poodle

Breed of gun dog, including standard (above 38 cm/15 in at shoulder), miniature (below 38 cm/15 in), and toy (below 28 cm/11 in) varieties. The dense curly coat, usually cut into an elaborate style, is often either black or white, although greys and browns are also bred.

The poodle probably originated in Russia, was naturalized in Germany, where it was used for retrieving ducks and gained its name (from the German pudeln, ‘to splash’), and became a luxury dog in France.