By now, long time readers of NPDD know that there’s a name for everything, and we love sharing them (the more esoteric, the better!).
Poodles, magnificent creatures that they are, come with vocabulary all their own, most of them having to do with grooming. We’re sharing a few terms you may or may not know if you’re not a Poodle owner or show fancier, and we’re using a vintage image found on Pinterest just to be different as we point out a few of the terms.
Even those with a cursory knowledge of a Poodle cut know that the rounded tufts of hair left on the end of the tail is called a PomPon (and if you don’t already know, it’s PomPoN, not Pom pom). Some may also know that the rounded tufts of hair left on each back leg of a Continental and English Saddle Clip are called bracelets, but, that is not the name given to the rounded tufts of hair left on the bottoms of the front forelegs. Those are called “puffs.” The shaved areas between the bracelets on the back legs are referred to as (wait for it) shaved bands, but some people call them clipped bands, as well.
The curved clipped area on each side of the flank of an English Saddle pattern is called a crescent or kidney patch.
The long profuse hair that covers the neck, shoulder, ribs and chest on a Poodle in an English Saddle Clip is called the mane, while the closely trimmed hindquarters is called the pack or saddle. Feathering, or fringes is what the longer hair on the ears is named, and not shown in the image is the “bloom,” the sheen of a coat in prime condition. Were this dog in a Continental Clip, the rounded ‘balls’ of hair left over the hips would be called rosettes. As hard as it is to discern that the Poodle in this photograph has one, the long hair on the top of the dog’s head from the occiput to the stop is the topknot. Different clips have different terms, no doubt, but if we’ve missed any in this one, the English Saddle, please let us know!
As for our post title: Poodle + vocabulary = Poodlary, a word we think should exist but doesn’t. Until now.
Image found on Pinterest and happily credit upon receipt of information
more modern language for the mane coat.. is jacket…when i began in poodles in 1969 you rarely saw a continental trim…and the mane coat/jacket nearly met the front bracelets/puffs…as handlers began to lift the jacket.. the english saddle became less and less seen… placement of the saddle is an art form in and of itself!.. most today would not know to call the saddle a pack.. curly pack or brushed pack…and there was a time when judges counted rubber bands! Coats of that day and age were more profuse and had much more texture than todays modern poodles…54 years since i went to my first dog show things have certainly changed! There was a day when kennel attendants walked the dogs around the ring in kennel coats.. lab coats we would call them today… photo Ch Oakwood Cantellees Devonson CD circa 1989 PCA with mike lamb handler owned by Vickie haywood
Love this!