The poodle is a breed of dog. The breed is found officially
in toy, miniature, and standard sizes, with many coat colors. Originally bred
as a type of water dog, the poodle is skillful in many dog sports, including
agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding. Poodles have taken top honors
in many conformation shows. The poodle is a very active, intelligent and
elegant dog, squarely built, and well proportioned.
Poodles are retrievers or gun dogs, and are still used by
hunters in that role. Their coats are moisture-resistant, which helps their
swimming. All of the poodle's ancestors were acknowledged to be good swimmers,
although one member of the family, it is said, never went near the water.