When most people think of the Poodle dog breed France is the country that springs foremost to mind and fashion the next! Not surprising when one takes into consideration the usual appearance of the modern Poodle; but the thing is the Poodle breed hails from Germany a notion that is strongly supported by the fact that the name Poodle is derived from the German word Pfudel (or pudel) which means “to splash in water.”

Another common reason for mistaking the Poodle as a dog breed that originated from France is because the Poodle happens to be the National Dog of France!

Though the duties and function of the modern Poodle are largely relegated to show dog and companion dog in centuries past the Poodle was a high functioning water retrieving dog. In fact to the French the Poodle is referred to as the Canich which translates into “duck dog” because its ancestors were hard working water dogs developed to retrieve duck from the water.

Surprisngly enough the haute-couturesque appearance of the Poodle came about because of its water dog activities. The signature trim was fashioned to assist the Poodle when it was retrieving game birds from the water.

The rear half of the dog’s body was trimmed naked to reduce drag as the Poodle swam in the water with a bird in its mouth. The tips of the legs and the tail were left unshaven in characteristic tufts apparently to protect them from becoming chilled.

The Poodle dog breed is a descendant of the Barbet which was the original water dog of Europe and was once widesperad. The Barbet, like the Poodle was a shaggy, curly-coated dog that had a great affinity for water. To this day it is not properly understood why the Barbet was eventually eclipsed as water-dog-of-choice by its descendant breeds but that’s life!

To date there are very few left existing specimens of the Barbet if any at all! The modern Poodle dog’s genetic make-up also consists of other European water dogs many of which characeteristically boasted high intelligence, an abundance in skills and daring and courage second to none.

Seen through the looking glass of history the Poodle has had a multi-faceted career which at one time or another has included:

• Water retrieving dog
• Water hunting dog
• Military dog
• Guide dog
• Circus performing dog
• Guard dog

Due to its not inconsiderable intelligence the Poodle dog breed is able to handle such varied and diverse tasks with apparent ease and aplomb. In fact it was because of the breed’s high intelligence and intellectual versatility that the Poodle became the favored circus-performing dog of choice. Put simply the Poodle dog breed’s ease of training made them the ideal canine candidate for a career in the circus!

Article on poodle written by Kayye Nynne