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Poodle

The poodle is a German water retriever, not a French invention — the name comes from Pudel, to splash.

France adopted it so thoroughly that it became the national breed, and the elaborate show clip descends from a working trim that left the joints and chest insulated while freeing the legs to swim.

It comes in standard, miniature and toy, which are one breed at three sizes rather than three breeds. The coat grows continuously and sheds very little, which is why the poodle sits behind almost every modern doodle cross. Poodles are also, by most measures used, among the most trainable dogs there are.

Origin
Germany, developed in France
Size
Standard 20–32 kg; miniature 7–8 kg; toy 2–3 kg
Lifespan
12–15 years, longer in the smaller sizes
Coat
Dense, curly, continuously growing, very low shedding
Temperament
Highly intelligent, alert, sensitive to tone
Grooming
Professional clip every 6–8 weeks

1 poodle photo, newest first

Poodle feed
  • Fifi, a poodle

    Fifi

    Fifi goes straight through the fountain, every time, in full coat.

    FrostyOtter · 5 days ago

Living with a poodle

Low shedding is not low maintenance. The coat never stops growing and mats close to the skin if it is not brushed through several times a week, on top of a professional clip every couple of months. Owners who skip the brushing between appointments find the groomer has no option but to shave.

The intelligence needs an outlet — poodles take to obedience, agility and scentwork and get inventive without them.

Standards are deep-chested and at real risk of bloat. Across the sizes, watch for progressive retinal atrophy, Addison's disease and luxating patellae in the smaller varieties. Sebaceous adenitis is a specifically poodle skin condition worth knowing about.

This is the breed the word hypoallergenic is attached to, and no dog is. The allergens are proteins in dander and saliva, not the hair itself, so a coat that holds onto shed hair spreads less of it around a house without the dog producing any less. That genuinely helps some allergic owners and is not the same as being safe for them — test it on the individual dog before deciding.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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