The Pre-1600 Poodle,
   Pitfalls 

or things to make sure your example of a poodle isn't.

Opposite is the portrait of Catherine of Mecklenburg with her companion... poodle?

Because of the limits on research, not actually being able to pick up, to turn over or to measure items in photographs, researchers need to take care. This is essential to remember when looking for examples of Pudels in period.

Pudel - Pudel Who's got the Pudel?

One common problem is that the dog in the portrait, if there is one, is often easily overlooked. Artists placed them in a scene to serve many purposes, but it is extremely rare for the dog to take center stage. Usually, if a dog is in a contemporary painting it is tucked away, or adding a figure to an otherwise deserted area of the canvas. You may have a portion, an eye or nose, or a stunning view of the animals rump, but it is rare to see a clean whole depiction of a dog.

What is that blob?

Secondly, artists who strove to master the human form, did not place the same effort into the depiction of their canines. There is an excellent example of this in the two front pieces for different publications of the same book. There is also the difference between artistic styles. There is an excellent example of this in the front piece from two different printings of "Le Livre de Chasse". See Appendix C

Is it a Pudle? or a Lion?

Also there is the problem of confusing lions and Pudels. Often pudel enthusiasts cite paintings of St. Jerome as examples of Pudels depicted in period. This would be wonderful, if it was true. Most of the time it is not. St. Jerome is often protrayed with a lion as his companion, as is St. Mark. The lions manes and tails often convince a hopeful viewer that they are seeing a dog in a lion cut. While a lion's coat is similar in shape, the careful researcher must look at the ears of the animal. Are the ears upright on the top of the head and rounded or do the ears dangle from the side of the head? Upright ears with rounded tips are the key that you are looking at a lion.

Is it a Pudel? or a Lamb?

Another animal easily confused for a pudel is a lamb. The curly coat often leads to confusion. In this case if the ears are narrow and hang from the side of the head in stead of being broad at the base and narrow at the top, you have a lamb.

Yeah, it's a dog, but is it a Pudel?

And then there are other dogs. The artist may not be able to depict the characteristic coat of the poodle in their medium. An example of this is the charming companion dog on the tomb effigy of Valentine Balbiani (ca. 1574) A small lap dog with a long wavy coat is definately protrayed, but without closer inspection or a view of the face and feet there is no way to deduce wheter the little dog is a Pudel or some other breed of dog.