Parti Poodles have been in existence since the poodle was being developed.
Here are a couple of reprints of paintings done in the 1800s.
Visit Encore Editions
to purchase these and other Lovely Poodle reprints!!
A link from the Poodle History Project that shows many Parti colored "water dogs" from 1500-1800s
Parti Patterned Poodles were shown in Conformation in England up until around 1950. Pressure to "Disqualify" these lovely dogs from conformation shows around the world finally passed and the "fear" of the parti was to become like a plague. Breeders who found these dogs in their litters were culling them (killing them) and never breathing a word that these dogs were showing up in their litters. This has driven the parti pattern to near extinction, though AKC and other Worldwide registries have always allowed these patterns to be used in breeding programs. Conformation is often the "Killer" of working dogs as people start to breed for one thing in mind: Looks. No thought is put into whether the dog can do what it was bred to do, nor what affect their closed minded and blind adherence to the "Standard" and breeding for the "style of the month" will do to the breed as a whole. Killing a puppy due to it's color and what your fellow breeders might think is just crazy. But then, showing dogs in conformation is often more political and there are rules they simply ignore. Breeders/Handlers spray their show dogs full of hair spray as they get ready to enter the ring. Hairspray is a Disqualification in AKC shows, but they all turn a blind eye and now we have this haircut that is totally out of control and stylized that would NEVER work on a dog used in field work. It won't even stand up without all that spray! Some people dye Black dogs due to the graying gene or small white markings on the chest, feet, and chin. This kinda stuff happens all the time which is why I like Obedience or Agility when dealing with AKC shows.
Back to the Parti's... There are 4 lines that I know of in Standards that have produced this historical pattern and because of this, many many of these dogs are heavily linebred or inbreed. Several dedicated and quality breeders are out to try and bring this pattern back from near extinction and are looking for healthy outcrossed lines to help them in this endeavor. There is no health risk associated with the patterns, other than the lines themselves being so closely related to cause inbreeding health issues. They do not suffer from Deafness as Dalmatians and other spotted breeds do, so producing and trying to help this pattern to reestablish will not harm the breed.
With the help of a dedicated Parti Poodle breeders/fanciers and the research provided by the Poodle History Project and other resources, the United Kennel Club has allowed the Parti Pattern to be shown in Conformation once again. It is a great step for these lovely dogs. They are judged under the exact same standard as Solid poodles, with only the pattern to determine which class/variety they are to show in. UKC also allows poodles to be shown in a "Sporting Trim" that any person can keep up with. They do not allow Professional Handlers, so the show ring is much more friendly and laid back with much less politics floating around. UKC is known for it's working sports and ideals, with Conformation only used as a way to grade breeding stock's physical attributes. This is the way it should be!
Here at Anutta, we are hoping to allow some of our dogs to be used with quality Parti Poodles to increase their limited gene pool. That is why we are in a co-ownership with Gloria and Levi and now have little Miss Biscotti. Both Charm and Gatsby carry the parti gene as well. It will take year and years of careful breeding to bring back these lovely and historically correct poodles to their past greatness. We hope to be a part of that future just as we hope to continue our goals of Working Poodles who have brains and good health.