6. As a breeder, how do you decide on a Sire and Dam that will work well together to produce quality? Health is a must in both sire and dam in all three sizes. Testing has come such a long way, and it is a breeder’s responsibility to ensure their dogs undergo the appropriate tests. When choosing a sire have a look at what he has produced, not necessarily what he has won. Your foundation bitch should be one that you have researched the lines extensively, you feel it fits the ANKC breed standard well and be patient to wait to purchase as this will set you up for success. 7. Is there too much emphasis placed on grooming when poodles are in the show ring? NO! It is our responsibility to either learn how to groom our poodles well or pay to have them groomed well. If you are going to have a poodle for the show ring, you really do need to learn how to groom, grow coat and maintain it. My dogs are still ‘dogs’, they run, play, have outings, but I ensure that I put that time in to groom them. The same type of effort you should put in to grooming yourself. 8. We are seeing very low entry numbers across the board at dog shows, especially in poodles. What do you think can be done to reinvigorate the sport? Does it need to move with modern times? What do you think needs to be done to attract exhibitors and retain them? As many know I am from the USA but have been living in Australia for the past 40 years (and love it). I believe that we need a similar system to what they have in the US, a separate class for Champions. We would not only retain the exhibitors that are showing now but others that have been so discouraged from the past may return. One dog in a breed becomes a top winner and wins consistently week in and week out. This I believe is leaving so many stumped and unable to get any type of look in for points to title their dogs. The other dogs being exhibited may still be of a high-quality standard, but the dog constantly winning may be of a higher standard. The whole system needs a shake-up and change otherwise I do fear we will lose our hobby and passion of exhibiting our dogs. We hear people constantly say, “Well if your dog is good enough…”, and honestly, they need to stop with this and really look around at the declining numbers. Soon they will be doing circles in the ring by themselves. It’s not fun for the same exhibitors to be beaten week in week out. A co-ownership is a great way to engage exhibitors. This is where a new person keeps the dog, shows it and with the guidance of the breeder learns how to handle and groom the poodle. Being the most difficult breed, it is so important to learn to groom well in the ring. Invest in yourself and take courses. A co-ownership benefits the new person while the older breeder retains control of his or her breeding rights that have been established for so many years. Newer exhibitors also need to respect that as well. 9. When a family is looking for a poodle, what attributes should they be looking for in a breeder and their breeding stock? A family should look for things like: -------Is the breeder a member of a Poodle Club in their State and does the Poodle Club know who the breeder is? Is the breeder registered with the Australian National Kennel Club (ANKC)? Does the breeder health test the sire and dam? Can the breeder/kennel show at least one parent to the perspective buyer? Are the breeder’s poodles in good condition, happy, healthy and well groomed? Is the puppy clean, groomed and friendly? Does the puppy come with a health guarantee? January-March 2025 • POODLE VARIETY 77
Poodle Variety Magazine January-March 2025 January – March 2025: Page 77
