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| Volume 3, Issue 4 |
International Parti Poodle Gazette |
October 2007 |
WE ALSO PARTI IN CANADAAuthor: Ginette Girardhttp://originalpoodle.com http://uniquecaniche.com 418-848-3789 Not long ago, most Canadians were unaware that there were parti-colored Poodles. I was one of the first to bring them to Canada, at least to Quebec. We are now seeing more and more partis here. This is good in that the parti color is becoming more recognized and, hopefully, more accepted by the Poodle community: bad, in that unprincipled breeders are breeding partis without regard to health, temperament, or structure simply to make money. I first learned of partis about seven years ago. I was on the Internet looking at red Poodles for a friend when I saw a website with partis and fell in love with them. I decided when I was in the right situation that the parti-colored Poodle would be my choice of breed. After learning all I could about Poodles and about breeding, I obtained several parti Standard Poodles and, for the past three years, have six of them in most of the pattern/color variations. I have since bred three litters which I have proudly placed in good homes with marvelous people. The reaction of Canadians to multicolored Poodles is wonderful! Everywhere my Poodles and I go, we receive comments such as: “Wow! What is that dog, are they real Poodles? Do you use a black and a white to get that pattern? I didn’t know that two-colored Poodles existed!” I really enjoy seeing people’s genuine interest in the breed and having the chance to educate them on the background of the multicolored Poodle. Sometimes, I wish I had a recording of what I have to repeat all the time. That would be nice . . . then I could walk without stopping every two minutes to speak to someone or to let them take a picture of my dogs. However, I am so proud of my babies that educating people about them has become a pleasure! As in other countries, showing partis in Canada is more difficult. My first experience here was at a breeder show where I was presenting my parti in a non-conformation class. A judge from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) told me my dog was not a Poodle, and that I should be ashamed of it; however, I won’t go into the discussion because this man was ignorant. Most of the judges and people at the show that day were very nice. * * * * * To learn of other parti owner’s experiences, I conducted two interviews: Ann Maurren from Ontario breeds partis and wants to specialize in the red/white combination: Ginette: When was the first time you saw a parti Poodle? Ann Maurren: It was about two years ago. I am very familiar with solid-colored Poodles as I owned one at the time and wanted to purchase another. I decided to use the Internet to search for a breeder and this was when I discovered the beautiful parti-colored Poodle. Ginette: What was your reaction? Did you know previously that they existed? Ann Maurren: I instantly thought they were beautiful and knew that my next Poodle would be a parti. Before seeing them on the Internet, I did not know they existed. Ginette: What is the reaction of people on the street when they see your parti? Ann Maurren: Not many people in my area know about the parti-colored Poodle. They are shocked to learn they come in colors other than solid; however, they love the partis and think they are beautiful. Ginette: Do you show you dog with the United Kennel Club (UKC) Ann Maurren: Not currently; however, I plan on going to a show this fall and possibly taking one of my puppies. Ginette: Do you do any kind of competition with your dog, and if so, what is the reaction in the show world? Ann Maurren: I don’t currently enter any competitions with my Poodle.
Ginette: When was the first time you saw a parti Poodle? Dianne: It was in the 60s when I was a child. There were Mini partis but we called them mismarks: they usually had a white chest or something. Since then, the first parti I saw was owned by a friend I met on the Internet. Ginette: What was your reaction upon first seeing a parti? Did you know there were partis currently in existence? Dianne: To tell the truth, I was not that excited about them until I saw two puppies with solid black heads, white bodies, and black spots on their backs. They were six months old and were so dramatic looking that I was forever hooked. Ginette: What is the reaction of people on the street when they see your parti? Dianne: They don’t believe it’s a Poodle . . . they think it must be a mixed breed. Because of the two-colored coat, one person thought my Poodle had bad genes . . . others are very intrigued and think partis are rare since they haven’t them before. Most people are quite curious. Ginette: Do you show your parti in UKC? Dianne: No, I don’t do any showing. Ginette: Do you do any kind of competition with your dog and, if so, what is the reaction from the show world? Dianne: Sorry, I don’t do competitions; however, I do challenge my Poodles’ brains by teaching them commands and tricks. So far, my parti is the smartest Poodle I’ve ever owned!! * * * * * More and more people in Canada, and here in Quebec where I live, are getting partis from the United States and are starting to breed them. It worries me that a lot of these people are backyard breeders with no ethics whatsoever. I refuse to sell them a pup because I know their dogs are not registered or tested. Unfortunately, it seems to be very easy these days to get puppies from the U.S. at a cheap price and no references. Recently, a man called back to tell me, “Keep your puppy, I just got two partis from the U.S. for $600 and no papers.” This is very sad and not good for the future of the parti-colored Poodle in Canada. |
