I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.
Rita Rudner
Oodles of poodles touch the hearts of countless thousands of dog owners.
The poodle is elegant and perky, well-proportioned, and squarely built.
He carries himself proudly, with an air of distinction and dignity and a springy gait.
Whether he be small, medium or large, the Poodle can steal your heart and steal the
show.
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10.
Don’t judge a book by its cover — Poodles might look like frou-frou pups, but they were
actually bred bred to hunt.
Poodles hail from Germany, where they were called pudel, which is German for “puddle.”
While poodles today have connotations of wealth and luxury, they were bred to work.
The athletic dogs are excellent swimmers and were used by hunters to retrieve ducks and
other birds from the water.
They have a “soft mouth,” so they can gently pick up wounded or dead game without
damaging it.
In France, the dogs were called caniche, or “duck dog.”
9.
In 1988, a musher named John Suter entered THE IDITAROD DOG SLED RACE with an all-poodle
sled team.
Unsurprisingly, they didn't do so well: Thanks to matted fur and cold paws, many of the dogs
had to be dropped off at checkpoints.
This struggle led to a new rule that dictated only northern breeds like Siberian huskies
and Alaskan malamutes are allowed to race.
This measure ensures the safety of breeds that aren’t cut out for the extreme cold.
In 2010, a California woman wrote a children’s book inspired by his story.
It’s called “Sled Dog Poodles.”
8.
Unlike dogs that shed, the poodle will grow fur continuously.
As a result, they need regular grooming.
If left ungroomed, their fur will become matted and dreadlock-like.
On the upside, they’re hypoallergenic and generally odorless.
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7.
Elvis loved dogs and had quite a collection at Graceland.
When he was stationed in Germany, he had a poodle named Champagne.
He also gave away many poodles to the women he loved: A toy poodle named "Little Bit"
went to a girlfriend, and he gave a poodle named "Honey" to his wife Priscilla.
6.
An awe inspiring story of intelligence among this breed lies with the teacup Poodle, Nala.
Although never trained to operate an elevator, Nala somehow figured it out on her own and
uses it to visit the residents at a local nursing home, where her owner works.
The small dog can navigate the hallways all by herself and bring comfort to those around
her.
"She'd rather ride it alone than with people, because she knows where she's going," her
owner said.
"If she could, she would push the button herself."
5.
The Poodle, for all it’s fashionista traits and trends, is actually hiding the brain of
a geek.
Dog geek, that is.
In fact, the Poodle is one of the smartest dog breeds.
They’re also loving, nice to strangers (as long as you keep an eye on them) and have
a great sense of humor.
All in all, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better game show contestant.
4.
Poodle enthusiasts make artwork out of their pups!
This creative grooming turns Poodles into everything from Lady Gaga to the cast of Madagascar.
Poodles are the new black.
The iconic grooming pattern of the Poodle is one that is either loved or laughed at.
But it isn’t just for fancy looks.
These haircuts originated to avoid having wet fur weigh the dogs down while still offering
protection to vital areas from freezing marsh water.
3.
While their ancestry might not be completely certain, it IS certain that Poodles are an
extremely ancient breed.
Illustrations of Poodle-like dogs have been found on Egyptian and Roman artifacts and
tombs dating back to the first centuries B.C.
2.
Poodles were the most popular breed in the US for 20 years starting in the mid-1950s.
However, it wasn’t until after World War II that the Poodle became popular in the U.S.
Before then, they were fairly rare.
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1.
In England, Spain, France and Germany, truffle mushrooms were considered a delicacy, and
Poodles were the ideal dog to sniff them out.
Their soft mouths and small paws were gentle enough not to damage the mushrooms.
Owners would begin training Poodle puppies and their excellent noses to hunt mushrooms
as early as 4 months old!
Well there ya have it, ten show-worthy facts about the elegant, but sporty, Poodle.
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