Intelligence, ease of care, and other advantages are the strengths of poodles

Many years ago, when talking about commonly seen pet dogs in the country, many might have thought of Pomeranians. However, today the most common pet dog in the country is undoubtedly the poodle. The popularity of poodles is not without reason. Ease of care, high intelligence, easy training, and cuteness are all factors behind their popularity.

Poodles, originating from Germany, are a breed combining intelligence and elegant temperament. However, imposing elegance on poodles is actually unfair to them. Poodles were originally used as retrievers for duck hunting. Their strong swimming ability earned poodles their name.

So how did the poodle’s appearance come about? Because poodles shed very little naturally, they require regular trimming to facilitate their work. To allow poodles to work more easily in water, the hair on the lower half of their body was shaved off; the hair on the chest was retained to keep the poodle’s vital organs warm in the water. Shaving the hair around the nose and eyes helped the poodle catch ducks and truffles better. As for tying up the hair on the top of the head, it was to prevent the fur from blocking the eyes. Thus, the poodle acquired this unique hairstyle in the dog world.

However, after poodles were introduced to France, the naturally romantic French people used their vivid imagination to combine human pursuit of hairstyles and beauty with poodles. This grooming craze quickly swept through the French empire, becoming a tool for the upper class to flaunt wealth and distinguish themselves.

Although giant poodles, due to their greater strength, are more suitable for hunting, all three types of poodles (giant, standard, and miniature) have high intelligence and quick learning abilities. Nowadays, poodles are far more than just court pets from the era of Louis XVI; thanks to their outstanding looks, clever physique, and infinitely customizable hair, poodles have left France and entered countless homes. The nickname "Teddy Dog" has become more popular, accompanied by more accessible grooming styles.

The new grooming style for poodles has clearly shifted focus to the head. Our aesthetic preference more easily accepts the teddy bear look, so most poodles seen domestically are in teddy bear styling, while rarely do we see poodles styled as elegant ladies.

Besides their adorable appearance, their high intelligence is also an important reason many people choose poodles. In dog intelligence rankings, poodles rank second, proving their excellent learning ability.