Does anyone know what would happen if I showed a standard poodle without the usual show clip. My girl is very correct in conformation and movement, but I clip her out completely which (to my mind) makes her look really beautiful and shows her off to much more advantage than if she was left with masses of fluffed up hair! Would she be sent out of the ring or just placed at the bottom of the line?

Hi, I'm not sure if this is he right section? If you go to the standard poodle club site www.standardpoodleclub.com and to the forums the people on their will be able to help you. The people on www.napoleon.org.uk(poodle site)forums might as well. I heard that a standard poodle champion was made up in a lamb trim a few years ago. Your bitch wouldn't be sent out and hopefully would be judged fairly. But other more knowledgable people will be advising you soon. Its a question I've been thinking about too (my boy's in full coat, but I cant make myself clip it off, he looks so good in it).

How about the show puppy trim? Not quite as extreme as the full show trim but more 'acceptable' I would imagine to the show people! :-)

There is nothing to stop you showing your poodle in a pet trim and she wouldn't be sent out of the ring but you would need to be prepared to take a lot of knocks as it takes a brave judge to put one in pet trim up.  Dont get me wrong if I was judging and the one in pet trim was a far superior dog I would put it up but if there was one just as good but in show trim it would more than likely win.  And remember if you are talking about showing at local open shows then more likely you would get put down the line as a lot of judges will worry about making a mistake.  An actual poodle judge is more likely to forgive the trim.  As long as you dont take it too seriously and just enjoy having fun with your dog why not give it a try.

I love the pet trim but in the show world it's not really one that you will see!  I think in 20 years of showing I've only ever seen two in a pet trim and one was about 5 years ago, they didn't get anywhere but it was a lovely looking dog.

At Poodle club shows I notice they have classes for dogs in Pet trim.