Poodle

The Poodle — Pudel in German, Caniche in French — is a water dog whose famous curly coat began as a working clip, not a fashion. It comes in standard, medium, miniature and toy sizes, which is why its recorded weight range is one of the widest of any single breed here.

History

It was bred to retrieve waterfowl, most likely in Germany, and the elaborate clip developed to protect joints and organs in cold water while leaving the dog able to swim. The smaller varieties were later bred down as companions.

Temperament

The breed is widely regarded as one of the most trainable, and is known for being alert, active and closely attached to its people. Its cleverness wants an outlet; a bored Poodle is an inventive one.

Care and training

It takes readily to training and needs regular exercise scaled to its size. The dense curly coat does not shed much but mats easily, so it needs frequent brushing and routine clipping.

Health

Known tendencies vary by size but include hip dysplasia, eye conditions and, in some lines, bloat in the larger dogs. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one; the measured facts are in the panel.