Back East, I never saw giant poodles at all. If I saw a poodle, it was small or toy, and generally looked like bleached topiary.
The big poodles are just awesome. As long as you don’t let someone with a set of clippers near them.
A poodle in its closest-to-natural state. Note the long-ish fur, the lack of poofballs, and the somewhat sarcastic expression.
They still do look a little silly when they are going for the 'noble, statuesque' look, though.