Showing question

[Roland]

I know nothing about showing, and don't plan on every showing, but I am curious about something; and maybe some of you who are involved with the dog shows could explain this to me. With the new talk about hunting Poodles, and where the breed started, why are Poodles shown in the "non-sporting" group, instead of with the "sporting" group, along with the other retreavers? 

[zefi]

Good question Roland and one that is often asked by poodle and non-poodle people alike.

One answer I've heard is that they wanted to keep all 3 varieties together (but that only applies in Australia where we have all three in Non Sporting - in the USA the toy poodle is in the toy group on its own).

Another answer is that the Hunting Group doesnt want the glamourous poodle in their group cause they'll win all the time. LOL They already apparently dislike the irish setter and the gordon setter with their flowing coats. LOL

I really have no idea. But I know that in Australia you cannot hunt with a poodle. They arent a gun dog breed and are therefore not allowed to compete in hunting trials or whatever they're called. I'm not into that so I have no idea how it all works.

[bkitchen0406]

I always wanted to know that too. What a good question.

[Roland]

I guess it's not easy being beautiful. LOL 

[dori47]

The groups were created a long time ago and started out with sporting and nonsporting. Then they added terriers, or rather divided the groups further and made a group for terriers and groups for working , hounds etc Anything that couldnt be placed in a particular group at the time stayed in nonsporting. Most of the dogs in nonsporting have an original purpose that may be lost with changing times ( the Dalmatian is in the group as well as other breeds that did "work"). Only recently have we begun to explore the original hunting purpose of the poodle.

After poodles were no longer used for hunting did the mini and toy develop, so even if you argued the standard poodle should be in sporting, the mini was really created to be  smaller version or family pet ( yes I know there are poeple who hunt with their minis) so are you going to move it as well?

The parent club has to want to change it, and there are only a small group of fanciers who really argue the poodle is in the wrong group

Carole Ann

[zefi]

What I find interesting is that in the USA you have toy poodles in the toy group and minis and sps in non-sporting. Here we have all three varieties in the one group together. Both make sense, but its wierd to see a show where the varieties are split. No other breed has their varieties split do they?

[dori47]

What I find interesting is that in the USA you have toy poodles in the toy group and minis and sps in non-sporting. Here we have all three varieties in the one group together. Both make sense, but its wierd to see a show where the varieties are split. No other breed has their varieties split do they?

yes, SChnauzers are split. The minis are in the terrier group and the standard and giant are in the working group
Xoloitzcuintli are split- toys are in the toy group and standard and the other size are in the non sporting

manchester terriers are in the terrier group and toy manchester terriers are in the toy group, but I do not know if they are considered the same breed or not

Carole Ann

[zefi]

Well thats interesting... I never knew that!