What I have learned about Poodles
 

   Personality:

Unlike most other breeds, the Poodle prefers human beings to other Poodles and desperately is longing for a relationship with people.  Only with such a relationship will a Poodle thrive and be fulfilled.  Lydia Hopkins, a well-known Poodle authority and author, even goes so far as to say “For all their independence, Poodles as a breed are dependent upon human companionship and understanding.  All dogs need affectionate understanding, but some other breeds can be happy in their own doggy sphere of life without much human companionship; Poodles cannot be even reasonably happy or smart without it.”

 

In fact, Poodles not only prefer people, they want to be their equal, their friend and be treated as such.  Consider your Poodle to be a full family member, allowing him to be part of your daily activities, engaging him in the fun and recreational activities you pursue, talking to him, letting him know he is a “somebody”, and his rewards for you will be immeasurable and manifold.  No other breed has quite the same devotion, sensitivity and tremendous capacity for compassion and companionship.  Perhaps it is for these reasons that relationships of people with their Poodles have been so successful over so many years - centuries in fact.

 


    Intelligence:

While all Poodles are individuals and no two are quite alike, there are certain characteristic traits fairly general to the breed.  The Poodle is well known for his great sense of humour and while he has a great deal of dignity, sometimes to the extent of being a snob, he can also be a clown.  His intelligence is legendary.  Not only does he excel in the versatility of canine sports, he can be taught just about anything that a dog is capable of learning.  Many like to perform and show off.  Coupled with that attitude and presence, it can be understood why he was used as a circus dog to perform.  What is less well known is that with his keen sense of smell and his unusual sixth sense, the Poodle was used in the Vietnam War to ferret out booby traps.  In recent times the Poodle has distinguished himself as one who has the amazing ability of recognizing in advance oncoming seizures and warning people who have epilepsy of such an impending event.  One of the most compelling descriptions about the Poodle’s intelligence comes from Frank Sabella, a world-renowned Poodle expert, who says “the intelligence of the Poodle gives him that knowledge of his own importance, that vanity, which reflects itself throughout his entire presence.  He knows he is a splendid beast, and he is enormously proud of it!”

It is the Poodle’s very own way of thinking that is so uncanny and sets him apart.  His way of thinking is much closer to the way people think; his way of reacting to situations and experiences is much more in a human fashion than that of other dogs.  Napoleon experienced feelings of jealousy mutually felt by Josephine’s Poodle, and each felt the other to be an intruder in sharing her love and attention.  Anyone who has lived with a Poodle can undoubtedly report his or her own unique experiences.


 Origin and Trims:

Often potential new puppy owners come to me and say “we just want a pet, we don’t like the funny trim”.  I immediately reassure them that “this funny trim” is mainly used in dog shows and a variety of good looking pet trims are available for pet Poodles. Most people prefer the more practical sporting trim or a relaxed utility trim, which have the advantage of fairly easy maintenance.  One can appreciate, though, the reason why the more formal trim is used in dog shows when one is familiar with how “this funny trim” came about and has been sustained throughout the centuries.

 

The Poodle is said to have originated in Germany and Russia and early pictures show a Poodle with his hair clipped off from his back past the ribs and from his legs, an indication that he was used in those countries as a water dog.  Other water retrievers at the time were the Portuguese Water Dog to the south and the Irish Water Spaniel to the north.   All three breeds have similarities and are perhaps related. The Poodle was introduced to other European countries, but it was in France that his popularity was advanced.  French royalty, in particular, recognized his superior intelligence, his great sense of smell, his natural retrieving instincts, his ability to swim in ice cold waters and his desire to work and to please. He made an ideal hunting companion for them.  

They went with groups of Poodles out on their water fowl hunting expeditions.  They trimmed the Poodle in such a way as to allow for greater flexibility to swim and also to prevent their profuse coat from weighing them down.  Thus they trimmed off the hair from the back and legs, but left hair on around the body in order to protect the vital organs and around the ankles and on the hip bones to protect the joints and bones from arthritis.  They left the head hair long and held the topknot together with bows of different colours.  This would enable them to recognize from a distance each individual Poodle.  They also left hair on the upper end of the Poodle’s tail, which served as a rudder.

To this day this traditional trim of the Poodle, called the “Continental”, has maintained itself through the centuries and is one of the two mandatory adult trims for the show Poodle.  Nowadays, grooming of the show Poodle has become very sophisticated, whereby handlers and groomers accentuate the desired lines that the breed standard tells us.  The show Poodle of today is a very active, intelligent and elegant dog, who, according to the breed standard “has about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself”. 

Whether you come to appreciate the show trim or not, no trim of your Poodle is permanent. You can constantly modify it to your liking, to weather conditions or activity related requirements.  The coat quality is actually wool and can be spun and made up into garments.  It does not shed, it is non-allergenic and it does not smell when wet. But it keeps on growing. The Poodle’s appearance through his coat style can be as versatile as is his incredibly delightful and entertaining personality, as are his varied abilities.  My life is deeply enriched by the joy, love and companionship my Poodles are giving me and I will be forever grateful to my friends who introduced me to Poodles more than 30 years ago.