembles wool; it forms characteristic cords which must be at least 20 cm long.
Colour:
Monochrome: black, white, brown, silver, fawn-red.
The brown must be clean, dark enough, uniform and warm in shade. Beige and its lighter shades are not permitted. Silver must be uniform, clean, not black or white. Floating must be uniform. It may range from light fawn to orange (apricot) to red-fawn. The eyelids, nasal sponge, lips, gums, palate, body openings, scrotum and pads of the feet shall be well pigmented. In light fawn-coloured dogs the pigmentation should be as dark as possible.
Size
For all sizes, there must be a visible difference between the sexes.
Large Poodle: over 45 to 60 cm with a tolerance of plus 2 cm. The Large Poodle must be an enlarged and developed counterpart of the Medium Poodle and must retain its characteristic features.
Medium poodle: over 35 to 45 cm.
Dwarf poodle: over 28 to 35 cm. The dwarf poodle must represent a smaller medium-sized poodle, preferably keeping the same proportions, and must not show signs of dwarfism.
Toy poodle: over 24 cm (tolerance minus 1 cm) up to 28 cm (ideally 25 cm).
The Toy Poodle retains the characteristics of a Miniature Poodle in overall appearance and the same proportions, which are in accordance with the standard. All signs of dwarfism are excluded, only the occipital bump may be less pronounced.
Defects
Any deviation from the above points must be considered as a defect, which will be judged according to the degree of severity.
Severe defects
– Eyes too large, round or sunken, not dark enough.
– Ears too short (not reaching the corner of the lips).
– Pointed or sloping muzzle.
– Protruding (eagle) nose.
– Arched or arched back.
– Tail set too low.
– Hunched back.
– Hind legs too straight or too angular
– Slippery or dragging stride.
– Sparse, soft or hard coat.
– Insufficiently clear or uneven colour.
– Partially depigmented nasal sponge.
– Absence of two PM2.
Exclusionary defects
– Aggressive or fearful dog.
– Any dog clearly showing physical or temperamental abnormalities will be disqualified.
– Lack of breed type, especially in the head area expressing particularly the contribution of foreign blood to the breed.
– A dog taller than 62 cm for large poodles and smaller than 23 cm for toy poodles.
– A dog without a tail or with a tail that is too short.
– Paws or traces of paws on the hind legs.
– Any individual showing signs of stunting: globular skull, absence of occipital bump, very marked stop, protruding eyes, mouth too short and upturned.
– Frontal furrow practically non-existent.
– Very light skeleton in toy poodles.
– Completely curved tail
– Individuals whose coat is not monochromatic
– Any trace of white on the body and/or legs of all dogs other than white.
– Completely depigmented nasal sponge.
– Overbite or underbite.
– Any problem with the position of the teeth that could cause injury to the dog (e.g. a poorly positioned canine that touches the palate).
– Absence of 1 incisor or 1 canine or 1 carnassial.
– Absence of 1 PM3 or 1 PM4.
– Absence of three or more PMs (except PM1).
Note..:
– Males must have two normally developed testicles, fully descended in the scrotum.
– Only healthy dogs capable of performing the function for which they have been selected and whose morphology is typical of the breed may be used for reproduction.
Supplement to the standard:
The judging of a poodle at a show is in no way identical to the judging in a cutting competition. Encouragement of over-cutting is not desirable.
Recognized show cuts
Lion Cut: A Poodle with both curly and corded hair is cut back to the ribs. The following must also be clipped: muzzle, facial area above and below the lower eyelids; cheeks; fore and hind legs except for cuffs or bracelets and any motifs on the back; tail except for round or elongated terminal pompom. A moustache is prescribed for all individuals. It is allowed to leave the hair on the forelegs, called trousers.
Modern cut: It is permitted to leave hair on all limbs provided the following conditions are met:
1:
(a) the lower part of the forelegs from the claws to the pastern, the lower part of the hind legs up to a height corresponding to the height of the cut on the forelegs. Only the hair on the toes may be clipped with a clipper.
(b) head and tail according to the rules described above.
Exceptionally, for this cut:
– A short beard on the lower jaw, which should not be longer than 1 cm and whose lower line should be trimmed parallel to the lower jaw. A ‘goatee’ beard is not allowed.
– Omission of the pompom on the tail.
2. Hair shortening:
On the body, so that a longer or shorter moire of at least 1 cm is visible on the back. The length of the coat is gradually extended around the ribs and up the legs.
3. Groomed coat:
(a) on the head, where the mane remains of a reasonable height, similar to the neck, where it passes back to the withers and in front without interruption in a slightly sloping line from the upper part of the chest to the clipped part of the paw. At the point where the ears are set, up to a maximum of one third of their length, the hair may be trimmed with scissors or a clipper in the direction of hair growth. The lower part remains covered with hair, the length of which gradually lengthens downwards and ends in fringes which can be straightened with scissors.
(b) on the legs, where the trousers form a distinct transition to the shorn part of the paws. Upwards, the hair gradually lengthens so that it reaches a length of 4 to 7 cm on the shoulder and thighs when the hair is pulled back, in proportion to the size of the dog, but without giving the impression of excessive bulk. The trousers of the hind legs must emphasise the typical angulation of the poodle’s legs. Any other cut that does not comply with the above principles will result in disqualification of the dog. Regardless of the cut used, the cut must not affect the judging at the show in any way. All exhibited poodles entered in the same class shall be judged and scored together.
English cut: in this cut, motifs are added to the lion cut, e.g. bracelets and cuffs on the pelvic limbs or a topknot on the head. This cut does not require a moustache. The absence of sharp cuts in the hair on the hind legs is tolerated. Topknot need not be present (the use of varnish or other substance to maintain the topknot is prohibited).
“Puppy” cut: It takes on all the elements of the modern cut. On the head: medium topknot. The ‘ball’ cut on the front of the body forms an ‘egg’ on the chest up to the topknot. Maintaining the ‘trousers’ on the forelegs, leaving the sharpness typical of poodles. The tail, except for the pompom, must be oval or elongated, the cut is longer rather than wider and the angles are rounded.
Scandinavian or ‘terrier’ cut: the cut is similar to the modern cut, but the ears and tail may be shaved.
