Poodles Inc.: The Rise of Customized Poodles in the 1950s

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This chapter explores the trend of customizing poodles in the 1950s and how they became a showpiece. It discusses Count Pulaski's success in opening Poodles Inc., a salon, boarding house, resort, and boutique exclusively for poodles, with the help of wealthy New Yorkers. The chapter also highlights the extravagant and contradictory views of Count Pulaski on his prized poodle, Masterpiece.

In the 1950s poodles were all the rage — one tabloid even reported that when a girl “makes the big time she traditionally acquires 3 things — minks, gems, and a poodle.” But one poodle in particular put the breed on the map. His name was Masterpiece… and police in 13 states knew exactly what he looked like.

This episode originally aired in 2018.

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