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POODLES - HISTORY
Kirsten's background in poodles (Following article was brought in the Danish Poodle Yearbook 1995)
Crazy about Poodles
She has been into poodles for more than 10 years. At 18 years old she wrote the first Danish poodle yearbook in 1986.
After 4 years of "kennelhopping" in the States she is now settled in Denmark. Her name is Kirsten Nielsen. We bring her story as
inspiration for other poodlefanciers.
-I was obsessed, I washed my dog 3 times a week-
1983 was the year when I got my first poodle. A silver miniature
DCH. Eminent
Bellefonte (Ch. Snowflipper x Eminent Silver Cippenip). Although he was shaved
from head to toe, it did not take long before he
was in full coat. I was obsessed,
I washed my dog 3 times a week to make
his coat grow faster.
"Fonte" (pictured right) was pointed in Denmark, finished as a champion in Germany
by winning Best in Show at a Specialty.
At that time I worked at a groomingshop in Denmark in order to be an
educated doggroomer. In Denmark it require 2½ years practic training.
Later on I took over the shop and ran it for about 2 years.
-They look apon doggrooming as art-
I wanted to learn everything there was to learn about poodles. Along with
the shows in Denmark, I went to Germany and Norway. In Norway I became
very inspired by all the talented people I met. Like no other country in the
world, they look apon doggrooming
as art.
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-I became fascinated by the American dogworld-
My first visit in 1986 went to PCA, Pennsylvania combined with a
trip to California.
PCA is the biggest poodle event in the world, with an entry between
800-1000 poodles. Immediately I became fascinated by the American dogworld.
After reading Poodle Variety for several years, all of the
pictures and people I had
only seen on paper, were now real and participating in PCA, just like me!
When I returned from my vacation my suitcase was packed
with an American breed miniature; DKCH Somerset Farday Lace Aloons (Ch.Destiny´s Patent Pending x Wavir Langcroft Junior MS).
A very extreme bitch for European standards, and despite
the odds,
she managed to become a danish groupwinner.
(Panti pictured left from Show Of Winners)
The same year I bought a black standard SBIS DKCH Jouet Igrec de Duchesse (pictured below left) as a youngster. He was out of the first
litter in Denmark
sired by Ch. Pamala Bibelot Jouet Noble x Ch. Jouet Duchesse de Jou-Jou. I had seen his sire at PCA, winning a five point major.
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Then I
fell in love with a black toy DKCH Pekaboy (above) (Ch. Sporrens Night Cap x Kildegården Black Peka-Girl).
He joined the others and became family.
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At the age of twenty I headed of to L.A. to meet a Tina Turner look alike in a big furcoat.
It was Victor Hansen, of Farday Kennels, whom
I got aquainted with from one of my earlier trips to
Norway. He was in the process of opening a groomingshop on Ventura Boulevard, in Hollywood. I worked along with him for almost a year. During my stay at Victor´s I achieved two white miniatures DKCH SFCH Farday Chagall In Motion and the bitch Farday Classic Symphony
(pictured right). They were out of Ch. Wavir Langcroft
Dress Parade and Farday Blue Mascara.
The male went to Denmark to be shown with my twin
sister. He quickly finished his title and continued his
career in Finland with the Palosaari family. In Finland
he easily gained his title and became a groupwinner.
The bitch was pointed in the States, but with my lack of patience as an owner/handler her showcareer ended quickly.
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-As my need for constant change increased, my ability to proper notice did not. Leaving my job with little or no warning became a nasty bad habbit-
I left Victor when he was in Texas picking up his mother whom was visiting the States for the first time. I wanted to work fulltime for a handler. I contacted Brian Cordova, Riverside (California) a newly started professionel handler, whom was trained at Tim Braziers Kennels.
After a few months and with a good learning experience I decided to move on. Unfortunately for Brian, it happend a week before the Santa Barbara shows. As my need for constant change increased, my ability to give proper notice did not. Leaving my job with little or no warning became a nasty bad habbit. It was then that I met Kathleen Arnold, Prestige Poodles and Groomingdales, Agoura Hills. During the week I worked at her groomingshop, and on weekends, we went to dog shows, where I beside showing our own dogs, I had the opportunity to work for various handlers, among them, Brian Cordova. Fortunately, for me, there were no hard feelings.
-You don´t walk into the show ring in the States with jeans unless you have a deathwish-
Working fulltime for a professional handler requires a lot of devotion and hard work. Brian´s kennel wasn´t big, but it maintained about 14-24 dogs. I was his only assistant, so I had my hands full. Every handler practices their own routine, which is very important to follow, if you want to be a part of the teamwork. During the week, you prepare the dogs for the shows, in addition to your every day kennel duties. Before you load up the van or motorhome, you better double check your list and make sure you have the tackbox, excersisepens, dryer, hairspray and tent ect. Don´t forget your dress or suit and tie. "You don´t walk into the showring in the States with jeans unless you have a deathwish", these words kept ringing in my ears. At the showgrounds your work continues, such as exercising, re-bathing the dogs rosettes, feet, tail and ears and blowing them dry. Finish scissoring and spraying the topknots. It is your job to have the dogs ring-ready before the handler need to take them into the ring. Before leaving the showgrounds you must repack equipment, feed and exercise the dogs and then begin to prepare them for the next day show.
Preparing and showing dogs has always had my main interest. Now with a steady base in Denmark and a excellent working relationsship with Kathleen Arnold, Prestige Poodles, I am now involved in breeding the poodles as well.
Along with the poodles I have been showing American Cocker, Border Terier, Lhasa Apso, Afghans and Shih Tzu. In Sweden I co-own an American Shih Tzu with Jack Stockstill, Ch. Martin´s Loverboy Puff (Ch. Sheik´s Luv-m-n-leave-m x Martin´s Mor-knoll l`bamba puff).
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Speciality Best In Show, Denmark
American Cocker |
Speciality Best In Show, Denmark
Lhasa Apso |
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