History of the Poodle

While the Standard Poodle of the show ring might look more like a supermodel, he is a working dog at heart. Originally from Germany, Poodles were bred to retrieve from the water, and, being both active and clever, they still thrive with a job to do.

While people may laugh at some of the more flamboyant Poodle hairdos, historically they have a very good purpose. Poodles were originally used to retrieve birds from lakes and rivers, and had their coat been left at full length, it would have become too heavy for them to stay afloat, so, as much was cut off as possible, while leaving unclipped patches over the dogs’ joints and internal organs to keep them protected from injury and cold.

Poodle (Standard) character