Poodles do not shed and are hypoallergenic(poodles make wonderful pets for allergy sufferers. They actually do shed their hair as all dogs do, however the shed hair gets trapped in the dog's curly coat rather than all over your house, clothes, and in the air. This is the reason poodles need to brushed and/or groomed on a regular basis.) Poodles can use their paws like hands to grasp Poodles live an average of 12-15+ years with the proper preventative care and maintenance The denominations Standard, Miniature, and Toy are used to describe size only. All the Poodles are one breed, governed by the same standard. Poodles are the national dog of France Poodles are believed to have originated in Germany The Poodle is believed to have originated in Germany, where it is known as the "Pudel" or "Canis Familiaris Aquatius" The English word "poodle" comes from the German pudel or pudelin, meaning to splash in the water The poodle was originally bred to be a water dog -- retrieving game fowl or duck shot down by its owners. The Fur was originally cut in such a fashion as to aid mobility in the water but to keep joints and vital organs warm Poodles have been used in shows by Gypsies and traveling performers for centuries, in fact, they were court favorites during the reign of Louis XVI and Queen Anne. Truffle hunting has a history of being practiced in England, Spain and Germany, where the edible fungus has always been considered a delicacy. Smaller dogs were preferred for smelling and digging up the truffles, because they did not damage them with their feet as the larger ones did. The poodle is a descendant of the Truffle dog. It is believed that a poodle was bred with a terrier to create the ideal truffle hunter. The Poodle ranks number 2 in the top 10 ten smartest dog breeds in the world.
