Poodle Facts: 10 Interesting Things You Didn't Know

Poodle Facts. 10 Incredible Facts You Didn't Know Everyone knows about the poodle, but there's more to these dogs than you know. Like, did you know that these dogs were once used as war dogs? Or that there's actually a fourth size variation of the poodle? Interested in knowing how we know poodles were alive during ancient Rome? Well, stick around. Today, we're counting down the 10 little-known facts about the poodle. And that all starts right now on The Smart Canine. The only show that explores the most interesting stories and facts behind dogs. But before we dive in, hit that subscribe button and notification bell for more dog stories and facts like this. 10. Poodles Are One Of The Most Ancient Dog Breeds Humans have domesticated dogs for tens of thousands of years. We know this through archaeological records and genetic analysis of ancient dogs buried next to their humans. And according to scientists and historians, poodles were one of the first dog breeds that humans ever recorded in existence. The very first depictions of poodles can be traced back to ancient Rome, thousands of years ago. Not only were these dogs frequently featured on ancient Roman artifacts and the Republic's coins, but Romans also carved poodle-like dogs on their tombs. Even in ancient Greece, which goes back even further, poodles were even featured on their currency coins. But despite the overwhelming evidence that suggests the long history of poodles, historians can't seem to agree if these ancient dogs died out or evolved into the modern poodles that we know today. 9. There Are Actually Four Size Variations Of The Poodle And Not Just Three Everybody knows about the three most popular poodle sizes, the toy, miniature, and standard poodle. But did you know there's actually a fourth size variation? They're called the Moyen poodles in France. But the rest of Europe refers to this size variation as clines. The Moyen size falls in between the miniature and standard poodle. However, despite popular belief, the size was not developed by crossbreeding the two varieties. The smallest toy poodle is roughly 10 inches or under at the shoulders. The standard poodle can range anywhere from 25 to 30 inches tall, whereas the miniature poodle is around 15 inches tall. However, Moyen poodles stand in the middle at roughly 17 to 20 inches tall. And while most kennel clubs, such as the American Kennel Club, don't recognize this fourth size, the FCI does. 8. Poodles Are The Second Most Intelligent Dog Breed Ever wonder why poodles are so easy to train? Well, it's because they're wicked smart. In fact, they're the second smartest dog breed in the world. Only second to the Border Collie. But how did we measure the smartest dog breeds? In the 1990s, a canine psychologist named Stanley Coren set up a North American obedience trial in an attempt to measure dog intelligence. His criteria measured how quickly a dog can learn a new command and how well they retained their obedience training. In the poodle's case, they were able to learn a new command with fewer than five repetitions. Plus, the poodle's success rate of obeying a known command on the first try was 95% or better. Not only are poodles some of the quickest learners in the canine kingdom, but they're also some of the most obedient animals in the world. 7. Poodles Are Natural Swimmers Some dogs naturally sink when swimming in water, such as the bulldog, pug, or boxer. These types of dogs have a naturally short face. That is, they have a short nose with a flat face, making it difficult to stay afloat, while keeping their heads up for air. However, this isn't the case with the poodle. In fact, poodles were actually bred to swim. It's in their job description. Like the Labrador, a golden retriever, poodles are some of the best water retrievers that retrieve ducks, geese, or other waterfowl. When hunters shoot down game, they send their poodles in to the lake to bring them back. This way, they don't have to take a boat out just to bring back a duck. There are even physical traits that suggest poodles were made to swim. For example, poodles have webbed feet that act as a paddle for better efficiency when moving through water. Poodles also have a water-resistant coat that keeps vital organs dry when they're in the water. So, if the poodle can't help but jump into the water, let him do it. It's just their natural instincts kicking in. 6. The Poodle's Iconic Coat Cut Has a Functional Purpose Poodles are known for many things, though none as prominent as their classic poodle-cut hairdo with extra flop around the ankles, tail, body, and head. Thanks to this cut, it makes them one of the most easily recognizable dog breeds. But believe it or not, there's more to this hairdo than just good looks for dog shows. Poodles are great retrievers that spend most of their time on the job retrieving waterfowl. The lakes and swamps they retrieve from are freezing cold, especially during autumn and winter. So, since they spend a lot of time in the cold water, poodles needed an extra layer of protection. Having too much fur on the coat could easily drag them down, so instead, hunters had to strategically trim their hair. Thus, the poodle's signature cut was born. Having extra fluff only in certain areas of the body would prevent wet fur from weighing them down, but also offering extra protection to vital areas. From there, several variations of the poodle's classic cut were born, including the lion's cut, English saddle cut, Dutch cut, and many, many more. 5. The poodle is the mascot of an African-American sorority The first African-American sorority, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, was established in 1908 at the campus of Howard University. They make up just one of four African-American sororities in America, though only one of them has the poodle as their mascot, the Sigma Gamma Rho. They are an iconic establishment that's had an impressive legacy in both the Greek and African-American communities. But what's really interesting is that they chose the toy poodle as their sorority mascot. From the sorority website, they wrote, The French toy poodle and the yellow tea rose truly represent all the unique qualities that form the sister of and in Sigma. The poodle, like the Sigma woman, has the potential to excel at anything that she puts her mind to. Everything they mentioned is true about the poodle. It's no wonder they pick one of the greatest dog breeds as their sorority mascot. 4. Some of the world's biggest celebrities had poodles Often called a man's best friend, dogs have become the best companions for all types of families and people around the globe. Celebrities are no exception. In fact, some of the biggest and brightest stars owned poodles of all variations. For instance, the mother of all contemporary pop divas, Barbra Streisand, famously owned a poodle in her early days as a multi-platinum artist. Even the legendary Elvis Presley, along with his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, owned a toy poodle named Honey. John F. Kennedy also had a standard poodle named Wally. And while he initially belonged to the First Lady, Wally eventually moved into the White House and was joined by several other dogs. In fact, JFK had so many dogs that he built a special dog park just outside the West Wing so that they could play with the kids. Other famous celebrities that owned poodles include Bob Hope, Rihanna, Marilyn Monroe, Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso, and many more. 3. The poodle is the national dog breed of France despite originating from Germany As we've already discussed, the origins of the poodle is a murky one. We actually don't know for certain where their ancestors came from. Even so, most historians point to Germany as the birthplace of these curly dirty dogs. Well, at least with the modern poodles we know. This may be a bit confusing as the term French poodle is so widely used, but that is, in fact, a misnomer. The proof is in the name. The poodle name actually comes from the German word pudel or pudelen, which when directly translated to English means to splash in the water. Since poodles are water dogs, this name of German heritage makes perfect sense. But despite this, both the French and Germans still dispute about the true origins of the poodle till this day. The French have even gone as far as recognizing the poodle as the official national dog breed of the country. 2. Winston Churchill was obsessed with poodles Not only was Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, but he famously led Britain to victory in the Second World War. These are the facts well-documented in the history books. But did you know Winston Churchill was also a poodle man? Churchill's first miniature poodle named Rufus died after a car accident in 1947. Shortly after, he was given yet another miniature poodle, who he named Rufus II. This second Rufus was treated like royalty. Not only did he eat off a cloth laid on a Persian rug, but he was also served his meals even before Churchill was, and by a butler no less. And on Churchill's 79th birthday, his cake featured a sugar version of Rufus that sat on top of the cake. 1. Poodles were used as war dogs When you think war dog, some of the most popular military dog breeds come to mind, such as the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Doberman Pinscher, and Giant Schnauzer. But did you know that the poodles participated in several wars? Well, it's true. In the 17th century, Prince Rupert of the Rhine owned a poodle named Boy. The poodle was his loyal companion, but also served as a war dog during the English Civil War of 1642. And even when Prince Rupert was captured as a prisoner of war, Boy stood by his side while held in captivity. Boy had such a high reputation that people insisted the poodle had all sorts of magical powers. However, on an ill-fated night, the war dog was eventually killed during the Battle of Marston War, leading most historians to believe that Boy was the first ever British army dog. And then there's the beloved black poodle named Mustache, who not only acted as the mascot of the French Grenadiers, but also saved the troop from a snake attack one night by Austrian forces. And finally, there's the Poodle Brigade that served in Napoleon's army during the Napoleonic Wars. So what was your favorite poodle fact? Were there any interesting facts that we missed? Let us know in the comment section below! And if you enjoyed this video, consider giving it a thumbs up and subscribing to The Smart Canine for the most interesting stories and facts behind dogs.