FREEMAN, S.D. - Dogs bound through the switchgrass, hunters in orange caps advance in a row behind them. The sun shines, and even if there aren't many pheasants to shoot, all is right with the world.

Poodles have a fascinating history that's full of surprises. Originally bred in Germany as waterfowl hunters, poodles were later standardized as a breed in France. The origin of the poodle as a ...