Silver Standard Poodles of Clifton Virginia

About Us
My love of poodles started when I was three years old with a miniature poodle named Pierre (of course, it was the 1960's) who lived to be almost 18 years old. After loving several other wonderful dogs of different and mixed breeds, I returned to poodles because of their intelligence, their conformation, and so I wouldn't have to vacuum as much. Enter Ania who became my loving sole mate for 13 years. Throughout her time, she patiently adapted to her place in my life as I married, had children, and brought other poodles into her home. Hobbes came to us as troubled rescue, and then Abigale, who Ania put up with in the last months of her life, and who now partially fills the hole in my heart that Ania left behind. family

The Us of Clifton Standards includes my husband Wayne who has grown to love poodles, espousing their virtues and dispelling the stereotypes as vehemently as a breed lifer. My daughters Andrea and Roxanne complete our home, feigning amusement with each item of poodle paraphernalia and every poodle sighting that I bring in the door. They provide the essential cuddling only children can give to ensure that our puppies come prepared to become a member of your family.

Our Commitment
We are committed to breeding dogs for a lifetime of health and happiness, and choose for breeding only those dogs that represent the breed standard, and which have a calm and congenial temperament. All of our dogs come with a health guarantee, and we do everything we can to breed dogs clear of any predictable genetic disorders. Tests for heritable disorders are performed on all dogs used for breeding, including tests for Sebaceous Adenitis, (SA), Neonatal encephalopathy (NE), Degenerative Joint Disease (including Hip Dysplasia), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), and von Willebrand's disease (vWD). We are also participating with the National Institutes of Health research on squamous cell carcinoma (SSC), as our rescue, Hobbes, suffers from this form of cancer. We also are committed to each puppy that we produce, and ask that if for any reason an owner can no longer care for a dog they adopt from us, that they return it to us so that we can find it a new, appropriate home. We never want to see a dog that we are responsible for bringing into this world ending up in rescue, or a shelter.

Our Foundation
Clifton Standards was new in 2007, but cames from well-established lines. Our founding animal Abigale (Parrishill Oo La La) comes from generations of over 50 AKC champions, whose successes in the show ring reafirm each of the breeders commitment to sound, healthy dogs. A special, heartfelt thanks goes to Marion Banta of Parrishill Standard Poodles who has kindly and patiently mentored me in the world of poodle showing and breeding. Marion has been a breeder for over 20 years, and I cannot thank her enough for sharing her knowledge and instinct with me. To learn more about her, visit her website at Parrishill Standard Poodles