Lots of Poodles in Salisbury

The poodles are coming back.

And more than 1,000 will compete against each other in the Poodle Club of America's Annual Specialty Breed Show next week in Salisbury, Md. First up at 8 a.m. Sunday will be standards and miniatures participating in working certificate and working certificate excellent tests at Crop-Les Farm in Powellville, Md. These tests measure the dogs' working ability and demonstrate marking and retrieval ability. They also test their willingness to enter the water and to take direction from a handler.

(OK, I did not know that poodles were know for retrieving or wanting anything to do with water. Tell me what else I don't know about poodles.)

On Monday, it's agility trials (7 a.m. until completion), followed by obedience and rally trials on Tuesday (10 am.-9 p.m.), and conformation and breed judging will fill the remainder of the week (8 a.m.-7 p.m.). All events -- free and open to the public -- will be at the Wicomico Civic Center, 500 Glen Ave., Salisbury. See Web site for directions. Judging will conclude with Best of Show. (Pictured above is After The Big Tease, last year's Best in Breed, and its connections.)

Vendors will be at the civic center throughout the week. For those who love poodles, they'll be peddling everything from poodle jewelry and clothing, to dog care equipment.