The Poodle has been known as one of the most intelligent of all canine breeds. The Poodle provides their owners with a consistent companion that is interesting and responsive without giving their owner much trouble. The breed also has a high aptitude for learning because of their excellent talent and versatility.
The breed actually originated in Germany, despite the popular belief that the breed originated in France. The breed is closely related to the old water dog known as the Pudel especially when it comes to the coat and body form. Although no longer bred as a sporting dog the Poodle still has an eager fondness for water that is still displayed on occasion, as the breed was once trained to retrieve waterfowl. The history of the breed itself isn't the only thing to consider. There is a history behind the appearance of the standard poodle cut with the tufts of hair left on the thighs and around the feet.
The most famous aspect of the Poodle is their hair cut with the face, legs and body shaved, leaving tufts of hair on the thighs and rings of hair on the feet. The exact origin of this hair cut and custom is not known but this form of hair cut reduces the labor of daily grooming for the Poodle as a housedog, which means it is easy for the owner to maintain the coat in good condition so the dog can be pleasant in appearance and healthy.

Otherwise if the coat of this dog is not brushed constantly then it can twist up into little cords, which continue to grow in length. Eventually, a rope like cord will develop as the old and new hair growth entwine. If the cords are left untrimmed then eventually the coat can cause discomfort or lack of freedom in the animal's movements. This is why it is recommended to at least keep the coat of the Poodle cut short, although it isn't necessary to maintain the standard Poodle cut.
Throughout the history of the breed, the curly haired Poodle has advanced the most in popularity. This coat allows the Poodle to remain smart and clean which makes them a pleasant companion as long as they are regularly brushed and combed with the occasional washing. The most common colors for the Poodle include black, white, brown and blue.

The most intelligent is considered the white Poodle and many professional trainers prefer this color. Next in the order of intelligence is the black Poodle and the brown and blue Poodles are generally considered to be lacking in character. Since the early 1900's the curly coated Poodles have improved and today many fine specimens of the breed can be found. Also gaining in popularity recently has been the toy poodle. These dogs are no more than fifteen inches in height at the shoulder and should look exactly like a miniature version of the full-sized dog, following the same official standards as the full sized Poodle.

The Poodle has a long and rich history. Knowing Poodle information can help you to see why they are such a popular breed.