@Barry The Mod,
It was reported a couple of months ago that some weasel in Argentina had been selling steroid-laced ferrets disguised as toy poodles. The Daily Mail published the following to aid poodle shoppers.
If you can't tell the difference between a ferret and a toy poodle, the Daily Mail has a checklist you can use to make sure your pooch isn't a gargantuan weasel on 'roids:
• Ferrets typically have brown, white or mixed fur and are around 51 cm in length—which includes a 13 cm tail.
• They weigh around three pounds and have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years.
• When happy, ferrets may perform a routine known as the weasel war dance—which is characterized by a series of hops and frenzied attempts to bump into things.
• This is often accompanied by a soft clucking noise called dooking. When upset ferrets make a hissing noise.
• Toy poodles are known for their intelligence and are around 25 cm tall and weigh around nine pounds.
• If a toy poodle exceeds 25 cm height, it cannot compete in any dog show as a toy poodle.
• Toy poodles have long lifespans and have been known to live as long as 20 years.
• Toy poodles are described as sweet, cheerful and perky and lively and love to be around people.
But ferrets aren't the only animals that have allegedly been used to dupe poodle-seekers. The Brisbane Times reports that a Japanese actress once purchased a lamb believing that it was a standard poodle.
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