One of the Poodle's ancestors is thought to be the North African Barbet which was imported to the Iberian Peninsula. From there it arrived in Gaul where it was used for its hunting abilities in the water. Toy Poodles were very popular in England as a sleeve dog. All of the different sizes of the Poodle are considered to be one breed. This is an elegant looking breed with a sense of humor.
Poodles are loyal, gentle, obedient, and good with children.
It is the oldest of the three varieties and was traditionally used as a water retriever. It is closely related to the Portuguese Water Dog and the Irish Spaniel. The Miniature Poodle is probably the best known and the most numerous of the three sizes. He is full of fun, easy to train, and a great circus performer. Because of his keen sense of smell, he was used to search out truffles during winter months.