228 



THE BEASTS OF PREY. 



Great Sagacity " The sense of locality of the Poodle 

 Shown i s excellent. He finds his way home 



by the Poodle, from places that are hours' or even 

 •days' walking distance away. He roams about at 

 will in the city or country, and will visit houses 

 where he has been with his master and has been 

 made welcome, even if it has happened but once. 

 Therefore he can be taught to bring the meat from 

 the butcher and the bread from the baker. His per- 

 ception of time is keen. He knows when Sunday is 

 coming, and knows dinner time like a hungry human 

 being. He discriminates between colors, and by 



THE SKYE TERRIER. The shaggy, wiry coat, the short tail, I 

 Skye Terrier make it one of the ugliest of Dogs, but it is a very useful ami: 

 good-natured and kind in its demeanor toward its master and friends, but ; 

 familiaris gryp/nts hirsutus.) 



their aid distinguishes between objects. The im- 

 pression which music produces upon him is strange; 

 some instruments he likes, some he does not. He 

 keenly watches all that goes on around him and 

 nothing escapes his notice; therefore people call 

 him sagacious. He is a perfect observer and there- 

 fore understands not only the words but also the 

 facial expressions and glances of his master. His 

 memory is exceedingly tenacious. He remembers 

 the shape and color of his master for years; and 

 retains the knowledge of a road for an equally long 

 period. The Dog is called sagacious for his dis- 

 criminating scent alone, but how much more he 

 deserves the term on account of his memory, for in 

 ordinary life a child, and sometimes even a learned 

 but stupid Man, gets praise for being clever solely 

 because he has a good memory. This faculty is one 

 of the principal reasons for the Poodle's docility, 

 but he also requires patience, good nature and 

 obedience. He can be taught to drum, shoot off 

 pistols, climb ladders, take by assault a hill de- 

 fended by other Dogs, and learns to play on the 

 stage with others of his kind. We know that Horses 

 and Elephants have been taught the same tricks. 



Two other things are worth mentioning in regard 

 to the Poodle; his tendency to imitate and his ambi- 

 tion or vanity. He is always looking at his master 

 and always wishes to do something for him. As a 

 child thinks that its father is always right and that 

 what the father does it can and must do likewise, so 

 does the Poodle regard his master. If his master 

 takes up a ball, he takes one between his paws and 

 tries to bite it and worries if he does not succeed; if 

 his master is a geologist and looks for stones in the 

 interest of science, the Poodle also looks for stones. 

 If the master works with the spade, the Poodle also 

 . ... . . . .. . digs up the earth with his 



paws. If the master looks 

 out of the window the 

 Poodle jumps up on the 

 sill, and looks at the 

 beautiful view. He also 

 likes to carry a stick or a 

 basket, because he has 

 seen his master and the 

 cook do so. He carries 

 it carefully, puts it at peo- 

 ple's feet, goes from one 

 to another to show off his 

 skill, and complacently 

 wags his tail. While he 

 carries an object, he pays 

 no attention to other 

 Dogs ; he seems to de- 

 spise them as good-for- 

 nothings, while they ap- 

 pear to esteem him." 

 Disposition "The Poodle is 

 of the not the most 

 Poodle, feared Dog, but 

 he is the most highly val- 

 ued and popular one, be- 

 cause he is the best- 

 natured of them all. He 

 especially endears himself 

 to children, as he suffers 

 them to tease him, to ride 

 on him and worry him in 

 every way, without even 

 growling, biting or show- 

 ing signs of annoyance. 

 He is very greedy, but will frequently allow one to 

 take his food out of his mouth, a thing very few 

 other Dogs will do. The Poodle remembers all his 

 life the person who has once shorn him, and if 

 that person enters the house at any future time to 

 shear him, he runs away and hides himself, for he 

 does not wish to be shorn. It is very interesting to 

 see how he looks for his master. He runs along the 

 street, his head held low, then he stops, reflects a 

 little, turns around, stops again at another corner, 

 reflects again, crosses the street obliquely to save 

 time, etc. 



"It is strange, that the better- natured, the more 

 sagacious a Poodle is, the less useful he is as a 

 watch Dog and the less readily he will attack a Man. 

 He loves and venerates all human beings; if one pits 

 him against a Man, he only looks at his master and 

 his opponent, as if he thinks it quite impossible for 

 his master to pit him against his own kind. The 

 master might be murdered without his defending 

 him. This Dog is always highly obedient, as he 

 fears not only blows but his master's displeasure, 

 his words, his threatening finger, and this docility 

 makes the Poodle a most amiable companion." 



ial about premises infested with Rats, i: 

 good watch Dog about a house. iCani. 



