# Why are they called "French" Poodles? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343 "2003-03-31T02:10:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/1 "2003-03-31T02:10:41Z")
Mrs. Plant says they are Poodles. Standard, miniature and toy, but poodles. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/2 "2003-03-31T02:16:47Z")
Right. They should be called Freedom Poodles. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/3 "2003-03-31T02:19:57Z")
Everyone’s a comedian… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/4 "2003-03-31T02:29:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Right. They should be called Freedom Poodles. 😃 \*\* Hey I own a poodle I kinda like that.😉 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/5 "2003-03-31T16:31:59Z")
I think it’s cause when you kiss them they use their tongue? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/6 "2003-03-31T16:36:46Z")
I dunno. They have _really, really, really_ bad breath. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/7 "2003-03-31T16:43:25Z")
[Information on Poodles.](http://www.petswarehouse.com/breeds/poodle.htm) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/8 "2003-03-31T16:45:21Z")
They were originally bred by French aristocrats for use as hunting dogs (the standards, not the minis or toys). They were bred for hunting waterfowl in wintertime. That poofy fur of theirs is water-resistant, and many poodles haved webbed toes. I have heard that the traditional “poodle cut” was intended to leave their legs free for swimming while still keeping their bodies warm. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/9 "2003-03-31T16:46:17Z")
Thanks, Q.E.D. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/10 "2003-03-31T16:54:18Z")
[total hijack] > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*[Information on Poodles.](http://www.petswarehouse.com/breeds/poodle.htm) \*\* Ha, that link says they’re “calm” in temperament. My poodle has to be the most hyperactive dog ever. But then again, we had another poodle before our current one, and she was as calm as could be. I’m guessing their personalities vary as much as humans’. [/total hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/11 "2003-04-01T02:03:21Z")
Actually, **mbh** , they were originally bred by Germans/Deutsch, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/12 "2003-04-01T20:31:12Z")
From \*\* Q.E.D.\*\*'s site: > [@](#): > > . . . . the ancestry of the Poodle remains a mystery, . . . . the breed name probably stems from the German word “pudel,” which means to splash in the water and describes the dogs’ affinity for water activity and skill at aquatic retrieval. Many dog enthusiasts agree that **the modern breed emerged in France** (boldface mine–mbh), where it performed in circuses and worked as a duck retriever. The Poodle is still known as the national dog in France and is sometimes called the “French Poodle.” ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/13 "2003-04-01T23:31:34Z")
"My poodle has to be the most hyperactive dog ever. " Ours is that way too when she gets clipped, but when her hair is long, she is really pretty calm, must be too hot? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/14 "2003-04-01T23:44:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kat \* > \*\*Actually, **mbh** , they were originally bred by Germans/Deutsch, IIRC. \*\* Do you think there is a difference between the Germans and the Deutsch? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/15 "2003-04-02T00:22:40Z")
Why are horns (the musical instrument) called French horns, despite their German origin (as opposed to English horns, which are French)? Because people are insufficiently pedantic about this sort of thing, that’s why. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to start a petition to have them changed to Freedom Horns. Seriously though, what I want to know is why breeders use poodles as some form of dog topiary. What’s with the big poofy butt pads they always seem to have? Who came up with this ridiculous form of dog grooming anyway? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/16 "2003-04-02T01:01:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > \*\* What’s with the big poofy butt pads they always seem to have? \*\* They were retreivers. Part of them is naked so they can swim better, the pads keep some parts warm, the kidneys for example. I don’t know why the thing on the tail. Maybe a float to find them if they are under water… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/17 "2003-04-02T01:13:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > \*\*Seriously though, what I want to know is why breeders use poodles as some form of dog topiary. What’s with the big poofy butt pads they always seem to have? Who came up with this ridiculous form of dog grooming anyway? \*\* They’re dog breeders. That’s all you need to know. People who deliberately cause the animals they “love” to survive in a life-long stuggle against congenital illness, or that can’t even be born naturally won’t baulk at bizarre hairdos will they? Why dog/cat breed standards? Because human eugenics ain’t kosher. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/18 "2003-04-02T01:28:05Z")
Be nice in my thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/19 "2003-04-02T01:44:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > \*\*Be nice in my thread. 🙂 \*\* Was that too Pit-like? If so I do apologise. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343/20 "2003-04-02T02:30:11Z")
Thank you. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-they-called-french-poodles/165343.md?page=2)