The Abstract Poodle refers not to a rendering of the breed by Picasso, but rather to the color and marking of Poodles that is also referred to as a Mismark. An Abstract appears in any acceptable Poodle color, but with light or white markings in the coat. There isn’t enough white to be regarded as a “Parti,” (there’s less than fifty percent white on the dog), and the markings are most often seen on the dog’s chin, chest, paws, tail tip or neck. Some people refer to abstracts as “tuxedos,” but we’ve read that they’re not true tuxedos because true tuxedos usually have a white bib that can (but not always) go all the way around the dog’s neck; Tuxedos also typically have an all white tummy.
Dogs of this marking cannot be shown in AKC conformation events, but we’ve read that Partis may still be registered with the AKC with pre-designated color numbers, and shown in obedience and agility. They can be shown in UKC shows. We share this not as an endorsement one way or the other, but to impart information so that if you ever see the term, “abstract Poodle,” you’ll know what it is.
Poodle by Heather Galler