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 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: 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.
Forechest: 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 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: 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
depigmented 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
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.
ELIMINATING
FAULTS:
-
Aggressive or
overly shy.
-
Nose
completely depigmented.
-
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 inexistant.
-
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.
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 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 gradully 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).
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 |