It is commonly understood that the Poodle is one of the most intelligent of all canines. Often the Poodle doesn't give their owner much trouble and provide their owner with a consistent companion that is interesting and responsive. The breed also has excellent talent and versatility, which gives them a high aptitude in learning.

Despite popular belief that the breed originated in France, the breed actually originated in Germany. The coat and form of the breed makes them closely related to the old water dog known as the Pudel. At one period the breed was trained to retrieve waterfowl but today the Poodle is no longer regarded as a sporting dog, although the eager fondness for water is still displayed on occasion.

Although no longer bred as a sporting dog the Poodle still has an eager fondness for water that is still displayed on occasion, as the breed was once trained to retrieve waterfowl. The history of the breed itself isn't the only thing to consider. There is a history behind the appearance of the standard poodle cut with the tufts of hair left on the thighs and around the feet.

The most famous aspect of the Poodle is their hair cut with the face, legs and body shaved, leaving tufts of hair on the thighs and rings of hair on the feet. The exact origin of this hair cut and custom is not known but this form of hair cut reduces the labor of daily grooming for the Poodle as a housedog, which means it is easy for the owner to maintain the coat in good condition so the dog can be pleasant in appearance and healthy.

Otherwise if the coat of this dog is not brushed constantly then it can twist up into little cords, which continue to grow in length. Eventually, a rope like cord will develop as the old and new hair growth entwine. If the cords are left untrimmed then eventually the coat can cause discomfort or lack of freedom in the animal's movements. This is why it is recommended to at least keep the coat of the Poodle cut short, although it isn't necessary to maintain the standard Poodle cut.

Throughout time when it comes to popularity the curly haired Poodle has seen the most advancement. With their smart and clean appearance the Poodle makes a very pleasant companion as long as they are brushed and combed regularly with the occasional washing. The Poodle is commonly found in black, white, brown and blue colored coats.

The white Poodle is considered the most intelligent and is often preferred by many professional trainers. The black Poodle is next when it comes to intelligences while the brown and blue Poodles are considered to be lacking in character. The curly coated Poodles have improved since the early 1900's and today many fine specimens of the breed can be found.

The toy poodle has also been gaining popularity recently. They are no more than fifteen inches of the shoulder and follow the same official standards as the full sized Poodle. Essentially they are to be a miniature version of the full-sized dog.