THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



wash clean, using very little soap, and you may reasonably 

 hope for a cure. 



Poodles are also subject to canker in the ear. For this 

 the best advice I can give, I think, is that you go at once 

 to the best veterinary surgeon that you can find; but do 

 not attempt any experiments yourself further than putting 

 a cap on the dog so that he can not scratch the cords off 

 his ear, or by constant shaking of his head bring on 

 external canker, which is difficult to cure. 



These two ailments, surfeit and canker, are the ones 

 from which Poodles are most liable to suffer, and both may 

 be avoided by ordinary care as regards diet and cleanliness; 

 for though difficult to rear, when he has once reached 

 maturity there is no dog so healthy or hardy as a Poodle. 

 He is also, in my opinion, more susceptible of education 

 than any other member of his race, seeming to have an 

 innate love for tricks, and needing only to understand what 

 you wish to do it immediately, and then enjoy the fun of it 

 as much as you do. 



Yet, notwithstanding his wonderful intelligence, the 

 greatest patience is required in teaching each new trick. 

 Remember that he is even more anxious to understand you 

 than you are to make him comprehend what you wish, and 

 that a word of encouragement or a friendly pat on the 

 head goes ten times as far as a scolding or a blow. At the 

 same time, bear in mind that the greatest firmness is 

 required, for if the dog for a moment suspects that your 

 whole heart and soul are not in the matter, he at once 

 thinks it must be of small consequence and loses all inter- 

 est in it forthwith. 



Make him think you are both doing something for 

 mutual amusement, and he will respond and do everything 

 in his power to follow out your wishes, provided he is 

 already firmly attached to you; and in this lies the secret 

 of success or failure in all training; for as he can not under- 

 stand your language, he must know by heart all your gest- 

 ures and intonations. Eemember what a very wide space 

 divides us from even the most intelligent dog, and as he is 



