Breed
Standard

FCI-Standard N° 172 / 18.04.2007/GB
TRANSLATION :
Jennifer Mulholland, in
collaboration with Raymond Triquet.
ORIGIN:
France.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE
ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD:
06.03.07.
UTILIZATION:
Companion dog
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. |
Group 9 Companion and Toy
dogs
Section 2 Poodle
Without Working Trial
|
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:
Distinguished, rectilinear and
in proportion to the body. The head
must be well chiselled and neither
heavy nor excessively fine.
CRANIAL REGION:
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).
Stop:
Only slightly pronounced.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose:
Developed, vertical profile; open
nostrils. Black nose in black, white
and grey subjects; brown nose in
brown subjects. In orange fawn
(apricot) or red fawn subjects the
nose is brown or black.
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/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.
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 proportioned.
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:
Well
proportioned. The length is slightly
superior to height at withers.
Withers:
Moderately developed.
Back:
Short.
Top line
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.
Fore
chest:
The point of the sternum should be
slightly prominent and set rather
high.
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.
Belly & Flanks:
Tucked up but not excessively so.
TAIL:
Set on quite high at the level of
the loin. It can be either natural
or docked by 1/3 closest to the body
or by 1/2 of its length in countries
where tail docking is not forbidden.
When standing the tail is low; in
action it is raised obliquely.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
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.
Carpus (wrist):
In continuous line with front of
forearm.
Metacarpus (pastern):
Strong and almost upright seen in
profile.
Front 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 orange fawns and
red fawns they are brown or black.
HINDQUARTERS:
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 (rear pastern):
Rather short and upright. The Poodle
should be born without dewclaws on
the hind legs.
Hind feet:
See front feet.
GAIT/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:
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.
COLOUR:
Solid colour: black, white, brown,
grey, orange fawn (apricot) and red
fawn.
Brown:
Should be deep, rather dark, uniform
and warm. Beige and its paler
derivatives are not admitted.
Grey:
Must be uniform, deep, neither
blackish nor whitish.
Orange fawn:
Must be uniform without tending to
pale fawn, cream or red fawn.
Red fawn:
Must be uniform over the entire
body. It must never tend to orange
fawn.
Eyelids, nose, lips, gums,
palate, natural orifices, scrotum
and pads are well pigmented.
SIZE:
Standard Poodles: Over
45cm up to 60cm with a tolerance of
+2cm. 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 45cm.
Miniature Poodles:
Over
28cm up to 35cm. The Miniature
Poodle must display the appearance
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: 25cm)
(with a tolerance of -1cm). 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.
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.
Roach or sway back.
Tail set on too low.
Too restless subject.
Teeth:
Absence of
2PM1 is not taken into account.
Absence of
one or two PM2, if symmetrical.
Absence of
M3 is not taken into account.
SEVERE
FAULTS:
Partially de
pigmented nose.
Snipey nose.
Pointed muzzle.
Arched bridge of nose.
Teeth:
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
angulations 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.
ELIMINATING
FAULTS:
Aggressive or overly shy.
Nose completely de-pigmented.
Lack of type, particularly in head.
Overshot or undershot.
Teeth:
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 62cm in Standards
and inferior to 23cm 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
inexistent.
Very light bone in Toys.
Tail curled with the tip falling
over the flank or the croup.
Any dog clearly showing physical
or behavioural abnormalities shall
be disqualified.
N.B. Male animals should have
two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
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Addition to Standard
AUTHORIZED SHOW 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 fore and hind
legs, 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
hind legs
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 tot
he lower jaw. A beard, called
"goat's beard", is not permitted.
The suppression of the pompom on the
tail.
Shortened coat:
2.
Over the body,
in order to give a "shot silk"
effect on the line of the
back, more or less long but at
lease 1cm.
Neatened coat:
3.
(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 fore
chest
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 7cm
measured by pulling the hair to
straighten it, in proportion to
the size of the exhibit while
avoiding any "fluffy" effect.
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).
Poodles which are not groomed in
conformity with the standard cannot
(as long as they are like this) be
judged in shows or official events,
without however being disqualified
for breeding purposes.

FCI circular 95/ 2007
|
10/ 9 -2007 |
The
Société Centrale Canine (France)
informs all the member organisations
and contract partners of the
following: the PUPPY clip, which is
a preparatory stage to the different
clips described in the breed
standard of the poodle is totally
accepted at shows. Consequently,
poodles which are shown with this
clip are eligible for any
qualification provided that they
meet the breed standard's
requirements.