The Standard Poodle is an elegant and intelligent breed which probably originated either from France or from Germany. This breed's name probably comes from the German word ‘pudel, which means ‘to splash in the water.’ However, in France the breed is known as ‘Caniche,’ which is translated as ‘duck dog.’ This name reflects the Poodles historical role as water retrievers, especially for waterfowl hunters. Due to the fact that Poodles are recognised as possibly the most intelligent of all breeds, they are now used for a variety of tasks, including circus dogs, truffle-hunters and companion and service dogs.
Modern-day Poodles come in different sizes, standard, medium, miniature, and toy. Generally, Standard Poodles are regarded as between 45cm and 62cm high, Medium Poodles between 35cm and 45cms, Miniature Poodles between 28cm and 35cm, and Toy Poodles between 24cm and 28cm.
All Poodles have a curly coat that doesn’t shed and is hypoallergenic. For this reason, the breed has been used extensively in the past three decades to produce a whole new type of crossbred dog, known as the ‘oodles.’ These are standard purebred dogs crossed with poodles, such as the the Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever + Poodle), Cavoodle (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel + Poodle), Schnoodle (Schnauzer + Poodle), and Moodle (Maltese + Poodle.) These ‘oodle’ dogs are now amongst the most popular breeds not only in Australia, but worldwide.
Poodles are known for their friendly and trainable nature, and get on well with other pets and cats. They make excellent companions either for individuals or active families. They excel in obedience and dog sports, which they love participating in.