About the Standard Poodle
The Standard Poodle is one of the oldest pure bred dogs and its origin, while popularly thought to be French, is German. The name poodle along with breed is believed to have originated in Germany.
Despite the poodle’s pop-culture reputation as pampered lap dog, poodles come from a line of hard-working sport animals.
The name poodle came from the German Pudelhundor Pudel (which in English means “puddle”) meaning “to splash about”, and the word Hund in German means “dog.” The poodle became standardized in France, where it was considered and worked as a water retriever. It was the poodle’s popularity in France which solidified it as the national breed.
Poodles are retrievers or “gun dogs,” and are still used by hunters in that role. Their coat is moisture-resistant, and also HYPOALLERGENIC, which helps their swimming. In France, the dog was also named “chien canard or caniche,” indicating its duck-hunting qualities. While primarily considered a water-retriever, the poodle was and still used as a guide dog, guard dog, military dog, circus performer, and wagon puller for entertainers. To this day, because the original Poodles were water dogs used for retrieving, their conformation and the pattern and texture of their coats reflect the purposes for which they were bred.