A very active, intelligent and
elegant-looking dog, squarely built, well proportioned, moving soundly and carrying itself
proudly. Properly clipped in the traditional fashion and carefully groomed, the Poodle has
about itself an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to itself. (From the Standard)While the Poodle has been considered for many years, the National Dog of France
and Germany, Russia also lays claim to the beginning heritage of this splendid breed.
The antiquity of the poodle is well established. Many illustrations of
the breed have been found on Roman statues and tombs dating back to the first centuries
before Christ.
The Poodle appears in three varieties, Standard, Miniature, and Toy. The
Standard Poodle is considered the oldest variety. This dog was used extensively in several
countries as a water-bird retriever. It is still a splendid worker in this respect. The
name of the breed itself comes from the German PUDEL meaning, "Swamp dog".
The Toy and Miniature were favorite pets in the most renowned houses of
Europe. Paintings depict Napoleon returning from the wars of 1812 to greet his Queen and
Poodle. The dog was also popular with the French troops. Because of the breed's
versatility and acute reasoning powers, it holds the premium position among all known
breeds.
