Wednesday, February 27, 2008

All About The Standard Poodle

Article Title: All About The Standard Poodle
Author: Lisa B Collins

If you want a confident, intelligent dog that enjoys an active
life, a Poodle may be the best breed for you. Poodles are full
of life and energy; inquisitive, dignified; and loyal. For at
least the last ten years, the American Kennel Club of the United
States has listed the Poodle as one of its ten most popular
breeds. One reason Poodles are so popular is that they come in a
variety of size like small, medium and large, known in the dog
world as Toy, Miniature and Standard Poodles.

To measure a Poodle's height against the standard of the breed,
measure the dog at the highest point of the shoulder. A Standard
Poodle measures more than fifteen inches at the shoulder. A
Miniature Poodle measures fifteen inches or less at the
shoulder, and a Toy Poodle measures less than ten inches.

The Poodle's coat is always naturally curly and dense in
texture. Several colors are allowed, including black, white,
apricot, brown, blue, gray and silver. Within each solid color,
slight variations in hue are also allowed.
The origins of the Poodle breed are uncertain, although
Germany, Denmark and France have all claimed credit for
developing the breed. Over the years, France has come to be
recognized as the Poodle's place of origin, and the French hold
a special place in their hearts and in their culture for what
they call the Caniche.

The Standard Poodle is thought to have descended from a mix
between the Barbet, a French water dog and a Hungarian Water
Hound. The Miniature and Toy varieties were bred down from the
Standard Poodle. Once used as a sporting dog, Poodles retrieved
waterfowl during gun hunts. The traditional Poodle cut, with
extra hair at the joints, was meant to insulate the dogs' joints
against the cold water. Poodles also worked as truffle hunters,
and circus performers. In fact, they remain familiar icons in
popular culture, and they continue to perform in the modern
entertainment industry.

Standard Poodle can become famous as a performer, while others
derive their fame from their celebrity owners. Gertrude Stein
and Alice B. Toklas loved their first Poodle, Basket, so much
that they got two more Poodles, named Basket II and Basket III.

Performer "Weird Al" Yankovic has a Toy Poodle named Bela, whom
he on top of his head for the cover of his album "Poodle Hat".
Wrestling star Rene Dupree, who know uses the professional name
"Rene Bonaparte", often refers to his Poodle Fifi.

Poodles are well known as characters in literature, film and
television. The late Jacqueline Susann, the darling of the
1960s, wrote a best-selling novel, Every Night Josephine, about
her Poodle, Josephine. One of many examples of Poodles in film
is the 2000 film Best In Show, which featured a Poodle named
Rhapsody in White as the canine character "Butch". The TV family
in the animated series Rugrats has a Poodle named Fifi as a pet.
Although most Standard Poodles will never appear on the pages of
a novel or on the big screen, their owners consider them
superstars of the highest magnitude.

About The Author: Lisa Collins is a Poodle breeder and
freelance writer who has written four books on Poodles. The
Standard http://www.officialpoodleguide.com/ Poodle is a popular
breed because of its superior intelligence and pleasant
personality. More http://www.officialpoodleguide.com/Poodle.php
Poodle information about getting your dog into show business can
be obtained from a theatrical agency.

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