often drown while attempting to retrieve the fallen bird. The Poodle’s thick coat would soak up so much water that the dog could not stay afloat due to the weight of the water.
Eng. Ch. Barbet Chita was counted among Mrs. Crimmins’ noted Miniature Poodles. Poodles bred under Mrs. Crimmins’ Barbet prefix were some of the best of the time.
In Vienna, 1929, the Poodle, more especially the white Miniature variety, was considered among the most fashionable of companion dogs.
Hunters solved this problem by cutting off all unnecessary hair on the dog. Hair on the feet, face, tail and hindquarters was not needed, so it was trimmed away. Hair over the chest and around the lung and kidney areas was left to protect the dog from the frigid waters. Thus was born the art of Poodle grooming, and this tradition remains mandatory for Poodles in the show ring today. The modern misconception that Poodle hairstyles make the dogs look overly feminine is rightly dispelled when one understands that cutting away the hair not needed for protection was necessary to make the dog more utilitarian.
Here are typical examples of British dogs of the 1930s produced by Phidgity Kennels.
During the 16th to 18th centuries, people began breeding smaller-sized Standard Poodles to create the Miniature Poodle. The Miniature became the ideal pet dog for the same reasons that he was used in circuses and stage shows: he was athletic, eager to please, attractive and affectionate.
No sooner had Miniature Poodles become popular with pet owners than breeders began developing an even smaller dog, the Petit Barbet or Toy Poodle. Originally they were called ‘Sleeve Poodles’ because they were so small that they could be carried around in the sleeves of ladies’ gowns. The ladies of France, for example, loved the Toy Poodle because, when groomed properly, it was particularly clean and attractive.
Mrs. L. W. Crouch’s Poodles, photographed in 1907 by T. Fall.
Poodles from the turn of the 20th century. Note their curly coats and smart topknots.
NEXT STOP: GREAT BRITAIN
Once all three sizes of Poodle were firmly established on the Continent, it was inevitable that they cross the channel to the British Isles. The English people received them with open arms, as did the dog-show world through-out England. In the mid-19th century, Sir Edwin Landseer memorialized the breed in some of his family portraits.
Miniature Poodle, painted by the famed dog artist Maud Earl.
Eng. Ch. Barbet Mala Sirius was a Miniature Poodle owned by Mrs. Crimmins and bred by Miss Kalender in 1930. Mala Sirius won her first honors at a UK Championship Show in 1931.
Poodle popularity in Great Britain simply confirmed what Europeans had known for centuries: Poodles of every size are ideal companions, whether for work as hunters or as family pets. In addition, older people who lived alone found that bringing an easy-to-care-for Toy Poodle into their homes added a new quality to their lives.
Circa 1920, King Leo of Piperscroft was the first Poodle to compete in an obedience trial in Britain. He did remarkably well and thus earned further recognition for Mrs. Boyd’s well-known kennels.
Poodle history suggests that the English Water Dog was created by crossing the Poodle with some other breeds. We know for certain that Toy Poodles were used in the development of the Truffle Dog. Truffles, the famous delicacy, are located and unearthed by the small Poodles. Their light weight and gentle steps, combined with their excellent scenting ability, make them perfect dogs for truffle hunting. Terriers were eventually added to the mix for their digging habits, thus creating the Truffle Dog.
Standard Poodles in pet trim, the simplest and most convenient clip for a pet owner to maintain. Show dogs cannot be trimmed in this fashion.
Eng. Ch. Orchard Admiral, photographed in 1907 by T. Fall.
THE POODLE ARRIVES IN AMERICA
It was inevitable that, from England, Poodles would find their way to America. They did so in 1887. Prior to World War I, Poodle popularity reached a peak at American dog shows. Originally, Standards and Miniatures in America were shown as a single breed, and Toys were shown as a separate breed prior to World War II.
The Poodle was, at one time, one of the world’s most popular dogs, especially with lady fanciers. Consequently, breeders vied with one another to develop the coat, which ranged from thick curls to long but orderly cords. This photo, dated 1899, shows a typical high-quality corded Poodle. The corded coat is much less common than the curly coat.
The Poodle Club of America, founded in 1931 to govern the standard of perfection for all Poodles, offered classes with the same criteria for all three sizes. As a matter of fact, the first Miniature to earn an American championship title was the black English dog named Ch. Chieveley Chopstick.
Some of England’s finest Poodles as well as several from the Continent were imported to America during the early 1900s. Their genetic heritage still carries on today, and we often see the names of well-known English dogs in the pedigrees of modern American Poodles.
By 1960, America had caught up with the British and European interest in the breed. Poodles became the most popular breed of dog in American Kennel Club registration statistics. They have maintained the status of being among the ten most popular breeds ever since.
Miss Jane Lane, who made a considerable positive impact on the Poodle fancy through her Nunsoe kennels, is shown with her favorites, Int. Ch. Nunsoe Duc de la Terrace and Ch. Nunsoe Lady Mary.
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