BS: How do we improve on the poodle?

Subject: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:02 PM

Poodles have long been a favorite dog for Hollywood starlets and divas, and also for little old ladies who wear fake fur and way too much perfume. Poodles fulfill their role as the companions of ditzy females admirably, but is there still room for improvement in the basic poodle? That is the question. Can anyone suggest the next obvious move that should be taken?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:07 PM

Bullseye BBQ Sauce???

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:10 PM

For example...

How do we improve on this?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: frogprince
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:12 PM

Instead of those foofy trims, how about giving them mohawks?
       (LittleMoHawks?)

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:13 PM

Hmmm. Yes, that would be dramatic, wouldn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:16 PM

What is the dog, I saw one at the dog show I was watching on TV, that is shaved like a poodle but only in the back? Looks like the poor thing had no pants on... looked "improved" to me!

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:16 PM

Ho----Lee------!

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Peace
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:19 PM

Cross-breed it with a dog.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: frogprince
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:21 PM

Was that Porky Poodle?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Cluin
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:22 PM

Leave the damn things alone. Quit giving them those stupid haircuts. The poodle is a fine friendly dog, playful and smart. Great family dogs and easily trained. They love the water and are loads of fun. They're not a f__kin' fashion accessory.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Peace
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:24 PM

Good post, Cluin. They are also a fearless dog, very loyal and able to fight with the best of 'em. I think people made a bad mistake 'miniaturizing' them and other breeds.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:24 PM

You're some kind of dangerous subversive, aren't you, Cluin? ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Cluin
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:26 PM

Oh, don't get me started, LH.   ;)

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Peace
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:27 PM

You know what has four legs and one arm?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:27 PM

Yeah, he is!!! Now drop them trimmers!!! I gotta a gun!!!

Drop 'um 'er I'll shoot!!!

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:28 PM

Now, this one really says it all...

The glory that is Poodle!

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: frogprince
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:28 PM

A pit bull.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:32 PM

You want colors? We got colors!

-----------!

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:34 PM

I will have you know that the poodle WAS the best family/small game dog for years and years. The VERY best rabbit dog. Until the beagle overtook them in the mid-sixties. Unfortunately, some people do strange things with dogs... see above links. Whatever size poodle, they are great dogs, over all.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:39 PM

Renaissance Poodle

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: open mike
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:39 PM

put them on a skirt...
or put a skirt on them?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:47 PM

Gee, I posted to this thread and now it's gone. I said that we should return the poodle to the hunting dog it was bred to be, and as for those minatures and things, here's a hint.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 09:55 PM

SPLASH!!!

Oops - I stepped in a poodle.....

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: bobad
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 10:04 PM

Better hair stylists ?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Bert
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 10:04 PM

It's easy, like this

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 10:29 PM

Definitely NOT like this.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: bobad
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 10:31 PM

How about this ?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 10:47 PM

MRRZY----The dog you saw was more that likely a Portugese Water Dog with a "Lion Clip." This one is a little hard to see since its black............But you can see it even so.

There are two clips for these dogs as well as two acceptable coats. The curly coat is usually just done in the "Retriever Clip" where onlt the tail is shorn(except for a tuft on the end). The wavy coat is more often groomed in the "Lion Clip."

Nice dogs though!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Scoville
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 10:53 PM

They were a respectable sporting dog at one point, the poor things. I like them best when they're just shaved all over. I, personally, would never own a dog that needed that much grooming, but I can think of other breeds I like much less.

I don't know many Standards, but the little ones are smart as whips and great dogs if you don't spoil them rotten.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Bert
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 11:30 PM

LMAO. Bee-dubya-ell. that poor bloody moggy, no wonder it looks so pissed.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 12:57 AM

The poodle specimens usually seen around are poorspecimens of the original breed. They were--and still are, diven a chance---an excellent hunting breed. Even today, after all the years of
" modification" many of these dogs can match the greyhound for sheer pace.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 01:06 AM

Ok, ok...there was originally a reason for the clip....it was to protect the joints while hunting or ratting,but I agree, it has gone too far.

I don't agree that poodles are 'smart'....at least, I've never met a smart one. The damn 'tea cups' are the worst...nasty yapper biters they are. A standard 'can' be OK....

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: NH Dave
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 01:35 AM

Sorcha, how happy would you be if you'd been bred down to the point where you could live in a small waste basket?

As a couple of previous posters noted, they were a good sporting breed until folks started "improving" them. Same goes for the Cocker Spaniel. They've been "improved" to the point where most are neurotic fuzz balls, and those are the good ones.

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: alanabit
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 02:51 AM

What Peace said. Cross them with real dogs, along with chihuahau's and all those other nasty little doglets. They should be dipped in buckets of soapy water and used to clean cars with. Anything that can't chase rabbits or go for a proper walk isn't a real dog. So there!

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 03:35 AM

You could improve any dog by breeding them without arseholes. Judging by some of the footpaths round here, another improvement would be to sterilize dogowners' parents at birth.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: open mike
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 04:06 AM

the poodle-like Bichon Frise
has curly hair like a poodle,
but it is better for people
with alergies --it does not shed.

I think it has fur instead of hair or something..
they are quite calm.

i knew someone once who had a standard poodle
that was so uptight that it was prescribed
barbituates so it would not be so nervous.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 04:21 AM

John Steinbeck's poodle,name of-Charlie,came from Bercy,France.Didn't seem to do Steinbeck any harm.On the contrary,Charlie was pretty good at making friends,wandering over to where other people were maybe camped,and intoducing himself, leaving Steinbeck to wander over a little later to "retrieve" his dog,and then find to his "surprise" that he would be invited to pass the evening with these people.Might just reread that book.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 04:43 AM

I thought this was going to be about George W Shrub's poodle, AKA Tony Blair!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 04:49 AM

He's been clipped down to size.
David

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:13 AM

How to improve a poodle:

1) Replace that ever-growing curly hair with a smooth coat.

2) Do not dock its tail.

3) Reduce the length of its legs by half.

The result would look a lot like this.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:22 AM

Nope, they'd look like this .
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:23 AM

St. Bernards are going the way of the poodle, too. They're being bred for show, and the head configuration is suffering. This is putting too much brain in too little skull, and the breed is suffering for it.

I'd like to see all the dog shows either closed down or the rules changed.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:39 AM

It's more than shows that damage breeds. Popularity through the media with the resulting puppy mills and backyard breeders is far more at fault. So many breeds have suffered in the past 25 years that the list is almost too long to seem real.

Most of the damage also occurs from the United States. Europe and Australia each do a better job at controlling what goes on than we do.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: MMario
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:47 AM

thirty five years ago my in-laws had "standard" pomaranians - about 12 lbs - they were a small dog, but not ridiculously so -

MAXIMUM weight for the breed according to the standard is now SEVEN lbs - which is so tiny as to be beyond ridiculous! They can easily break a leg jumping down from a lap.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improv on the poodle?
From: Severn
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 10:06 AM

My ex-wife told me of a friend of hers back when she lived in NYC whose duties included jerking off poodles for artificial insemination, because they've become too high strung to mate by themselves. I'm told that it's not the only "breed" (if one can still use the word) that has fallen on such limp times.


"What does your daddy do for a living?".....


As for beautiful dogs that have become too high strung to be bearable to be around, may I submit The Irish Setter?

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Metchosin
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 10:56 AM

You will have a difficult time improving on a poodle. The poodle is a very fine dog, especially the standards and miniatures. Generally, as a breed, they are only surpassed in intelligence by the border collie. A good kennel clip will keep them from looking ridiculous.

If you want some improvement, work on owners who tend to treat them more as spoiled children, than the very smart dogs that they are. Same goes for a lot of small breeds, less so for the larger ones, as bad behavior in a large dog doesn't tend to be viewed as cute.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 11:26 AM

Hear, hear! As Metch and others have said, the poodle can be one of the smartest dogs around. I had one for almost 14 years that I still miss. My mother, who sidn't care for many dogs and never had an 'indoor' one, loved and admired this dog.

At one point I had a border collie - the easist to train that I ever had - who herded horses and cattle. My poodle watched then went to work. The two of them made a fine working pair.

The only serious disagreement we had was one night when I booted her out in the rain. She was old by then and could no longer go all night without having to be let out. So I always made sure that she relieved herself before I went to bed.

This night the weather was miserable- the ground was muddy and laced with coursing water and torrents more were coming down from the sky.

She resisted. I insisted. I caught her up and put her out. She disappeared.

A few minutes later my sister in law called from over the hill a good third of a mile away. Hey, she said, just now your dog scratched at the door and asked if she could come in. I told her, No! Go on home! Is she OK?

A few minutes after that my dog showed up at our door, penitent and peaceful. I had to wash the mud off her at the tub and dry her off before we could go to bed.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 11:33 AM

What Cluin, Gnu and Metchosin said--twice!

Our poodle, Woof, was a wonderful companion for all his 17 years. He was indeed smarter than the average bear, sweet-tempered until age got to him, and one of the best friends anyone could have had. He loved to travel, and was always up for a ride, even if it was just to the grocery store. Walks with him were a joy because he had so much fun on them.

We did not, however, "clip" him--just "clippered" him when he needed it. He would stand very patiently while Dad took the hair clippers to him, and loved to show off his new haircut when it was done.

We miss him a lot.

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: frogprince
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 12:39 PM

There are people who like the companionship of a good dog, and there are people who like owning a status symbol bred to some stupid, arbitrary, and often detrimental precise standards. I guess some of you have already said the same thing in effect.

Subject: RE: BS: How do we improve on the poodle?
From: open mike
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 01:23 PM

http://www.poodlehistory.org/PSHOW.HTM
here is a page with some poodle improvements
including a Labradoodle...
and Lagotto Romagnolo--an Italian Water dog
or Truffle Hound, or Romagna Water Dog
http://www.lagotto.net/lagrom2.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/lagottoromagnolo.htm
http://www.canadogs.com/BreedLagotto.htm
http://lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/
yes, improved, and handy if you like truffles, too!