Poodle Variety Magazine

Beyond the Marketing: Why Responsible Poodle Breeders Matter

Pippi Guilfoyle — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:22:00 +0000

I've spent a lifetime with one foot in the world of purebred dogs and the other in corporate America. That unique perspective has given me the opportunity to see how marketing influences consumer decisions—and nowhere is that more evident today than in the world of dogs.

The moment someone learns I have devoted much of my life to Poodles, the questions begin. Before long, the conversation almost always turns to "Doodles" or the latest "rare" color or designer variety. By then, many people have already made up their minds, convinced by persuasive advertising and polished websites that they have found something healthier, rarer, or somehow superior.

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The Sacred Architecture of Breeding

Timea R. Bodi — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:19:07 +0000

When people imagine the life of a breeder, they see polished coats, bright ribbons, and puppies tumbling through warm light. What remains unseen is the long corridor behind those moments, where devotion is measured not in applause, but in vigilance, restraint, and quiet prayer.

Breeding begins long before a litter stirs. It begins in years of studying pedigrees, interpreting health histories, and weighing decisions that will echo across generations. Choices are shaped not only by beauty, but by nerve, longevity, structure, and the singular intelligence that defines the poodle itself.

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Opening Space

Pippi Guilfoyle — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:16:18 +0000

Dear friends,

Traditionally, the July–September issue of Poodle Variety has been our most challenging issue—often the least represented in both advertising and editorial content. I have never quite understood why. Perhaps it is the time of year, perhaps everyone is busy with shows, breeding, traveling and simply enjoying their dogs. Whatever the reason, this year I decided it was time to look at this issue differently.

Rather than allowing it to become the “quiet” issue of the year, I wanted to make it an opportunity to celebrate the people who are at the heart of our breed: the breeders.

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Poodles: Facts or Myths?

Pippi Guilfoyle — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:39:15 +0000

POODLES: Facts or Myths?

How much do you really know about one of the world’s most misunderstood breeds?

Poodles have been admired, criticized, misunderstood, and celebrated for centuries. Their elaborate grooming can make people forget that beneath the coat is an athletic, intelligent, versatile dog with a fascinating history. But how well do we really know the Poodle?

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The Foundation Beneath the Fancy: Why Tight, Well-Knuckled Feet Matter in the Poodle

Pippi Guilfoyle — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:09:38 +0000

Among the many virtues breeders and judges seek in a quality Poodle, few are more important—and perhaps more overlooked by newcomers—than proper feet. While elegant necks, beautiful heads, and glamorous coats often capture attention, the feet are literally the foundation upon which every other virtue depends.

The Poodle breed standard calls for feet that are “rather small, oval-shaped, with toes well arched and cushioned on thick, firm pads.” In practical terms, this describes a tight, compact, well-knuckled foot that provides the support, durability, and efficiency required of a breed developed to be an athletic water retriever.

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Conversations with Christi: Terry Farley, Farleys D Standard Poodles

Christi Gable — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:19:14 +0000

I asked Natalie Lasanen of Lumiere Standard Poodles to introduce my interview with Terry Farley of Farleys D Standard Poodles. Terry was an early mentor to us both — and Natalie, I think, says it best.

It is such an honour to be asked to introduce my mentor, my greatest supporter, my devil’s advocate, and, most importantly, my dear friend and an irreplaceable member of my family, Terry Farley.

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MBIS MBISS GCH Majessa When Stars Align With Confection “Gracie”

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:51:16 +0000

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It’s a Journey, Not a Destination: A Breeder’s Story

Omar Gonzalez — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:48:54 +0000

For many of us, the journey into the fancy started long before we ever realized we were on it. It may have begun with a single cat or dog, the one who felt different, who made us look twice, who stayed in our hearts long after the moment passed. Or perhaps it began with a mentor who saw something in us that we hadn’t yet seen in ourselves. Whatever the spark was, it became the quiet beginning of a lifelong commitment.

In those early days, everything felt new and full of possibility. We were students of the fancy, wide-eyed and curious, absorbing the knowledge offered to us and discovering that behind every great animal stood decades of decisions, sacrifices, and dreams. Looking back, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic for that version of ourselves, hopeful, eager, and blissfully unaware of how much we had yet to learn.

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Poodle Temperament

Joann Neal — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:22:14 +0000

The subject of temperament is rarely discussed in conversations about breeding better poodles. But my 40 years of experience in training and showing poodles in breed and performance, providing obedience classes to the public, and helping people with their dogs’ problem behaviors position me to talk about this subject with conviction. When talking about the function of various breeds, we like to think of the poodle as a sporting breed, but, in reality, the single most important function of every poodle I know is as a companion.

Think for a moment about reasons that people get rid of dogs that they own. Skipping over owners’ life-changing events, the major reason that people get rid of dogs is bad temperament—that is, problem behavior. People keep blind dogs, deaf dogs, three-legged dogs, and EVEN parti-color dogs! The dogs they get rid of, for example, are incessant barkers, unprovoked biters, dogs with severe separation anxiety, dogs they can’t housetrain, and escape artists (these sometimes not by choice). Now, think about your favorite dog of all time. Was it the most beautiful dog you ever bred? Or was it the dog’s personality that set it apart and endeared it to you? So, how important is temperament in a dog whose sole function in life is to be a companion?

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Handlers Directory

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:11:43 +0000

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Breeders Directory

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:11:28 +0000

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Advertiser Index

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:00:57 +0000

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