Aqua

France has been officially recognized as the Poodle’s country of origin, but the Poodle’s earlier ancestors came from central Asia. The German variety has probably influenced the modern breed most (‘Poodle’ is German for ‘splash’ or ‘puddle’). In 18th and 19th century Europe, the Poodle served a wide variety of purposes, including duck hunting, guiding, and later circus performing, from whence the modern grooming style likely arose. The Poodle became a popular pet for the French aristocracy, and in time was officially adopted as the national dog. Poodles were imported to America in the 20th century. They slowly rose in popularity and eventually became the country’s most popular dog. Famous Poodles include author John Steinbeck’s dog Charley, subject of the book ‘Travels with Charley: In Search of America’, and Weird Al’s Poodle Bela, who…uhm… sat on his head for the album cover of ‘Poodle Hat.’ Full-grown, they typically weigh 12-55 pounds and stand 10-15 inches tall.

Standard Poodles are generally excellent with children of all ages. The Standard Poodle gets along well with other animals, other dogs, and children. Standard Poodles are highly adaptable and make good watchdogs. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

The Standard Poodle requires substantial amounts of exercise. Standard Poodles require long walks and outdoor activities such as swimming or playing catch. The Standard Poodle is fond of retrieving, as it has origins as a hunting dog. Overall, their exercise needs are high.

The Standard Poodle has a distinctive fine, frizzy, wooly coat similar in texture to sheep’s wool. Solid white is most common, but the coat may also be solid grey, brown, apricot, or black. There are three distinct grooming styles for show Poodles: puppy clip, continental clip, and English saddle clip. Grooming-wise, this breed is high-maintenance. Standard Poodles are considered hypoallergenic, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

Standard Poodles are best suited for apartments and smaller homes. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.

Mastiffs are far from the imposing beasts they may appear to be. This breed is the heaviest dog around, but judging by their personalities, most of that weight lies in their hearts. Mastiffs are kind, gentle souls who protect if needed but would choose a hug over hostility any day.

English Mastiffs are generally not the best fit for families with young kids. Mastiffs are good with children and get along well with other dogs and pets with socialization. Their good-natured temperament lends well to families with children, and they often put up with playing, pranks, and hijinks without batting an eye. They're relatively quiet and don't bark much.

In spite of their imposing size, the adult Mastiff doesn’t need a ton of exercise. These dogs enjoy walks around the block, a light job, or playtime in a large, fenced-in yard. Mastiff puppies shouldn’t be overly exercised because they need all of their energy to grow strong bones and put on weight. Overall, their exercise needs are moderate.

Mastiffs have a short-haired, fawn (light-yellow brown) coat that ranges in color from silver to apricot to dark brindle. These dogs are recognizable by their black mask, ears, and nose. Because their hair is so short, the Mastiff’s coat needs little attention; brushing them with a rubber brush once in a while should do the trick. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

English Mastiffs are best suited for a house with a good-sized yard. Mastiffs are ill-suited for hot weather and prefer life indoors where they can relax on a soft pillow or cold tile. Because of their size, Mastiffs aren’t practical for apartments and will be more comfortable in homes with a yard. They are moderately trainable with consistent effort.