My bloodline on the poodle side has been around for a long time.
The Greeks and then the Romans had coins with figures that resembled poodles. We don’t know how they were used but likely as work animals, companions, and for war. Augustus Caesar had a monument carved of a dog that looks like a poodle.
The French like to think that they invented us, but the French think they invented everything: fashion, wine, perfume. I mean come on now. Didn’t these people kill each other during the bloody and violent Bastere day.
Others say Standard poodles were bred in Germany as water dogs for retrieving game during the hunt. Throughout Europe and western Russia, they say we were used as warriors during times of strife. We are fearless and will protect those in our pack. Sometime during the 18th century, someone realized just how smart we are and decided to make us entertainers so they hooked us up with clowns and street theatre. Some of my relatives can walk a tight rope, race with monkeys on their backs around a track and do fun stuff to make people smile.
I love when people smile. The Brits started raising poodles in the 19th century as waterdogs for hunting. In 1876, the English Kennel Club was founded by poodle lovers and soon after, the Americans followed suit. In 1885, the Poodle Breed Standard was written. A year later the Poodle Club of America was formed, dissolved 1898, and reestablished in 1931.
Records back to 1792 suggest that two sizes of poodle existed, the standard and the miniature. I am kind of insulted that we are called miniature. If anything, my sister the toy poodle is miniature. I mean just look at her.
Poodles are highly intelligent, agile, elegant, and lots of fun. We are loyal to our pack and very trainable. I don’t know what humans are talking about when they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I am continually learning new tricks. We don’t have fur like most dogs but hair that keeps on growing like humans. This makes the perfect companion because we don’t shed or have pesky dander that causes allergic people to become ill.
To see the AKC standards click here.
