In a message dated 97-07-27 10:57:30 EDT, you write:

<< If I'm not mistaken, at German herding trials
 purebred Standard Poodles are still considered tough competition for the
 more common (from our point of view) herding breeds. >>

I haven't heard of purebred Standard Poodles taking part in German trials,
but most of the herding dogs in Germany today are dogs of various coat types
and colors called the "Old German Shepherd."  These dogs can be wire-coated,
poodle-coated, smooth-coated, long haired, in various colors including blue
merle.  They are bred solely according to working qualities at this time.  It
was from these various strains that the modern GSD was developed, the founder
of the modern breed preferring the short-coated dogs of a type closest to the
modern GSD, so that type quickly came to predominate and then replace the
other types in the registered GSD, but many of the other types were also
registered with the German Shepherd club in the early days.  One of the types
was called the "sheep poodle" and is believed to be a principle ancestor of
the modern Standard Poodle.  Sheep poodles are still at work in Germany.
 There are two main types of trials in Germany, the "sheepbreeders' trials"
which are open to all breeds and in which the main participants are the Old
German Shepherd strains (including sheep poodles), and the German Shepherd
Club (SV) trials which are limited to German Shepherds.  Some registered
GSD's still herd in Germany, but not many compared to the Old German
Shepherds.  Old-fashioned loose-eyed "Colleys" are also seen on occasion --
large "old farm collie" type dogs.  Border Collies are now being used more
and more, and for them regular ISDS-type trials are held.

Curly coats show up in occasion in various collie breeds -- I've seen very
curly coats, as well as coats that were wavy in various degrees, in
individual BC's, ES's, Aussies, even some Shelties.  Haven't seen it in a
Rough Collie but I'll bet it crops up even there on occasion.  Dogs don't
seem to read the breed "standards".

Linda R.
Pacifica, CA