09/19/2024
Did you know that the very first female to win a Best in Show handled a Standard when she did it? The year was 1935, and Mrs. Sherman Hoyt handled her Standard Poodle to a BIS, a feat that would not be repeated until 1956.
Poodles have been exhibited virtually every year at Westminster since 1877, but over the years, there have been dogs entered in the Miscellaneous Class described as some kind of Poodle: Spanish, Corded, Spanish Silk, Belgium, Black, Canniche, French, French Grey, Pointer, Wool...
In 1912, the class for Poodles for the first time described entries as either Curly or Corded. In 1919, the breed (Variety) was called Poodles (Curly) and apparently there would’ve been a separate variety called Poodles (Corded), but there were no Corded entries from 1919-1923. This is further reflected in the fact that the Non-Sporting Group had a slot for a Poodle (Corded) winner, but again, there were no Corded entries from 1924-1927. In 1928, the Variety was again called simply, Poodles.
The terms Standard and Miniature first appear in the Westminster catalog in 1934. Until 1940, one dog was selected simply as “Best Poodle” and that dog advanced into the Non-Sporting Group. In 1940, Best of Variety was awarded for both a Miniature Poodle and a Standard Poodle, and again only one of them was selected to go forward into the Non-Sporting Group.
How gorgeous is your Poodle?
Image: Poodle by xyom/iStock
