The Poodle dog gets its name from the German for a pull and means 'water dog'.

The Poodle called the Pudel in German and the Caniche in French is a breed of water dog. The breed is divided into four varieties based on size, the Standard Poodle, Medium Poodle, Miniature Poodle, and Toy Poodle, although the Medium Poodle variety is not universally recognized. They have a distinctive thick, curly coat, and come in many colors, with only solid ones recognized by breed registries. While a reasonably healthy breed, they are prone to sebaceous adenitis and Addison's disease among other genetic disorders.

The Poodle most likely originated in Germany, although the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and a minority of cynologists believe it originated in France. Similar dogs date back to at least the 17th century, and it was first recognized by a kennel club in 1874. The Standard Poodle was originally used by wildfowl hunters to retrieve game from water. The smaller varieties of the breed were bred in France, where they were once commonly used as circus performers. They are now one of the most popular dog breeds.