THE JOB
A water retriever
Britannica says the poodle was developed as a water retriever. Smaller poodles were also used to find truffles, according to Dogs NSW.
Where the name comes fromStart
WHAT THE BREED RECORDS SAY
Before the pompoms,
a water dog.
The poodle was built to fetch from water.
Developed as a water retriever in Germany, Russia and France between the 16th and 19th centuries, the poodle now comes in three sizes. Its dense coat and famous clip both started as working gear.
PUDELto splash about
Compare the sizesKeep in mind
- Bred to retrieve from water
- Three sizes, one breed
- A coat that keeps growing
- Working roots, glamorous reputation
THE SHORT ANSWER
A working dog
in a fancy coat.
The look came from the job.
The job was fetching from water.
THE SIZES
Toy, miniature, standard
One breed in three sizes, split by shoulder height: under 28 cm, 28 to 38 cm, and 38 cm or more.
Compare the sizes
THE COAT
Grooming is part of it
Dogs NSW says a pet poodle needs weekly brushing and a professional clip about every six weeks. Horse & Hound advises daily brushing to prevent matting.
Coat careA QUICK SIZE CHECK
Which poodle
is which?
Pick a size to see how the breed standard divides them. The bar shows relative size.
Heights are measured at the highest point of the shoulder. Size categories follow the breed standard as published by Dogs NSW.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
One line,
one routine.
One figure that divides the sizes,
one on how often the coat needs a professional.
38 cm
Shoulder height where standard begins
A standard poodle must be 38 cm or more at the shoulder. Below that is the miniature, down to 28 cm, and below 28 cm is the toy.
SIZE LINE · BREED STANDARD
≈ 6 weeks
Professional bath, nail trim and clip
Dogs NSW says pet poodles need a professional bath, ear clean, nail trim and coat clip about every six weeks, with weekly brushing at home.
GROOMING · DOGS NSW
Show poodles need much more: Dogs NSW says weekly baths and expert trimming from an early age, especially through the coat change at 10 to 18 months.
THREE PARTS OF COAT CARE
A coat that
needs a routine.
The poodle's dense coat was useful in water, but it needs regular attention at home. Breed bodies describe a simple rhythm.
Step 1
Brush often
Dogs NSW suggests weekly brushing; Horse & Hound says daily brushing helps prevent matting.
Step 2
Check eyes, ears and feet
Dogs NSW recommends a daily check of the eyes and feet, and weekly ear cleaning.
Step 3
Book the groomer
Plan a professional bath, nail trim and clip about every six weeks for a pet poodle.
THE NAME AND THE CLIP
Splashing about,
dressed for it.
Horse & Hound says the name comes from the German pudelhund, from pudel, meaning to splash about in old German, the same root as the English word puddle. Britannica notes it is thought to have originated in Germany but is widely associated with France.
The famous clip had a purpose too. Horse & Hound explains that clipped hindquarters helped poodles swim, while the pompoms gave them protection from the cold. Dogs NSW describes the coat as dense and of harsh texture for water retrieving.
Questions
Questions on the way
Where do poodles come from?
Britannica says the poodle is thought to have originated in Germany but is widely associated with France. Dogs NSW says it was developed as a water retriever in Germany, Russia and France from the 16th to 19th centuries.
Are toy, miniature and standard poodles different breeds?
They are one breed in three sizes, divided by height at the shoulder: under 28 cm for a toy, 28 to 38 cm for a miniature, and 38 cm or more for a standard.
Is a doodle the same as a poodle?
No. Doodle names belong to poodle crosses. Dictionary.com defines a Labradoodle as a dog crossbred from a Labrador retriever and a poodle, and a goldendoodle as one crossbred from a golden retriever and a poodle, a name formed by analogy with Labradoodle. The sizes and breed standard on this page are for the poodle itself.
Why are poodles clipped with pompoms?
Horse & Hound says clipped hindquarters helped working poodles swim and the pompoms gave protection from the cold.
How much exercise does a standard poodle need?
Dogs NSW lists around 40 minutes a day for the standard; Horse & Hound says up to an hour a day. Dogs NSW adds that formal exercise should not be overdone with young poodles.
Are poodles clever?
Britannica says the poodle is often ranked as one of the most intelligent of all breeds, and Dogs NSW describes it as very intelligent and easily trained.
Destination
Where the facts come from
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Poodle
- Dogs NSW: Poodle (Standard)
- Dogs NSW: Poodle (Toy)
- Horse & Hound: All about the poodle, breed profile
- Dictionary.com: Labradoodle
- Dictionary.com: goldendoodle
What changed
- : Added an FAQ explaining that doodles are poodle crosses, not poodles, with dictionary definitions of the Labradoodle and goldendoodle. New sources: Dictionary.com entries for Labradoodle and goldendoodle.
Updated