Being a poodle owner for the last 30 years I thought I'd weigh in here. Unless you know the breeder way ahead of time, before your puppy is born, by the time you get to see the litter the tails will have been cut and the dew claws removed. I really don't feel strongly here one way or the other. The breed is to have a certain look so it is done to conform. I have never shown my dogs so it really would not matter to me, but like I said the deed had already been done by the time I saw them.

As far as the fancy clipping goes, I have never had any of my dogs in anything but the puppy cut. It is an easy cut to maintain and I think it just looks nicer. I understand the possible need for the fancy cuts when a dog is being shown. I am sure it enables the judges to better discern the quality of the coats and also the skin under the coats since these cuts definitely reveal both. Even though these cuts are not my cup of tea, I do very much appreciate the time and patience and art work that it takes to create this look and I still root for them heartily at Westminster!! I even think that my dogs actually have felt better about themselves after their baths and grooming. My main complaint is the misplaced ideas about poodles that come from the "sissy" cuts. They are anything but sissy dogs. They are extremely intelligent dogs who are capable of doing most anything one would desire of them. The fancy cuts do give them a bad rap.