DEAR PET TALK: Today is Bastille Day. Apart from French poodles, are there any other dogs that are considered “Francais”?
— FRANCOPHILE ANIMAL LOVER
DEAR FRANCOPHILE ANIMAL LOVER: Mais oui! The “Frenchie” (French bulldog) has been the #1 dog for American Kennel Club, and France has also developed their own water dogs and mastiffs.
And did you know the basset hound began in France?
However, the top dog has to be the French poodle is widely recognized as a very intelligent dog and during the final years of King Louis XVI’s reign in France, became
the national dog breed, which it is to this day.
And dog groomers take note: poodles were cared for hundreds of years ago. Because they have hair, which grows continuously, they need clipping and cutting regularly. The standard “poodle cut” (shaved coat except for topknot, jacket, anklets, tail pompon) was developed in this era.
Standard poodle colors are quite varied, compared to other breeds of dogs. These include black, white, apricot, sable, blue, silver, grey, brown, and red. The United Poodle Association also recognizes color patterns in the coat. Surely the height of elegance is the parti-colored poodle with “tuxedo” markings!
Standard poodles were, historians believe, bred into the mini and toy versions. In fact, some poodles were treasured as “sleeve dogs,” tucked inside your clothing to keep you warm in a cold castle!
Once the aristocrats were (mostly) removed from France poodles became popular pets for the circus, and some even had pom poms clipped to their coats to resemble clowns. They remain instantly recognizable and very popular dogs. From 2021 to 2024 they were in the top-five list of most popular breeds in the US, according to American Kennel Club (and were replaced in 2025 by the Dachshund, which definitely seems unfair).
But if you go a few hundred years, the poodle in France originated in Germany! They were “pudel” (“to splash in water”) dogs renowned for retrieving waterfowl. It was thought that German soldiers brought them over as tracking dogs.
Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Text questions to 978-320-1335.
Original article
Comments