The Poodle has been known in Western Europe for at least 400 years and after much debate, France was named the Poodle's country of origin. It is believed that they descended from the French water dog, the Barbet and possibly the Hungarian Water Hound. The Miniature Poodle variety was bred down from what we call the Standard Poodle today. The Miniature Poodle is cheerful, exceptionally smart, responsive and a highly trainable companion dog
Hard to believe perhaps, but Poodles are huntigng dogs, retrievers; or gun dogs, and can still sometimes be seen in that role. Even the famous (or infamous) show clips evolved from working clips, which were designed to provide warmth to major joints when the dogs were immersed in cold water. The rest of the body was shaved for less drag in the water. Poodles are skilled at most other dog events including agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding.
They are elegant in the show ring, having taken top honors in many shows. The poodle coat is dense and generally does not shed. This makes them extremely good pets for allergy sufferers, but it also means that the coats need regular grooming to keep them tidy. This can involve a lot of work if you want to show your poodle, however most pet poodle owners keep their poodles in much simpler cuts that are easier to care for and require less grooming.
The name poodle comes from the German word Pudel, which is short for Pudelhund, which means "splashing dog". This reflects the breed's use as a water dog (the word Pudel is related to the English word puddle).
Poodles are intelligent, alert, and active. Arguably one of the most intelligent breeds, historically, their aptitude has made them ideal for performing in circuses across the globe for centuries. Otherwise notable is this breed's keen sense for instinctual behaviour. In particular, marking and hunting drives are more readily observable than in most other breeds. Even Toys will point birds. Classified as highly-energetic, poodles can also get bored fairly easily and have been known to get creative about finding mischief.
Poodles are extremely people-oriented dogs and, therefore, are eager to please. They are excellent watchdogs, but unlike some working breeds, don't usually become "one-person" dogs when they are part of a family. Poodles in particular tend to be good with children, and are adaptable and easy to train. Like most dogs, they appreciate daily exercise, such as a walk or a play session.
