I have a black mini poodle that I rescued from the local pound. They were calling him Bob Marley because the poor little guy was matted so badly that it looked like he had dreadlocks. I gotta admit, the little guy has grown on me. He's a scrapper. We have a bobcat that occasionally wanders onto our property, and he's not afraid to tangle with it. I keep him in a sporting clip- short, neat, and tidy- not girly at all, and when it's cold, he has a little shirt with a skull and crossbones on it. I know, it's kinda lame, but it's cute. Can you imagine a big skinhead in boots and a bomber jacket walking a mini poodle in a sweater?!?! Yeah, that's me.

The traditional poodle cut was at one time functional. Poodles are water retrievers, and their coats are cut so that the hair will insulate the vital organs and joints(heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys). The French took that cut to the extreme and made it fashionable(there's that dreaded f word again).

Beliotpiper, I'm sorry that your mom waited until you were gone to get a dog, and I'm sorry the dog is not to your liking, but, as others have said, he may grow on you. Try to make the best of the situation.