The poodle is an ancient breed, said to have originated in Germany and standardized in France, where it is the national breed. In France, poodles are called “caniche” a name derived from chien canard, meaning duck dog. The French have and old expression "fidele comme une caniche" (faithful as a Poodle).
Many overlook the smart, funny Poodle, thinking him frou frou and put off by all the hair-dos and eccentric things people do with their coats, yet this wiry, waterproof coat was essential for its original job as a water retriever, bred to work and retrieve waterfowl for hunters from swamp, marsh & river. The name poodle comes from the German word pudel, or pudelin, which means to splash in the water.
Smart as a whip with a dignified attitude, the poodle has a goofy streak and loves to play. Its trainability, agility and clownish personality make the poodle a natural-born performer & entertainer - the perfect circus dog. It is thought that circus gypsies first cut the poodles coat into fanciful shapes, a trend that quickly caught on amongst upper class french ladies whose toy poodles were the ultimate fashion accessory and lap dog.
Famous poodle owners include Joan Crawford, Duke Ellington, Barbara Streisand, Jack Lemon, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth, John Steinbeck, Richard Nixon, Priscilla Presley, Kirk Douglas, Joan Crawford, Grace Kelly, Marylyn Monroe, Judy Garland, George Washington, Geroge V, Elizabeth Taylor, Ivana Trump, Walt Disney and Mariah Carey.
