The Poodle Who Would Bichon

Posted on Nov 15 in Small Dog Groomingby Jeff K.Print

True story.

“I don’t like the ‘Poodle style.’ Could you groom her so she looks like a Bichon Frise?”

The groomer looked at the Poodle and saw it had a very full coat that would be easy to sculpt into just about any shape. She probably could have made that Poodle look like a Boxer, with a little effort.

“I believe I can do that,” she said.

“Then please do it,” the customer said.

And she did. This groomer happened to be very talented. Not only did she have a steady hand, she also could visualize the finished dog underneath a shaggy coat. Her philosophy was the same as a certain sculptor who said the key to sculpting a horse from a block of marble is to remove everything that is not a horse.

Two hours later, the customer returned to pick up the Poodle. The Poodle’s coat was transformed into that of a Bichon Frise, with a full and curved neck flowing into a gorgeous bell-shaped head. The legs were perfect columns of white fur. The chest, full and billowy tapered to a narrow waist. The only indicator that this was a Poodle and not a beautifully crafted Bichon Frise was the tail. Instead of the long flowing tail hair of a Bichon that arches over the rump and back, the Poodle’s tail remained a Poodle’s tail—short and clipped into round Popsicle shape, because the Poodle came in with short, stiff and curly Poodle hair on its tail.

“Hmm,” said the customer. “I don’t know.”

“Is it too short?” asked the groomer.

“No . . . It’s just . . . I don’t know.”

The next time the customer came in with his Poodle, he asked the groomer to trim the dog so it looked like a Bedlington Terrier. And she did, giving it that classic lamb’s head and closely trimmed tail. Only the ears were the give-away. The Poodle, having Poodle ears, did not have the classic long and tapered ears of a Bedlington Terrier.

“Hmm,” said the customer. “I don’t know.”

“Is it too long?” asked the groomer.

“No . . . It’s just . . . I don’t know.”

A month later the phone rang and it was the Poodle’s owner.

“Oh, I must have dialed you by accident. I was trying to reach another grooming shop.”

“Well, as long as you reached us, would you like to set up an appointment for your Poodle?”

“No. I don’t like that groomer there. My dog never looks quite the way I want her to look. Sorry.” Click.

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