The Tradition of Clipping and Grooming Poodles
Posted on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
If you have ever watched a dog show, you will be aware of the elaborate and sometimes peculiar ways that poodles are clipped. The truth is that it has been a tradition for centuries, which, at the very least, dates back to the 16th century in which portraits show poodles with the famous Continental clip.
Today, the clipping of poodles has become a fundamental part of the breed specifications, but have you ever wondered why this curious tradition came about?
French Fashion
It is widely known that the fashion for trimming a poodle’s fur into elaborate and flamboyant styles was cemented in France. During the early years of the breed, the poodle became an extremely popular pet among the French aristocracy.
For French noblewomen the poodle was something of a fashion accessory, the equivalent of modern day ‘it’ girls and their Chihuahuas. However, instead of purchasing their dogs stylish sweaters or a Channel bag to travel around in, the wealthy women of France would create extravagant hairstyles for their pets.
Subsequently, the poodle fast became one of the most popular breeds of dog in France, eventually being adopted as the national breed. Therefore, the breed is often known as the French poodle. However, the poodle did not originate in France and neither did the tradition of clipping its fur.
German Necessity
In fact, the poodle is a German dog; its name derives from the German word ‘pudel’, which, obviously, bears a striking resemblance to the English word ‘puddle’ and means ‘to splash in water’. The breed was given this name, unsurprisingly, because it was a water dog. Poodles were designed to retrieve waterfowl and, therefore, spent a lot of time splashing about in ponds, lakes and rivers.
Unfortunately, this proved problematic, because a poodle has extremely thick fur, which is very absorbent. Poodle owners realized that their dogs were becoming hampered by the weight of their wet fur and, subsequently, were not as agile and adept at the job of retrieving.
The solution seemed simple, just trim the poodle’s fur. However, this too would cause problems, because poodles needed a thick coat to keep them warm in the harsh winter months. Therefore, poodle owners chose to clip their animal’s fur in patches, which stopped the coat from absorbing as much water. But they made sure to leave a good layer of thick fur on the chest, internal organs and joints to ensure that the dog would be kept warm during the chilly German winter.
Additionally, it is believed that the familiar top knot of many poodles was first employed for retrieving purposes. Allegedly, poodle owners would tie a ribbon to the top knot, which allowed the dog to be seen while he, or she, was paddling around in the water.
Not Just a Pretty Face
Despite an appearance that makes it hard to take them seriously, poodles are not just decorative fashion accessories. They are, in fact, according to recent research, the second most intelligent breed of dog (the first being the Border Collie). Due to its superior intelligence, the poodle is still used as a working dog. They are of great benefit as hearing dogs for the deaf and guide dogs for the blind. Additionally, they are regularly used by customs officers as sniffer dogs.
However, their popularity as household companions should not be underestimated either. The poodle is one of the most well tempered dogs, making it a wonderful addition to any home. They are patient, obedient, friendly and fiercely loyal. There can be no doubt, the poodle is very much more than just a pretty face with a rather ditsy hairdo.
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