# What would a poodle look like if they did not give them those \[silly\] haircuts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018 "2009-03-02T16:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/1 "2009-03-02T16:03:38Z")
I hate the faggy poodle haircuts. What would a poodle look like if it wasn’t fagafied by its owner? Whats wrong with a level trim.? When and why did the ugly haircuts start? A poodle won at Detroit Dog show this weekend. Wouldn’t get my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/2 "2009-03-02T16:07:35Z")
Like this [http://fidobydesign.com/db2/00162/fidobydesign.com/\_uimages/Ace2.jpg](http://fidobydesign.com/db2/00162/fidobydesign.com/_uimages/Ace2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/3 "2009-03-02T16:11:02Z")
Faggy? Fagafied? Seriously? In answer to your question, while sidestepping the unnecessary (and unexpected, from you) epithets: [Paris Poodles](http://www.parispoodles.com/Welcome_To_Paris_Poodles.html). They don’t do the show cuts, and there are several photos of poodles with their coats grown out naturally on the page. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/4 "2009-03-02T16:11:29Z")
We have a Bichon (a type of miniature Poodle). He looks completely different before and after trimming - like a different dog. [Before](http://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/3322317053/sizes/o/) [After](http://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/3322319373/sizes/o/) ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/5 "2009-03-02T16:11:56Z")
Do a google search and you’ll see images of poodles with all sorts of haircuts. If you don’t trim them they get pretty bushy, but they look like regular dogs with curly hair. [http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&ndsp=21&hl=en&q=standard+poodle&revid=125250744&ei=cASsSfaEBYr0sAOXzdHnDw&sa=X&oi=revisions\_inline&resnum=0&ct=broad-revision&cd=1](http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&ndsp=21&hl=en&q=standard+poodle&revid=125250744&ei=cASsSfaEBYr0sAOXzdHnDw&sa=X&oi=revisions_inline&resnum=0&ct=broad-revision&cd=1) ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/6 "2009-03-02T16:17:18Z")
[This one](http://www.parispoodles.com/sitebuilder/images/Paris_Poodles_Madeline_sit-335x347.jpg) doesn’t look poncy! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/7 "2009-03-02T16:38:10Z")
Call [this guy](http://laweekly.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451afa369e2010536901fa4970c-800wi) “faggy” and he’ll get all kung-fu on your ass … . ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/8 "2009-03-02T16:48:30Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Like this > > [http://fidobydesign.com/db2/00162/fidobydesign.com/\_uimages/Ace2.jpg](http://fidobydesign.com/db2/00162/fidobydesign.com/_uimages/Ace2.jpg) That looks a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/9 "2009-03-02T16:51:16Z")
Some authorities claim that the traditional show cuts evolved from practical cuts. Poodles were originally bred to retrieve birds from water, and the shaved body reduced drag while the legs were left furry to keep them warm. This is highly debatable though, as other water breeds seem to do just fine without similar haircuts and it does nothing to explain the pompadours. Poodles competing at AKC dog shows must have approved cuts. Otherwise it’s just a matter of personal preference. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/10 "2009-03-02T16:51:22Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Faggy? Fagafied? Seriously? > > In answer to your question, while sidestepping the unnecessary (and unexpected, from you) epithets: [Paris Poodles](http://www.parispoodles.com/Welcome_To_Paris_Poodles.html). They don’t do the show cuts, and there are several photos of poodles with their coats grown out naturally on the page. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/11 "2009-03-02T17:00:33Z")
I remember a friend of mine telling me (just before we entered his house) that he had two dogs - an Alsatian and a poodle. I said that he should keep the Alsatian away from me (I am uncomfortable around animals that I don’t know), to which he replied that it was the poodle I should fear. I was puzzled by his answer, but entered the house anyway. Turns out that poodles are not little, yapping things with bows on their head, but are in fact large, solid, agile, jet black snapping machines ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/12 "2009-03-02T17:10:23Z")
Standard poodles are big dogs as seen in the pictures posted here, toy poodles are small. As strange as it sounds someone took standard poodles to Antarctica for a trip instead of huskies, it did not work out well. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/13 "2009-03-02T17:11:23Z")
**Gonzomax** , I invite you to [the Pit](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508844). ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/14 "2009-03-02T17:32:37Z")
I received several reports about the title of this thread. I’ve edited it accordingly. **gonzomax** , please be more careful in choosing titles for your threads in General Questions. **Gfactor** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/15 "2009-03-02T19:50:24Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Turns out that poodles are not little, yapping things with bows on their head, but are in fact large, solid, agile, jet black snapping machines ☹ A friend of mine from back in the day had a giant poodle, and she could go pretty mean in a heartbeat. I heard from someone familiar with dogs that poodles actually rate pretty highly on the aggressive scale. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/16 "2009-03-02T21:18:08Z")
I have a 50-lb. standard poodle with a “lamb” (same all over) cut. Don’t mess with him. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/17 "2009-03-02T21:47:43Z")
A neighbor of mine has a 70 pound white poodle with a traditional cut. Dog looks really really stupid. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/18 "2009-03-02T22:03:50Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I have a 50-lb. standard poodle with a “lamb” (same all over) cut. > > Don’t mess with him. I know four poodles (two standards, one toy, and one miniature) all with about that “lamb” cut. The standards are two big dogs and I don’t want to get on their bad sides. (The male standard actually whacked my hand and thigh to get me to pet him while I was sitting on the couch.) The mini and the toy are easier to deal with, but still can be really aggressive when they want attention (I once had the female toy, the male mini, and the male standard all try to jump in my lap at once.) Anyway, it’s a quite utilitarian cut that looks good while still keeping the length of hair in check. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/19 "2009-03-03T02:40:37Z")
[![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/Kensie_110208_1012.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/Kensie_110208_1012.jpg) Standard Poodle: Not a _small_ dog, no. It’s a lapdog. Sometimes, it’s a shoulder dog. [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/Kaylon2.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/Kaylon2.jpg) This should show your typical Standard in relation to everyday objects. Like a couch. They like to fight like this, too. [http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/my-name-is-inigo-montoya-you-killed-my-father-prepare-to-die-loldog-hotdog-funny-dog-pictures.jpg](http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/my-name-is-inigo-montoya-you-killed-my-father-prepare-to-die-loldog-hotdog-funny-dog-pictures.jpg) Very paw-focused dog. This one’s about half-growth, but I wanted to show the cut when it hasn’t been brushed for a while. [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/0311\_StickWrestling\_0202\_edited-1.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/0311_StickWrestling_0202_edited-1.jpg) [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/Kenzi-newcamera6-30-07008.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/Kenzi-newcamera6-30-07008.jpg) Oh, and one more thing? [http://thepoodleanddogblog.typepad.com/the\_poodle\_and\_dog\_blog/2008/02/poodles-in-the.html](http://thepoodleanddogblog.typepad.com/the_poodle_and_dog_blog/2008/02/poodles-in-the.html) Mush! [http://home.gci.net/~poodlesleddog/](http://home.gci.net/~poodlesleddog/) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018/20 "2009-03-03T03:37:52Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Turns out that poodles are not little, yapping things with bows on their head, but are in fact large, solid, agile, jet black snapping machines ☹ I believe you were thinking of Maltese and/or Yorkshire terriers. Maltese, for the record, can be trimmed in a puppy cut, though they are shown with a floor length mantle of hair. If you see a white, animated dustmop with black eyes and nose, and it weighs less than 10 pounds, it might be a Maltese. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-poodle-look-like-if-they-did-not-give-them-those-silly-haircuts/488018.md?page=2)