Modern
dogs are a poor copy of their sturdier ancestors, and many an
animal that was once in the forefront of the chase has now been
turned by the breeders into a wretched specimen which can hardly
hold a sugared biscuit in its mouth without dropping it.
(Philip Warner, Historian.)
This site is about a strain of Poodle that has avoided the
worst idiosyncrasies of the breeders.
Real Standard Poodles are still used as healthy working dogs as well as companions.
Here you can find out about real poodles and the History of the breed, also some of the facts about showing poodles, poodle health and poodles as working dogs.
You can also find information about our dogs, including the Next Litter, the Last Litter and Previous Litters. You can read some Testimonials and see our Photo Gallery.
If you are interested in owning a real poodle puppy, you can find some Practical Information, including Buying a Puppy from us, our Terms & Conditions, some facts about Import / Export, also How to Find Us and how to Contact us.
In the meanwhile, here are ...
... Twelve Things You Didn't Know About Standard Poodles
- Standard Poodles were originally water retrievers. They are still good swimmers like their ancestors, and even have webbed feet. The name poodle is closely related to the English word puddle.
- Standard Poodles make excellent working dogs. As well as outstanding companions and pets, and of course water retrievers, they make superb police dogs, watch dogs, sheep dogs, guide dogs for the blind, hospital therapy dogs, truffle hounds and circus performers.
- Bas-reliefs dating from the first century found along the shores of the Mediterranean portray the Poodle much as it is today.
- Poodles are highly intelligent dogs, possibly the most intelligent of all canine breeds and certainly within the top three.
- Poodles do not moult. For this reason do not affect many allergy sufferers as other dogs do.
- The distinctive cuts associated with poodles are a vestige of their original reprieving roles. They were developed to lighten the dogs' coats and improve their swimming ability, with balls of hair left protect their joints and vital organs from the cold in winter. Even the coloured ribbons in poodles' topknots had a practical function - allowing hunters to identify their own dogs at a distance in the water.
- Different areas favoured different cuts, for example Northern European nations use cuts with the fur left on the entire leg for warmth in snow.
- In all probability, the breed originated in Germany or possibly in Russia.
- The poodle is known as "Puddeln" or "Pudel" in German, meaning a water dog or one that likes splashing in water. In France, the Poodle is known as the "Caniche" or Duck Dog, from its role retrieving duck. A Standard Poodle is a "Caniche Royale"
- Poodles are never parti-coloured. They are generally black, white, apricot, gray, chocolate, or cream (Apricot or champaigne)
- A favourite subject of artists for centuries, the Poodle probably appears in more works of art than any other dog.
- All of the different sizes of the Poodle are considered to be one breed, from the most useless lap dog to the largest working Standard Poodle. The words Standard, Miniature, and Toy are used to denotes size only, not the breed. The Standard Poodle is the oldest of the three varieties, which is why it is still referred to as Standard. (the lap dogs incidentally were bred down from the Standard over the centuries first by misguided ladies of the French Court, then by misguided kennel clubs)
