Poodle (Caniche)

An elegant and proud-looking dog. The Poodle is best known today for its dog show abilities and excels in agility and obedience contests. While these dogs often look pampered, don’t let this fool you. This is one of the most ancient breeds and was originally bred to retrieve waterfowl for hunters. Their name was derived from the German word “pudel” which translates to “splash in the water”.

The Poodle can be traced back to first-century Egyptian and Roman illustrations, which demonstrate dogs that look exactly like poodles, bringing in game nets and herding animals. The Poodle has a history with many different cultures, they were even used by Gypsies to perform circus acts. Sadly they would often heavily distort the necks of the circus dogs, which gave them an appearance that pleased the spectators.

It is not without reason that these pups excel in dog shows. These dogs are one of the most intelligent breeds in the world. They are highly trainable and love being given a task to do. If you are interested in getting a Poodle make sure you are up for the challenge - they need to be stimulated mentally, otherwise, they can become destructive. It is important to be careful what you teach these dogs, anything that you show them they will remember.

The Poodle comes in three sizes; Toy, Miniature, and Standard. The Standard Poodle is the most popular today and weighs up to 70 pounds. Besides their intelligence and stature, these dogs are no different than any other. They have a goofy side to them and love to play with other dogs and their people.

Instagram Photo Permission: @melody_the_standard_poodle