Poodles are divided into three different varieties, standard, miniature, and toy. The American Kennel Club, a leading authority on dog breeds, outlines varieties by size. Standard Poodles should be over 15 inches tall at the highest points on their shoulders. Miniature Poodles are defined as 15 inches or less at the highest point of the shoulders and more than 10 inches. Toy poodles should be 10 inches or less at the highest point on their shoulders.

The standard poodle was the first variety of this breed of dog. It was bred to retrieve waterfowl for hunters. The name “poodle” was probably derived from the German “pudelin”, which means to splash in water.

Many people think of the poodle cut as something invented to make spoiled small dogs look cute, but it was actually invented for the standard poodle in its original work as a water retriever. The rear coat was clipped to allow the dog to swim better, while the chest hairs were left intact to protect its vital organs in cold water. The pom pom on the tail and the bow on the head were used to help hunters find and identify their dogs in the water.

The standard poodle’s size has made it useful in many other capacities as well. Poodles have been trained as guide dogs, army dogs, watchdogs, wagon dogs, and even sled dogs. It is said that Prince Rupert of the Rhine, a cousin of Charles I of England, had a white standard poodle named Boy, whom he took into his home. battle with him, and that he died in 1644 at the Battle of Marston Moor. The Emperor Napoleon mentioned in his memoirs a standard poodle that died at the Battle of Marengo. During World War II, in the United States, standard poodles were used to protect defense plants, military installations, and coastlines. Because they are hypoallergenic, poodles make good guide dogs for blind people with allergies. In 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, dog sled teams made up in part of poodles ran the Iditarod race in Alaska and finished the long and grueling journey across the ice.

Miniature and toy poodles were bred during the Renaissance, when European nobility wanted small dogs as companions. People carried small poodles in their sleeves during cold weather. To this day, toy and miniature poodles are considered companion dogs, often carried in purses or purses. Smaller poodles have been used to find a species of fungus called truffles, because they would disturb the soil less than their larger cousins. The little poodles were trained by gypsies to perform tricks and were used in vaudeville and circuses.

In February, a male toy poodle named Walker won the toy dog ​​division at the Westminster Dog Show, beating a Pekingese, a Shih-tzu and a Papillon. Walker was the winningest toy dog ​​in the country last year, winning more than 30 awards for best in shows.

Two sizes of poodles not recognized by the AKC are the Klein and teacup poodles. The Klein is between standard and miniature in size, measuring 15 to 20 inches at the top of the shoulder. Kleins, or the media as they are called in France, are generally kept as pets in American homes, as they cannot compete in AKC shows. Teacup poodles are the smallest, at only nine inches at the top of the shoulder or smaller. They usually weigh only six pounds or less.

Regardless of their size, Poodles are known to be one of the most intelligent and trainable dog breeds. If you buy a poodle, socialize him well and train him early to have a happy, well-adjusted companion.