This sporting breed originated in Germany where hunters used the dogs as water retrievers. Poodle is a group of formal dog breeds which are categorized as: Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle. The trademark "poodle clip" fur style has become a symbol of wealth and status, but its original intent was to protect the dogs' joints from cold water during hunts. The breed comes in three sizes. They also have several color variations, but individual poodles are always one solid color.