History

A 17th-century engraving of a poodle
Poodles are retrievers or gun dogs, and can still be seen in that role. The breed's English name has German origins[2]. (The name poodle comes from the German word short for pudelhund or, reflecting the breed's development from a water dog; the word pudel is related to the English word puddle.) However, most sources concur that the French are responsible for developing the modern breed into its current form, and developing the different sizes. The French name for the poodle is caniche, referring to ducks and the poodles' water dog origins.