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An Adorable Dog In Many Sizes: Poodles

September 5th, 2010

People love their poodles! A very popular but often misunderstood breed of dog, the poodle has been with us for centuries. Artifacts from ancient Egypt and Rome have been found bearing the images of poodles engaged in such activities as herding animals, retrieving game animals (small game animals, of course – especially birds), and assisting the dragging of game nets. In fact, the intentional breeding of various sized poodles (the American Kennel Club or AKC recognizes three sizes of poodles – Standard, Miniature, and Toy – which are all considered to be the same breed) likely dates back hundreds of years as opposed to other types of dogs which were bred this way only recently. Suffice to say that there have been oodles of poodles roaming the Earth for a very long time.

Defining the Poodles’ Sizes

The three sizes of poodle have distinct definitions according to the AKC. For purposes of competition in dog shows, the different sizes are determined by the poodle’s height at the shoulder. Standard poodles are defined by being taller than fifteen inches at the shoulder. Miniature poodles must stand no more than fifteen inches but more than ten inches at the shoulder, and Toy poodles must be ten inches or less. Recently breeders have been offering Teacup poodles as well. While the AKC does not recognize the Teacup distinction, most breeders consider a poodle that stands eight inches or less at the shoulder when full grown to be a Teacup poodle. Teacup poodles are proving to be very popular and fetch some of the higher prices for poodle pups.

Poodle Popularity

The popularity of poodles is particularly due to a plethora of pleasant attributes in poodle personalities. Poodles are proud dogs and usually very active. It is said that the poodle carries an air of regal dignity unseen in other breeds of dog. Some poodles, however, can be exceptionally shy while others may be very cross creatures. These are the exception rather than the rule. Generally speaking, pet poodles please people.

Primping the Poodle

Poodle grooming is nearly an art form and there are four generally accepted styles used for show poodles. These are called “show quality clips” and generally include shaping the poodle’s coat to exact specifications in some areas while completely shaving other areas. These four show quality poodle cuts are the Puppy Show Clip, English Saddle Clip, Continental Clip, and Sporting Clip. In addition to these there are five common “pet quality” poodle clips that are employed with non-show dogs. They are known as the Kennel Clip, Dutch Clip (there are two styles of Dutch clip), Bikini Clip, and Puppy Pet Clip.

For those thinking about becoming poodle owners, the AKC has plenty of information on what to look for in a purebred poodle. The can help potential poodle procurers avoid unnecessary poodle pitfalls and start on the road to a long and happy relationship of poodle puppy love.

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A Poodle That is Smart

September 4th, 2010

The Poodle is commonly acknowledged to be the most wisely intelligent of all members of the canine race. There is a general belief that he is a fop, whose time is largely occupied in personal embellishment, and that he requires a great deal of individual attention in the matter of his toilet. It may be true that to keep him in exhibition order and perfect cleanliness his owner has need to devote more consideration to him than is necessary in the case of many breeds; but in other respects he gives very little trouble, and all who are attached to him are consistent in their opinion that there is no dog so intensely interesting and responsive as a companion. His qualities of mind and his acute powers of reasoning are indeed so great that there is something almost human in his attractiveness and his devotion. His aptitude in learning is never denied, and many are the stories told of his marvellous talent and versatility.

Not merely as a showman’s dog has he distinguished himself. He is something more than a mountebank of the booths, trained to walk the tight rope and stand on his head. He is an adept at performing tricks, but it is his alertness of brain that places him apart from other animals. 

The profuse and long coat of this dog has the peculiarity that if not kept constantly brushed out it twists up into little cords which increase in length as the new hair grows and clings about it. The unshed old hair and the new growth entwined together thus become distinct rope-like cords. Eventually, if these cords are not cut short, or accidentally torn off, they drag along the ground, and so prevent the poor animal from moving with any degree of comfort or freedom. 

Corded Poodles are very showy, and from the remarkable appearance of the coat, attract a great deal of public attention when exhibited at shows; but they have lost popularity among most fanciers, and have become few in number owing to the obvious fact that it is impossible to make pets of them or keep them in the house. The reason of this is that the coat must, from time to time, be oiled in order to keep the cords supple and prevent them from snapping, and, of course, as their coats cannot be brushed, the only way of keeping the dog clean is to wash him, which with a corded Poodle is a lengthy and laborious process. Further, the coat takes hours to dry, and unless the newly washed dog be kept in a warm room he is very liable to catch cold. The result is, that the coats of corded Poodles are almost invariably dirty, and somewhat smelly.

Poodle’s General appearance

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Head: Long, straight, and fine, the skull not broad, with a slight peak at the back. 

Muzzle: Long (but not snipy) and strong not full in cheek; teeth white, strong, and level; gums black, lips black and not showing lippiness. 

Eyes: Almond shaped, very dark, full of fire and intelligence. 

Nose: Black and sharp.

Ears: The leather long and wide, low set on, hanging close to the face. 

Neck: Well proportioned and strong, to admit of the head being carried high and with dignity. 

Feet: Rather small, and of good shape, the toes well arched, pads thick and hard. 

Legs: Fore-legs set straight from shoulder, with plenty of bone and muscle. 

Hind-legs: Very muscular and well bent, with the hocks well let down. 

Tail: Set on rather high, well carried, never curled or carried over back.

Coat: Very profuse, and of good hard texture; if corded, hanging in tight, even cords; if non-corded, very thick and strong, of even length, the curls close and thick, without knots or cords.

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1950′s Poodle Skirt Nail Design

September 3rd, 2010


you don’t have to have migi pens shop around ebay has a 24 set nail art pens for a good deal and Claire’s sells nail art pens as well. Shop around before you spend your money on anything =)

True stories invented: Tao Lin keeps it real, and unreal

September 2nd, 2010

True stories invented: Tao Lin keeps it real, and unreal
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Tao Lin’s new novel is based on a true story, his own. “It just started out of my life, what was happening to me,” the 27-year-old author says of “Richard Yates,” a novel about a young New York writer and the New Jersey teen he meets online.

Read more on Brandon Sun

Whats With Those Poodle Hair Cuts

September 1st, 2010

The Poodle’s coat consists of two types of hair. The outer coat should be thick, wiry and curly. The undercoat must be soft and woolly to provide warmth. Puppies, however, are exceptions. Poodle puppy coats are soft and fine with little or no curl, but often with a slight wave.


As the dog matures into adulthood, the coat develops a thick, curly quality. The best way to judge a puppy’s potential adult coat is to look at the parents. If they carry good coats, theirpuppies will likely possess them too.


Ever since the first hunters trimmed their retrieving dogs to prevent drowning, the Poodle hairstyle has been a favorite topic of conversation among dog people. Initially, Poodles sported either a Continental clip or an English Saddle clip. Now, hundreds of years later, these are still popular as they are required clips for show dogs.


Puppies under one year of age are shown in a simple trim known as a Puppy clip. Only the face, throat, feet and base of tail are clipped. The tail displays the characteristic pompom at its end. The body coat is lightly trimmed to give it a neat unbroken line for a pleasant appearance.


The Continental clip has full hair around the chest and rib cage, with shaved hindquarters and legs. Large pompons are sculpted over each hip above the area of the kidneys (optional) and around the ankles for protection from the cold.


The English Saddle clip permits a short mantle of hair over the hindquarters and fullcoat from the waist to the topknot and ears. The ankle and knee joints are also protected with pompons.


All Poodles are given a topknot of hair over the skull that is brushed out and groomed to stand erect in a rounded pompon. Adult dogs must be shown in either the English Saddle or Continental clip; the only exception being competitors in Stud Dog classes, for which a Sporting clip is permitted. The English Saddle and Continental are the clips of choice for the conformation ring around the world, except in the UK, where the Lion clip is preferred.


Pet Poodles and those not being shown in breed conformation classes at dog shows are usually groomed in styles designed for ease of maintenance. Often the body hair is clipped short, with the legs trimmed a bit longer. Some male Poodles sport tiny mustaches around the muzzles.


The pet style is usually determined by the owner’s willingness and capability to maintain the coat in a well-groomed fashion. In addition. Poodles that spend a lot of time outdoors are usually kept shorter because it’s easier to keep the coat clean when the hair isn’t too long.

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Apricot and red Standard Poodle puppies

August 31st, 2010


4 weeks old poodle puppies are playing.

Funny Dog Poodle barking at Reflection part 1

August 30th, 2010


Watch Bailey the medium poodle bark at his reflection in the TV. Very funny!By Tampa Sports Car Examiner www.examiner.com

Proper Care Tips For a Poodle

August 29th, 2010

One of the most beautiful breeds of dog is the Poodle. While these dogs are very beautiful they are also pretty high maintenance, which means this type of dog isn’t for everyone. There are a lot of things you need to know if you are considering owning a pet Poodle. If you are a person who loves to get out and who travels a lot, this definitely not the right dog for you, as they require a lot of attention. If you plan on spending a lot of time at home then you may want to consider a Poodle if you haven’t already.

One of the best ways to start learning how to care for this type of dog is to first do your homework. You should do your research and learn as much as you can about this amazing dog. The Internet is a wonderful resource to dig up information all about Poodles. There isn’t much you won’t be able to find on the Internet as the information on the web continues to grow every single day. If you have questions that you can’t find the answers to on the Internet then try calling up your local vet and asking him or her your questions.

One of the most important aspects of Poodle care is diet and exercise. It is your responsibility to look into all the different brands of food and find one that is the healthiest for your dog. This can be quite a headache with all the different types of food available, so plan on doing some research in this area as well. You should do a background check and make sure that the brand you are purchasing hasn’t had any major recalls lately to avoid giving your dog food that could be potentially contaminated. Also be sure not to overfeed your dog as this can lead to obesity.

Poodles are very active animals and they love to get their exercise. It’s important to make sure that you couple a good diet with the proper exercise to keep your dog from getting overweight, which is extremely dangerous to your dog’s health. Playing with your dog outdoors is a great way for the both of you to get in some much needed exercise.

If you aren’t sure which type of food is the best, even after doing some research you need to call your vet. If there is ever a question that you are not sure about, always contact your vet before making any type of decision. Your vet will be able to tell you the facts about certain brands and will also be able to tell you how much you should be feeding your Poodle.

Making sure your dog gets the right nutrition and exercise is the key to having a happy, healthy dog. Taking care of these types of dogs can get very expensive, so make sure you’ve thought about it thoroughly before bringing a poodle home. They are high maintenance and very expensive pets to have. If you aren’t sure you can afford one, you may want to hold off, or simply get another breed of dog that requires less attention than a Poodle.

Remember that once you bring your pet home it becomes one of the family. It’s important to make sure you do what you can to make your dog’s life a happy one as well as a healthy one. Don’t feed your dog table scraps or overfeed him or her as this is very unhealthy and can shorten your dog’s life span and the years you have together.

The Author is the happy owner of a pet health and insurance site called Pet Insurance Pro where he shares a lot more information on pet health, pet fitness and pet longevity. Read the latest article on VIP Pet Insurance.

Logan The Poodle Sings To Law & Order Theme

August 28th, 2010


This is Bree’s dog Logan, from AZ, who howls along to the Law & Order theme, each time it comes on.

Maltese and poodle art

August 27th, 2010


TOY POODLE and MALTESE painted in oil before your eyes.