“A sound dog without type is just another dog. A typed dog with moderate soundness can still win hearts, shows, and history.”

In the world of Poodles — whether one is a breeder, an exhibitor, or a judge — two pillars always stand at the center of every decision: type and soundness.
Both are important, both are necessary, but one must reign supreme if we are to safeguard the breed: type.
Without type, we do not simply lose competitive polish — we lose the Poodle itself.
It is a truth both timeless and unavoidable:
Type must lead. Soundness must support.

Understanding this priority is not a dismissal of structure or movement, but a recognition that mechanical flawlessness is a far easier thing to restore than a lost breed identity.
Type, once diminished, takes generations — sometimes an entire lifetime — to rebuild.
Soundness, by contrast, is comparatively simple to correct when breeding decisions are made wisely.
It is type that is the rarer treasure, and therefore, type that must be guarded most fiercely.

The True Meaning of “Type”

When we speak of “type,” we speak of the essential characteristics that render a Poodle unmistakably a Poodle — even from across the farthest ring.
Type is not merely cosmetic; it is not a matter of fashionable trimming or artifice.
It is the living expression of history, function, and design — sculpted through centuries of careful selection.

Type includes the elegant, long, and finely chiseled head.
It includes the springy, lively carriage, the dense and resilient coat, the proud neck arching upward from well-laid shoulders, the square outline, and the effortless, light-footed movement that speaks of a dog bred for athleticism, intelligence, and joy.
It includes expression — that bright, discerning gaze that tells you this is no ordinary dog, but a creature bred to marry mind and muscle with magic.

Without these markers, no matter how sound the skeleton beneath the skin, the Poodle becomes just another capable animal: anonymous, unremarkable, generic.
And when the breed becomes generic, it ceases to exist in any meaningful sense.

Anne Rogers Clark, one of the greatest dog authorities to ever grace the rings, said it simply and memorably:

“You can fix soundness a lot faster than you can fix type.”

Her words endure because they are both practical and prophetic.
A breeder can shore up a weaker pastern, improve shoulder layback, or strengthen a rear within a few targeted generations.
But a lost headpiece, a sagging outline, a fading carriage — these things, once allowed to decay, require decades to reclaim, if they can be reclaimed at all.

Why the Poodle Is a Type-Dependent Breed

Not all breeds depend equally on type.
In working breeds bred almost exclusively for utility — the Greyhound, the Border Collie, the Labrador Retriever — form truly follows function in the most literal sense.
Their beauty is born of performance efficiency.
But the Poodle is something more refined: a symphony of beauty and ability, form and purpose.
The Poodle’s traditional work — water retrieving — required athleticism, endurance, and intelligence, but it also gave rise to a dog of remarkable elegance, presence, and sophisticated grooming traditions designed both for function and, later, for art.

The AKC Standard for the Poodle captures this blend plainly:

• “General Appearance: A very active, intelligent, and elegant-appearing dog, squarely built, well proportioned.”
• “Coat: Of naturally harsh texture, dense throughout.”
• “Trim: In Continental, Modified Continental, or English Saddle clips.”
• “Carriage and Movement: Sound, free, and light movement, carrying themselves proudly.”

The words themselves — elegant, squarely built, proud carriage — emphasize that in the Poodle, type is inseparable from function.
A Poodle without correct head, coat, outline, and presentation is not merely unsound; it is incomplete.

Soundness Still Matters — But It Must Follow

No serious breeder or judge advocates dismissing soundness.
The Poodle must move cleanly and smartly, demonstrating reach and drive appropriate to a dog designed for athletic retrieval in water.
A good Poodle should show no evidence of labor or awkwardness, no stiffness or wasted motion.

Yet perfection in movement — textbook mechanics — is not the highest calling in the breed.
A slight paddling in the front, a bit of looseness on the down-and-back, or a tendency toward cow hocks may be minor sins when set beside a dog who embodies the Poodle ideal in outline, coat, expression, and carriage.

Conversely, a dog who moves soundly but lacks the necessary head properties, coat resilience, square build, and proud demeanor is of little value to the preservation of the breed.
It is simply a sound animal with no story to tell.

As the old breeders’ adage wisely warns:

“A bad Poodle is just an expensive mutt.”

Real-World Proof: The Poodle Legends of Type

History teaches us that the Poodle’s greatness is preserved not by mechanical perfection but by breathtaking type, embodied by dogs whose names still command respect today.

Consider Blakeen Jung Frau, that iconic white Standard from the storied Blakeen Kennels, whose outline, headpiece, and carriage helped define what a white Poodle should aspire to be.

Think of Wendessa Crown Prince, a black Standard from Wendell Sammet’s legendary program, whose sire power and adherence to true type left a permanent imprint on future generations.

Remember Lake Cove That’s My Boy, who carried forward the excellence of the Lake Cove bloodlines with a silhouette and style that made him unforgettable, even if every step was not textbook-perfect.

Reflect on Eaton Affirmed, a black Standard of commanding presence and correct construction, whose influence on the breed went far beyond mere ribbons.

And who can forget the brilliance of Ch. Whisperwind On A Carousel, the magnificent white Standard who, under the guidance of Tim Brazier, captured Best in Show at Westminster in 1991 — a living sculpture in motion, exuding the marriage of sound movement and breathtaking type.

More recently, legends like Ch. Surrey Spice Girl, handled by Kaz Hosaka to her 2002 Westminster Best in Show victory, remind us that it is the breathtaking combination of type and presence that captures hearts and judges alike.

Other champions such as Ch. Unique Da Maya, Ch. Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely, and Ch. Afterglow Maverick Sabre followed the same timeless formula: each carried forward the flame of Poodle type, while balancing athleticism and soundness — but never sacrificing type at the altar of mechanical perfection.

In all these dogs, the lesson is the same:
Type made them legends.
Type made them immortal.

Why Soundness Alone Cannot Save the Breed

It is tempting, in an age obsessed with health testing and functional movement, to believe that soundness alone can sustain a breed.
But if we breed for soundness without type — if we permit Poodles to become generic in head, coat, outline, and spirit — we have already lost.

We would end up with durable, athletic dogs, yes — but dogs that could just as easily be mistaken for Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs, or any number of curly-coated breeds.
In the attempt to save the skeleton, we would have killed the soul.

Type is the anchor. Soundness is the sail.
Both are needed, but without the anchor, the ship drifts into anonymity.

A Wise Path Forward for Breeders and Judges

Those who shape the breed — whether at the whelping box or the judging table — must prioritize with wisdom.

First, ask:
Does this dog immediately proclaim itself to be a Poodle, even before a step is taken?
Does it embody the head, coat, square balance, proud carriage, and vibrant spirit the breed demands?

Second, reward balance: proportionate build, harmony of parts, and strength without heaviness.

Third, consider movement: reach, drive, and efficiency matter — but not at the expense of breed identity.

Fourth, forgive small flaws if the greater virtues overwhelm them.

And always, lastly, honor the temperament: proud, intelligent, and aware of its own nobility.

Reflection: Type is the Flame We Must Protect

Breeding Poodles is not engineering. It is sculpture.
It is the preservation of a living work of art.
It is legacy — passed from hands to hands, from heart to heart.

You can correct a cow hock.
You can strengthen a shoulder.
You cannot, easily, recreate a dazzling headpiece, a square outline, a proud carriage, a resilient coat, or a spirit that declares itself aristocracy in motion.

While the words are not directly from Anne Rogers Clark herself, the sentiment mirrors her lifetime of wisdom:

“Give me a typed dog who floats on the move and owns the ring — even if he toes out just a little.”

We must never forget:
Type protects the breed.
Type defines the breed.
Type must always lead.