[Cdnjennga]

As for the colors and size, god made them so enjoy them. Unfortunately breeders used to kill the "ugly" or "non-conforming" to their standard pup. Now people can enjoy all of gods creations.

Sure you could say that. I don't agree with killing pups that don't conform. But I do think they should be taken out of any breeding program and speutered as pets!

Off topic: Our first Portuguese Water Dog was a terrible physical specimen! Well, I thought he was handsome, but he didn't really look like his breed. He was high in the rear, too tall, had a tail with a bizzare pigs curl at the end, yellow eyes... I could go on. The first year we were at the specialty, someone pointed at him and said "that looks nothing like what a PWD should look like." Were we mildly insulted? Sure. But as we learned more about what a PWD should look like, we agreed. That didn't stop him from being a fantastic pet or the dog that will always hold a special place in my heart. It's a good thing we neutered him though, because we did not need to be carrying on his genes.

 

[Cdnjennga]

Back on topic!

I like the look of a nice parti, although as my eye becomes more educated, I can see how some of them have very poor structure. I have no idea if brindle/ sable/ whatever is naturally occuring in poodles or not... Maybe we'll never know. Although now I want to know! Any colour historians on this board?

 

[Cdnjennga]

According to Parti Poodle World:

Partis and Phantoms are not the only multi-colored Poodles in existence. While the exact history of these other colors are not known, these colors are not new or recent either. Brindles in particular have existed since at least the 1950's. Sables are another color in which the inheritance and history is not quite known as of yet. The Sable pattern isn't as noticeable when a Poodle is cut short. But when the hair is left long, the bi-coloring is much more obvious. The hair at the base is one color and along its length it changes colors usually with brown or black tips.

http://www.partipoodleworld.com/ColorsandTrimsOtherColors.htm

 

[Cdnjennga]

What happen to the brindles prior to 1950's? 1950 is not that long ago. This makes me still believe brindles were added from other breeds. If you could find more info about brindles early one then I will believe this color to be orginal. I have old poodle books and they never mention brindles but then again these books are written by people who are breeding solid dogs so you know some history is left out.

I questioned that too when I read it... You have to wonder how a colour or pattern can suddenly pop up without any trace of where it came from. Hmm...