Poodle Breed Standard

General Appearance, Carriage and Condition - That of a very active, intelligent and elegant - appearing dog, squarely built, well proportioned, moving soundly and carrying himself proudly. Properly clipped in the traditional fashion and carefully groomed, the Poodle has about him an air or distinction and dignity peculiar to himself.

Head and Expression (a) Skull - Moderately rounded, with a slight but definite stop. Cheekbones and muscles flat. (b) Muzzle- Long, straight and fine, with slight chiseling under the eyes. Strong without lippiness. The chin definite enough to preclude snippiness. Teeth white, strong and with a scissors bite. (c) Eyes- set far apart, very dark, oval in appearance and showing alert intelligence. (d) Ears - Hanging close to the head, set at or slightly below eye level. The ear leather is long, wide, and thickly feathered, but the ear fringe should not be of excessive length.

Neck and Shoulders - Neck well proportioned, strong and long enough to permit the head to be carried high and with dignity. Skin snug at throat. The neck rises from strong, smoothly muscled shoulders. The shoulder blade is well laid back and approximately the same length as the upper forelegs. Body - The chest deep and moderately wide with well sprung ribs. The back should, strong and slightly hollowed: the loins short, broad and muscular. Length of body and height at shoulder are in such proportion as to insure the desirable squarely built appearance.

Tail - Straight, set on high and carried up, docked, but sufficient in length to insure a balanced outline.

Legs - The forelegs are straight and parallel when viewed from the front. When viewed from the side with a leg vertical, the elbow is directly below the highest point of the shoulder blade. The hind legs are muscular with width in the region of the stifles. The pasterns are strong and the stifles well bent. The length of the leg from the stifle joint to the hock joint is considerably greater than the length from the hock joint to the foot.

Feet - the feet are rather small, oval in shape with toes well arched and cushioned on thick firm pads. Nails short but not excessively shortened. The feet turn neither in nor out. Dew claws may be removed.

Coat - Quality - Of naturally harsh texture, profuse and dense throughout.

Clip - A Poodle may be shown in the "Puppy" clip, the "English Saddle" clip or the traditional "Continental" clip. A Poodle shown in any other type of clip shall be disqualified.
A Poodle under a year old may be shown in the "Puppy" clip with the coat long. The face, throat, feet and base of the tail are shaved.

Color - The coat is and even and solid color at the skin. In blues, grays, silvers, browns, cafe-au-laits, apricots, and creams the coat may show varying shades of the same colour. This is frequently present in the somewhat darker feathering of the ears and in the tipping of the ruff. While clear colors are definitely preferred, such natural variation in the shading of the coat is not to be considered a fault. Brown and cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored noses, eye rims and lips, dark toenails and dark amber eyes. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream and white Poodles have black noses, eye rimes and lips, black or self-colored toenails and very dark eyes. In the apricots while the foregoing coloring is preferred, liver-colored noses, eye rims and lips, and amber eyes are permitted but are not desirable.
Parti-colored dogs shall be disqualified. The coat of a Parti-colored dog is not an even solid colour at the skin but is of two or more colors.

Gait - A straightforward trot with light springy action and strong hindquarter drive. Head and tail carried high. Forelegs and hind legs move parallel turning neither in nor out. Sound movement is essential.

Size
Standard - The Standard Poodle is over 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulders. Any Poodle which is 15 inches or less in height shall be disqualified from competition as a Standard Poodle.
Miniature - The Miniature Poodle is 15 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders. Any Poodle which is more then 15 inches in height shall be disqualified from competition as a Miniature Poodle.
Toy - The Toy Poodle is 10 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders. Any Poodle which is more then 10 inches in height shall be disqualified from competition as a Toy Poodle.

Major Faults
Eyes - Round in appearance, protruding, large of very light.
Jaws - Undershot, overshot of wry mouth.
Feet - Flat of spread.
Tail - Set low, curled or carried over the back.
Hindquarters - Cow hocks.
Temperament - Shyness or sharpness.

Disqualification's
Clip- A dog in any type of clip other than those listed under "Coat" shall be disqualified.
Parti-colours - The coat of a parti-colored dog is not an even solid colour at the skin but is of two or more colors. Parti-colored dogs shall be disqualified.
Size - A dog over or under the height limits specified under "Size" shall be disqualified.