With their fancy hairdos and regal air, people may think of poodles as delicate aristocrats. Their origins are far from it, though, and their personality is open, friendly, and ready to get into the dirt in the great outdoors. Read on to learn more about this exceptionally smart, talented breed!

They Come in Three Sizes

The standard poodle – which grows to more than 15 inches tall and weighs in at between 40 and 70 pounds – is the original poodle. These athletic, smart, and active dogs were popular enough for people to breed a smaller version of them, the miniature poodle. Similar in personality to their bigger counterparts, the minis will grow to between 10 and 15 inches tall and also weigh between 10 and 15 pounds. The smallest, the toy poodle, was bred to be a companion dog. Though tiny at no taller than 10 inches and between four and six pounds, toy poodles are still quite active.

They Come in Even More Colors

If it’s true that people begin to resemble their pets after a while, a poodle’s owner may have to get to the salon for a hair color treatment. That’s because the coats of these companionable pups can be white, black, cream, silver, brown, red, gray, café au lait, apricot, blue, or silver beige. That salon had better expand their product offerings.

They Can Be Good for Allergy Sufferers

Another interesting thing about the poodle’s coat is that it’s hair, not fur. Their coat also makes these pups a more appealing option for people with dog allergies because their curly hair traps dead hair, limiting shedding and helping produce fewer allergens. Grooming is still very important for poodles, though!

They Used to Be Performers

Poodles are widely regarded as one of the smartest dog breeds and, as such, are very trainable. They also have big personalities and a desire to please their people, so it may not be surprising that they were once circus performers. It’s unlikely that any poodle you adopt will run off to join the circus, but they’re sure to be entertaining enough to do so.

They Have a History of Retrieving

Though they’ve worked in the circus, and a variety of other fields, the poodle’s background is a bit grittier than that. They were originally bred to retrieve waterfowl on the hunt. Their seemingly snobby hair cut had a very practical purpose, too: To insulate body parts most apt to be impacted by cold water and to minimize the hair elsewhere to help them swim faster.

Their Love of Water is in Their Name

Though poodles worked in the water in the past, that doesn’t mean they didn’t enjoy being in it. These days, the breed still tends to be awfully fond of getting out for a little wade or swim. And their name reflects that! Poodle is derived from the German word “pfudel” or “puddeln”, which means “puddle” or “to splash.”

They’re Practically Triathletes

In addition to their natural athleticism and swimming prowess, poodles are one of the best breeds for runners because they have no problem hitting the trails for a few miles. That’s because they are a very high energy breed. Now if only they could master riding a bicycle, they could easily try a sprint triathlon.

They’ve Served in the White House

The White House doesn’t currently have any pets in residence, but most presidents have had a dog or a cat or even a raccoon (looking at you, Coolidge family). Poodles have been among those presidential pets. Richard Nixon had a poodle named Vicky, who once dove into a goldfish pool but was pulled out before there was any carnage. Grover Cleveland’s wife First Lady Frances Cleveland also had a poodle named Hector.

One of the more prominent poodles was First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s Gaullie, who was named after French President Charles de Gaulle. Gaullie was said to be “straight and proud” with “a prominent nose.”

They Also Hung Out with Ancient Romans and Greeks

It may not be surprising that poodles would advise American presidents because they’ve been in the thick of politically innovative environments for a couple of millennia. Poodle-like dogs appear on coins from both the Roman empire and ancient Greece. Maybe it’s time to get a few of them on our ballots.

Present-Day French Residents Love Them, Too

Poodles as we know them today come from Germany, but they’re most associated with France. That’s partly because they’re the French national dog. This honor as a national symbol dates back to the reign of King Louis XVI, who was among the breed’s biggest fans and had quite a few toy poodles.