The Poodle (German: Pudel, French: Caniche) is a domestic dog breed of German origin.
It was originally bred in Germany for water retrieving, similar to today's Labrador retriever. It is now mostly a companion dog, though there is now a resurgence of the Standard Poodle being used as a retriever in hunting waterfowl, such as ducks. It is recognized in the
There are three sizes of poodles: Standard, the original breed, ranging from 15-24 inches high, Miniature, ranging from 11-15 inches high, and the Toy, ranging from 8-10 inches high. The Standard and Miniature Poodles are placed in the Non-Sporting Group of the AKC, and the Toy Poodle is placed in the Toy Group.
Poodles have a curly, single-layer coat that does not shed, making them suitable for people who are allergic to dogs. They are renowned for their intelligence, being able to know all sorts of tricks. They are the second smartest dog breed (by debatable standards), after Border Collies, even before German Shepherds in 3rd place.