Nice article in support of Poodles.

We had one when I was a child and I can vouch for all the good qualities you mention.

Ourswas balck with a small white blaze on her throat, and never got the "fancy" cut, she was the same length all over.

Unfotunately my parents never got her or our other dog fixed and the result was a littler of puppies which we then had to rehome. The father was a pointer cross and the puppies were all black, and varying hair types.