Editing Poodle (section)

== History ==
[[File:Wenceslas Hollar - A poodle, after Matham.jpg|thumb|right|A 17th-century engraving of a Poodle]]
Most cynologists believe the Poodle originated in Germany in the [[Middle Ages]], from a dog similar to today's Standard Poodle. The Poodle was Germany's [[water dog]], just as England had the [[English Water Spaniel]], France the [[Barbet (dog)|Barbet]], Ireland the [[Irish Water Spaniel]] and the Netherlands the [[Wetterhoun]].{{r|Alderton-87|Alderton-08|Fogle|Hancock|Morris}} Among the evidence used to support this theory is the Germanic name for the breed, Poodle or "Pudel" in German, which is derived from the [[Low German]] word "puddeln", meaning "to splash". Numerous works by various German artists from as early as the 17th century depict dogs of recognisably Poodle type.{{r|Alderton-87|Alderton-08|Fogle|Morris}} Some cynologists believe the Poodle originated in [[France]], where it is known as the "Caniche" and that the breed descends from the Barbet. This view is shared by the [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]] (FCI, International Canine Federation).{{r|FCI|Fiorone}} Others argue that the breed originated in [[Russia]], [[Piedmont]] or [[Northwest Africa]].{{r|Hancock|Fiorone}}

Whatever the Poodle's country of origin, both their German and French breed names indicate the modern Poodle's ancestors were widely used by waterfowlers both to retrieve shot game and to recover lost [[arrow]]s and [[Crossbow bolt|bolts]] that had missed their mark.{{r|Fogle|Hancock}}

=== Size variants {{anchor|Size varieties}} ===
Due to their intelligence, obedient nature, athleticism and looks poodles were frequently employed in circuses, particularly in France.{{r|Alderton-08|Fogle|Morris|Fiorone}} In French circuses poodles were selectively bred down in size to create what is now known as the miniature poodle, which was known as the toy poodle until 1907, as a smaller sized dog is easier to handle and transport in a travelling circus.{{r|Morris}} As circus performers the variety was frequently seen performing all manner of tricks including walking tightropes, acting out comedies and even performing magic and card tricks.{{r|Alderton-08|Fogle|Morris}}

The Toy Poodle was created at the beginning of the 20th century when breeders again bred Miniature Poodles down in size to create a popular companion dog.{{r|Alderton-08|Fogle|Morris}} Initially, these efforts resulted in disfigured or misshapen pups, as well as pups with behavioural problems, as a result of irresponsible breeding for dwarfed size only. As new breeding practices were adopted, the variety became set as a toy-sized replica of the original.{{r|Alderton-08|Fogle|Morris}} Later attempts to create an even smaller variety, the Teacup Poodle, were unable to overcome serious genetic abnormalities and were abandoned.{{r|Morris}}

The last of the Poodle varieties to be recognised was the Medium Poodle, which in size is mid way in between the Standard and the Miniature Poodle. Not universally recognised by the world's [[kennel club]]s, the Medium Poodle is recognised by the FCI and most Continental European kennel clubs.{{r|Fogle|Morris|FCI}} One of the reasons for creating this fourth size variety may have been a desire to reduce the number of entries of Poodles by variety at [[conformation show]]s.{{r|Morris}}

=== Recent history ===
The Poodle was recognised by the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom in 1874, and by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1886, soon after the founding of both clubs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Pedersen |first1=N. C. |last2=Liu |first2=H. |last3=McLaughlin |first3=B. |last4=Sacks |first4=B. N. |date=2012-04-18 |title=Genetic characterization of healthy and sebaceous adenitis affected Standard Poodles from the United States and the United Kingdom |journal=Tissue Antigens |volume=80 |issue=1 |pages=46–57 |doi=10.1111/j.1399-0039.2012.01876.x |pmid=22512808 |issn=0001-2815|doi-access=free }}</ref> In the United States, poodles were unpopular until 1935, when the Poodle Nunsoe Duc de la Terrace won best in show at [[Westminster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/hayes-blake-hoyt-poodle-breeder-handler-and-icon/ |accessdate=31 January 2023 |title=Madame Poodle: Hayes Blake Hoyt Helped Create the Modern Sculpted Show Dog |publisher=American Kennel Club |first=Denise |last=Flaim |date=15 October 2019}}</ref> Afterwards, they rapidly gained prominence, becoming the AKC's most registered breed from 1960 to 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=popular_pooches |title = AKC Registration Statistics Fact Sheet |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110413210331/http://www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=popular_pooches |archive-date = April 13, 2011}}</ref> Since 1935, Poodles have won best in show at Westminster 10 times, the second-most of any breed.<ref name="Flaim">{{Cite web |first=Denise |last=Flaim |title=The Poodle Paradox: History Behind a Haircut |url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/the-poodle-paradox-historical-haircut/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=American Kennel Club |language=en}}</ref> As of 2012, the Poodle was the third-most popular FCI registered breed worldwide, after the [[Labrador Retriever]] and [[German Shepherd]], with 118,653 new dogs registered per year from the 25 countries surveyed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Registration figures worldwide – from top thirty to endangered breeds|url=https://dogwellnet.com/content/population-statistics/general-breeds-specific-disease-inform/information-on-breeding-animals/registries-health-information/registration-figures-worldwide-%E2%80%93-from-top-thirty-to-endangered-breeds-r292/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=DogWellNet|date=14 April 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=17 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617080200/https://dogwellnet.com/content/population-statistics/general-breeds-specific-disease-inform/information-on-breeding-animals/registries-health-information/registration-figures-worldwide-%E2%80%93-from-top-thirty-to-endangered-breeds-r292/|url-status=live}}</ref>