In Defense of Poodles

Poodles get a bum rap!  Now I know the stereotypical Poodle is a small yappy little dog bouncing around, or sitting on its owner's lap, but I would like to explain a little of the breed.
Firstly they always score very highly on the list of intelligence in dogs.  Usually just behind Border Collies.  (The bottom in this group is usually the Afghan Hound!)  And it's true that they are very smart.
But they are also sporting dogs having been bred to hunt in water areas.  The name Poodle (Pudel) is actually German and means "splashing in water."
Poodles don't shed their coats which means regular visits to a dog groomer - we have a mobile service and Harvey comes once a month to do our two boys.  The cut that you see on show dogs does little to promote their sporty natures.  But it has a reason.  The blobs of fur around the hips and shoulders are to help with buoyancy, and to hold in some warmth in cold water.  We have ours clipped in the puppy cut which is smooth all over apart from the ears and the feet.  The one above has it's moustache but we prefer ours clean shaven.  It's all a matter of choice - our boys don't seem to care.  Finally if you see a Poodle clipped very short you will see it has a perfect frame; long legs, large chest and strong hips.  It will also likely be very friendly.