Breed's history

The African origin of the breed may seem surprising because of the abundance of the hair and of its aquatic hunter past. The African origin of its cousins is not surprising though. These are Cao de Agua Portugaise or Barbet, dog classified by FCI as belonging to VIII-th group, present nowadays in France , but it's becoming extinct, with a very rustic lion clip. The other cousin is Perro de Agua Espagniol, much less known, because it is only accredited in its origin country, Spain . Perro de Agua Espagniol is a little smaller than its Portuguese “homologue”, and the hair (all colors are accepted) is abundant, curled and long. It is not groomed but its tail is docked. It is known for a long while in Andalusia , the last bastion of the moors, where it is successfully used as a herd dog and as a fisherman's company. In 701 AD, Barbet was brought to Europe while the invasion of the Arabic tribes from the North of Africa. Through the mating with the local Iberic breeds, formed a new breed, resulting the ancestor of today's Caniche . This is where its aquatic aptitudes and bird catching, especially ducks, seem to come from. From here its name derives, “Caniche” meaning duckling, and its grooming was practised to make him more efficient at water and swampy fields hunting. In 1936 the first standard was made, by French Jaricourd Galignami, who became the president of the Caniche Club of France , built in 1946. Until nowadays the standard suffered several modifications. In 1955 the English and American breeders, searching for smaller varieties, succeeded obtaining the Toy variety, with the height under 27,5cm in Great Britain and under 25cm in USA . This variety wasn't accepted and homologued in Central Europe only in 1985, when homogenous and quality exemplaries were obtained.

Breed's profile

Since the XVII-th century the Caniche is less used as a hunting dog and it makes its entrance in the most famous French grooming saloons, becoming the company dog of the most beautiful women from the king of France 's yard, being called “Chien de dame”. In the time of Ludovic the XIV-th appears the fashion of the sophisticated grooming. Its docile character, but most its intelligence, made him very wanted and used by circus people and so, the Caniche became known in all Europe . In this period, the Caniche replaced the Bichons and Espagneuls from their company role because of a rigorous selection of which smaller variations were obtained. In the time of the French Empire, the Caniche's success was huge, that even Napoleon Bonaparte admitted his attachment and friendship to this dog. In the time of the second empire, the Caniche was the most spread company dog, wanted by the entire bourgeoisie. In this same period the first grooming saloons for the Caniche appeared, at Paris , where most exotic and diverse grooming stiles were made. The Caniche is a playful, friendly, obedient dog, extremely sweet with close persons, but a little “devil” in the presence of children, sports dog, adapted very well in any circumstance because he stays near its master. Elegance, harmony, distinction, beauty, here are some of the qualities that make the Caniche such an “irresistible” dog. Few breeds can brag themselves with such equilibrated proportions. Even if they are Giant, Middle, Dwarf or Toy, the Caniches are “true” dogs. Its robustness and endurance of the Caniche makes out of him a dignifying representative of his family, him not being below any of its quadrupled and barking relatives. To all these qualities, you can add one more: an excellent memory, which makes him capable of taking own initiatives and take conclusions of its lived experiences. The Caniche is capable of livings that he expresses with much ease: pleasure, happiness, impatience, jalousie, pain, fear or sadness. Being at origins a hunting dog, its outstanding intelligence and its devotement to its master makes him a great herd dog, blind men dog or an enthusiastic circus actor. Its physical aptitudes makes him a great competitor for the agility probes. Depends on its size he is extremely useful in a man's yard, its capabilities making him an infallible “alarm system”, or in case of the Giant ones, a “bodyguard”. In which concerns his star career of the beauty show's rings, it's almost un-useful to say in which measure all this qualities make out of a Caniche a “rightful senator” to the podium. The most recent example is the great winner of the most prestigious American show, Westminster , where the black dwarf Caniche got the supreme title of Best in Show. The exceptional qualities of this breed have determined disputes regarding his origin, and in consequence not few were the ones who claimed the paternity of the Caniche. Not last, the Giant Caniche that won the world's most prestigious show from England , Crufts and the World Championship from Amsterdam in 2002.