Poodle Colors (and other questions)

[Stacy]

I know we don't have a large group of poodle people in the doodle forum, but sometimes it's intimidating to walk into a group of poodle experts and ask the novice questions. Sometimes a girl confuses a cairn terrier with a border terrier and is persona non-grata forever! So, I thought maybe I could bring some questions here as I gain some poodle knowledge for the future. 

AKC doesn't recognize multi-colored poodles for conformation purposes. And I had a lightbulb moment the other day (thanks, Karen!) about how good AKC breeders feel about people breeding multi-colored poodles. But I still don't understand why. I've done a little reading and it looks like multi-colored poodles have been around forever. Has AKC ever recognized them? I thought I read that, but now I can't remember my source. 

My other question is UKC. I know there are a lot of... not well respected breeders who get championships from UKC and then sell puppies as champion bred. And that it isn't the same thing to be a UKC champion as an AKC champion. But I've also read that AKC conformation is highly political and it's nearly impossible for an owner handled poodle to get a championship. That it's more about who you are and know than about the dog. Now, that might just be sour grapes from someone who isn't winning, but is it possible that it will become so political that good breeders will start showing in UKC, giving it more legitimacy? 

I also don't understand why other countries recognize a moyen size poodle and AKC doesn't. 

[Stacy]

My training club does have trials. They're having an obedience trial next month. I keep wondering if I could enter Maggie in beginning novice. I keep watching youtube videos and I think we could do it. I just wish there was someone to hold my hand through it! But talking to the poodle people is a great idea. I think we have poodle people.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here is a blue Standard Poodle puppy; notice the brownish cast, which is typical when they are clearing.
And here is a blue adult Standard. 
You can easily see the difference in the skin tone from a black Poodle, which always has black skin, as black as the coat.

[Stacy]

There's a "bad black" gene too, isn't there? I've read about that. A black dog who fades? But not to be confused with a blue dog. There's so much happening in colors!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's not really a bad black gene. It's bad breeding. A truly well-bred black Poodle never fades, and I mean never. My last Mini Poodle was a black, and her father was ranked in the top ten Minis in the USA and Canada when she was whelped. At the time of her death at 16 years of age, she had maybe a couple of white hairs near her mouth that were barely visible unless you looked for them. And she was so black, you could not make out her features. Even her eyes were almost black, which is over and above the breed standard for blacks. They want very, very dark brown eyes in almost all of the colors, the darker the better. 

[Stacy]

Black like this? Full disclaimer, not my dog, not pretending it's my dog, just what I see as a good example of a black Poodle. Of course, I'm cheating a little. If she won Best in Show at a specialty she's pretty much guaranteed to be an excellent example of the breed.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, yes. Black like that. Aris a very famous name in Poodles. 

[Stacy]

I'm learning! I also just discovered we have a Poodle Club here! I swear, I find new things all the time!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm jealous of the things you are finding!!! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

What fun it must be to watch the poodle coats clearing.  It's like the chocolate doodles changing, except with a poodle you know what is supposed to be at the end of the change.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You know, but there is still a surprise, because they can be lighter or darker silver, and sometimes, the ears, head, and/or tail stay darker. Here is a group of some of Jasper's relatives, mostly silvers, and you can see all the variations:

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Huge variation! How fun. Of course, Jasper will be most handsome of all in coloring. Are you in contact with any of his littermates to see how their coats are looking?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, we have a FB group and photos are posted often of most of his sisters and his brother. They are clearing in a similar way.