The Poodle is an intelligent and athletic breed that’s existed for centuries now, working as a water retriever, truffle hunter, service animal, and even a circus performer! While you can usually find exquisite Poodles in the show ring in a fancy show clip, these dogs also make excellent pets for families with children, athletic people, and even wealthy people from the high upper class.
Yes, we include the upper class on that list because you can find celebrities and royalty with a Poodle as their beloved pet! From royalty like Louis XVI to household names like Elizabeth Taylor, let’s look at the influential people who own or have owned a Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle, Toy Poodle, or all three!
Princess Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly was an American actress. After marrying Prince Rainier III, she became the Princess of Monaco.
She was gifted a French Poodle she fondly named Oliver, which Cary Grant gave as a wedding present. That was because Cary and his wife also owned a Poodle, April, who Grace loved playing with when she visited their home in Palm Springs.
Barbara Streisand
Barbara Streisand is an American singer, songwriter, filmmaker, and actress. She has a career that spans over six decades, becoming an icon in multiple entertainment fields and winning many awards!
She once owned a Poodle named Sadie in the 1960s, which she once brought to a photo shoot to promote her 1966 CBS Special, “Color Me, Barbra.”
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was a British-American businesswoman, humanitarian, and actress.
Throughout Taylor’s life, she had owned many purebred dogs, such as dachshunds and spaniels, though there was an era when Pekingese dogs always surrounded her. However, she was also known for owning a Poodle back in the 1950s, bringing it on the set of Rhapsody, a 1953 film Taylor starred in back then.
Priscilla Presley
Priscilla Presley is Elvis Presley’s ex-wife. She is also an actress and business magnate who co-founded Elvis Presley Enterprises. Like her late husband, Priscilla owned a poodle.
She owned a Toy Poodle she named Honey, a gift from her husband in the 1950s to 1960s.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley is probably one of the most celebrities known for owning Poodles. Presley was a huge fan of Poodles, owning a dog named Champagne, who he adopted when in the army. After Champagne, Presley would have two more Poodles!
Not only that, but Presley is known for gifting Poodles to loved ones like his wife, Priscilla.
Presley gifted his mother two Poodles, SweetPea and Duke, after John Wayne. He also gave Anita Wood, a former girlfriend, a Toy Poodle they called little.
Jackie Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a socialite, American book editor, and First Lady of the United States during her husband’s presidency from January 1961 to November 1963, John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Kennedy had many pets in her life, such as pet hamsters, a cat, canary, ponies, and other dog breeds. She was a French Poodle owner back in the 1950s, and you can find photos of her and her dog Gaullie during her wedding.
Rihanna
Rihanna is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, actress, and fashion designer whose work has earned many accolades and awards.
Rihanna owned a lovely Toy Poodle mixed breed named Oliver. The singer’s dog is a cross between a Poodle and a Maltese, with whom she loves to cuddle. You can also see Oliver stealing the spotlight as Rihanna carries him around with paparazzi following around.
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn was an American actress and Hollywood’s leading lady for over 60 years. SIn the late 1930s, she owned a Poodle and Spaniel fondly named Button and Mica.
Marilyn Monroe
This icon was one of the most famous American actresses, models, and singers of her time. Marilyn owned many different pets gifted to her throughout her life.
She owned a mixed breed given to her by her foster father, a spaniel from an early companion, and a collie from her then-husband, Jim Dougherty.
Marilyn also owned a white Maltese Poodle mix, Maf, in the 1960s. Frank Sinatra gifted Maf to Marilyn, who he bought from Natalie Wood’s mother. However, some people say that Pat Newcomb, Marilyn’s press agent, was the one who gifted Maf.
Marilyn named her Poodle Maf as a joking reference to Frank Sinatra’s alleged mafia connections. Maf was short for Mafia Honey!
Maf was such a pampered dog who always slept on her expensive fur coats. Furthermore, Maf always accompanied Marilyn to fancy Hollywood restaurants, upper-class department stores, and even the White House, where they met President Kennedy.
After Marilyn’s premature death in 1962, Gloria Lovell, Frank Sinatra’s secretary, adopted Maf. Unfortunately, a car Maf ran over him, and he passed away shortly after.
Walt Disney
Walter Elias Disney was an American animator, voice actor, film producer, and entrepreneur. He’s the name behind Disney!
Walt Disney owned a family dog; a Poodle named lady, which is where he may have got the idea of the iconic film Lady and the Tramp!
Walt Disney loved Lady so much and had the habit of grabbing 2 to 3 cold hotdogs with his beloved pet.
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter, poet, ceramicist, playwright, printmaker, and stage designer.
One of his notable quotes was, “There’s nothing so similar to one poodle dog as another poodle dog, and that goes for women, too.”
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill was born in the 19th century and became a British politician, writer, and army officer. Churchill was the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister from 1940-1945 and 1951-1955.
Sir Winston Churchill once owned a poodle he dearly named Rufus. Churchill loved Rufus, and maybe Poodles so much that when Rufus a car ran over and killed him, one of his fans offered one of her bulldogs. However, Churchill’s assistant declined that offer and said that “if Mr. Churchill has another dog, it would be a Poodle again.”
Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball was an American actress, model, comedienne, TV producer, and film studio executive. Not only did she own a Poodle, but Lucille also created the infamous haircut called “The Poodle,” which takes on the similarities of the elegant Poodle with the fancy clip and puffs of curls a Poodle groomer would do before a breed competition.
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres is a famous American television host, comedian, actress, producer, and writer.
DeGeneres is such a dog lover who’s owned many dogs, talking about how much she loves animals and her pets. She owned a Poodle-Maltese mix, two other dogs, and three cats.
DeGeneres and her wife also recently adopted a rescue Poodle puppy named Mrs. Wallis Browning.
Blake Lively
Blake Lively is an American actress, model, and director.
In 2010, Lively owned a Maltese Poodle mixed breed named Penny. She would sometimes bring Penny on set when filming Gossip Girl.
Cary Grant
Cary Grant and Grace Kelly were dear friends, and he even gifted her a poodle as a wedding gift! As mentioned, Kelly loved to play with Grant and his wife’s pet poodle.
One of Grant’s famous photos is a picture of him reading to his Poodle, who donned the fancy show clip.
More About Exquisite Poodles of the Rich and Famous
In the 18th century, and even before that, wealthy people and royalty owned and showed devotion towards the athletic breed. After all, these Poodles existed in the 16th centuries in Germany, working as waterfowl retrievers.
For instance, Prince Ruper of the Rhine and Lord Worcester of Beaufort showed their devotion to their Poodles.
Or there’s John Steinbeck, the popular author of the famous author Mice and Men, who traveled around America with his Standard Poodle, Charley.
We knew many writers to own Poodles, such as James Thurber, Victor Hugo, and even Charles Dickens!
We also know that Robin Williams loved Poodles that he had convinced John Leguizamo to get one as a pet.
It’s no surprise that Poodles are one of the most popular and well-loved breeds, even among wealthy people! And one can see why, with the Poodle’s grace, attractive appearance, athleticism, affection, and intelligence that goes beyond the fancy clip.
Not only do the upper-class and wealthy people get to own Poodles, though. Poodles make ideal family pets that love to take part in family activities. Plus, athletic people will appreciate this dog breed’s love for exercise and attention!
If you believe that the Standard, Toy, or Miniature Poodle is the best dog for you, then you can begin your search in the pet shop or local shelter to adopt.