re: Ranking of dog breed intelligence level by a researcher

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If poodles had not become the poster dog for aristocracy, and not considered to be a prissy dog by people, I'm convinced they'd be the most popular dogs in the country.

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Fun Poodle facts: they aren't actually French, they are German. The word poodle comes from the German word for puddle, or pond. That goofy hair do they have in dog shows is based on a utilitarian hunting hair do. The hair around the chest was allowed to grow long to act as a floatation device of sorts and to help keep their heart and lungs warm. Conversly, the back end was shaved to help keep the top half afloat.

I have a miniature poodle and she will jump in a pond and swim around just for the fun of it. She is also smart as hell. I also have a shi tzu. While she is quite dumb, she is the happiest little thing in the world.