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| sources 1 (unknown), 2, 3, 4 |
The outlandish poodle haircut that flaunts spherical pom-poms and anklets of fur may seem ridiculous at first glance, but do you know the origins of this infamous ‘do?’ Believe it or not, centuries ago poodles of all sizes, from the toy to the standard, were bred as hunting dogs. Their intelligence, desire to please and sharp instincts made them the perfect pooch for chasing down wildlife.
The poodle coat, however, was not all that ideal for trekking through swamps and rivers. Due to its curly, dense, tight-knit characteristics, poodle hair takes a long time to dry out on its own and can be extremely heavy when soaked through. Thus, the poodle cut came to be. Those puffy pom-poms and swelling anklets were actually strategically left in place to keep major arteries and organs warm on the dog. The chest, ankles, tail and ears are protected from the elements, while the rest of the dog’s body is shaved down to reduce excess ‘water weight’ and thereby increase the dog’s mobility.
Nowadays, of course, there are numerous kinds of ‘poodle cut,’ including the frou-frou look of yore, that are meticulously kept for showing purposes. Just remember next time you find yourself snickering at that pouf or perfectly combed coif that the cut was designed for a serious purpose back in the day.