Poodles are well-known around the world as the national icon of France. Poodles are often associated with French culture. But are all poodles French?
The short answer is NO! Poodles are not French at all. They are very popular in France as they were standardized in France in the 15th century.
Poodle roots originate from Germany. Their name came from the German word “puddle”. They were bred as hunting dogs and retrievers and were called “puddle hounds”.
In this article, I am not only going to tell you about the misconception of poodles being French but also from where did poodles primarily came from?
What Breeds Make Up a Poodle? The Poodle Origin!
Poodles stayed as a pure breed for hundreds of years. Their origin is somehow complicated as they were brought into existence by crossing different bloodlines in the early 8th century.
There are many writings from this era that describe the existence of poodle-like dogs. But unfortunately, there are no useful records of breeding them today!
In modern history, poodles are known as a predominantly hunting breed. The heritage of poodles is associated with herding dogs.
It is thought that the Proto-Germans, most commonly known as Goths traveled to Europe in nomadic tribes and went with the curly-haired herding dogs, and that’s how modern Poodle came.
As the Goths moved around Europe, poodles naturally spread to other parts of the world as well and gathered the characteristics of some other breeds. In France, the German herding poodle was widely used as a hunting dog. This breed was considered the most intelligent and easily trainable.
Let’s take a look at some of the other breeds that have played their part in forming the foundation for the present-day poodle!
1. Barbet:
The Barbet is a French dog. It has a thick black curly coat. It has a great retrieval ability in the water. If you have a look at the modern poodle, you will believe that this French breed has a major contribution to the poodle bloodline.
2. Puli:
Secondly, the Puli is a herding breed found in Hungary (a country in central Europe). They have long, lumpy rolls of hair that resemble dreadlocks.
Poodle bloodlines were bred with Puli to make their coat dense and more waterproof.
Today’s poodle exhibits true evidence of the presence of these two breeds in the poodle bloodline. Poodles then deviate into two streams -herding dogs and retrievers.
Poodles may not be as much popular as other herding breeds but they are the second-highest intelligent dog breed worldwide. They are unique in all their behaviors.
Are All Poodles German?
Poodles are not bound to a geographical location. Yes! There are German poodles, Chinese poodles, and American poodles. The origin of poodles is so old that there are no shreds of evidence of German claim on this breed.
However, the poodle bloodline has been in Germany for centuries. They are renowned as the “puddle hounds” for retrieving the waterfowl.
They are known as “Caniche” or “Duck dogs”. All variants of poodles are alike when it comes to coats, types, and traits. However, they are available in a variety of colors and four different sizes.
Poodles were primarily recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887. There are breeding standards and guidelines formulated by AKC that are used around the world.
6 Most Common Characteristic Traits of the Poodle Family
Although poodles have a wide range of coats, colors, and sizes there is a variety of common personality traits that almost all poodles share.
Some traits are bred into them according to the need. Some are great working poodles and others make exceptionally good family dogs.
Below are some common qualities that modern-day poodles show!
1. Extreme Intelligence:
Poodles are very intelligent and this makes them easy to train. If you share a good bond with your poodle, you can easily do his behavior training.
However, high intellect sometimes makes them extremely naughty. Poodles are very smart when it comes to planning and taking independent actions.
2. Active and Friendly:
Poodle pups have unlimited energy. They are really fun companions to play with. They can be very fun or very annoying depending on what the owner perceives.
However, if you turn their energy into appropriate behavior, your poodle will share a great welcoming and productive bond with you.
3. Loyal and Protective:
Poodles were used as sentry dogs to guard military fittings. They are not like pure guarding breeds. But they have guarding genes and can protect life and property in danger. For guarding, standard poodles are a great choice.
4. Aggression:
Poodles adapt to their environment especially the behavior of people around them. Standard and medium poodles are not generally aggressive.
Miniature and toy poodles appear to be aggressive sometimes but it all depends on their upbringing and proper socialization. Many pups get spoiled at an early age due to a lack of training in these cute furballs.
5. Fondness for Jumping:
As poodles are highly energetic dogs, they have a quite annoying habit of jumping. You will never see a poodle sitting idle when it gets excited especially standard poodles. They can even jump over a fence easily.
6. Emotional Sensitivity:
Poodles are big attention seekers. It is very important to take care of your poodle and give him the proper attention and love that he deserves.
Their temperament varies from breeder to breeder. So, it is highly important to get a poodle from a well-reputed breeder.
Are All Poodles French? Final Thoughts:
No! poodles are not French. They originated in Germany in the early 18th century. As they traveled across Europe, they got very popular in France and today they are known as the national dogs in France.
It does not make them French at all. They are being standardized in France for a long time. Their bloodline contains a mix of the French breed Barbet and Puli.
They have dominant traits of both of these breeds and today they are available in a variety of colors, coat types, temperaments, and only in four sizes officially.
