540 BRITISH DOGS 



should be a general appearance of brightness and activity. A 

 better idea could be formed of those from four to six months old 

 than when younger. Beyond a little trimming of the hair about the 

 face and feet, it is not advisable to do much actual clipping or 

 shaving until after the puppy is six months old. An amateur should 

 not attempt to prepare specimens for show until he or she has 

 seen the work done by an expert, as more could be learnt in this 

 way in one hour than from any amount of written directions. 



It is thought by some breeders and fanciers that there is but 

 one sort of coat for all Poodles ; but without going into this question, 

 the writer is convinced that, although he has known many instances 

 in which specimens have been successfully exhibited with Corded, 

 Curly, and Fluffy coats, these are the exceptions rather than the rule. 

 There are some coats that seem specially to lend themselves to one 

 or the other of these, so that the best and most effective treatment 

 of the coats must depend in some measure on the individual 

 specimen. 



In the present day clipping machines have been brought to 

 such perfection that nearly all the work may be done with one of 

 them, assisted by a sharp pair of scissors ; but before actual shaving 

 of any parts with a razor is attempted, an owner should see the 

 way that it is done by an expert. Of course, the work should 

 be performed in a warm room, except during summer, and the 

 subject should be protected from taking cold before being used to 

 the loss of coat ; this may be done with a coat or jacket made in 

 the same way as for horses and Greyhounds, to slip over the head, 

 and secured with a band round the waist, buttoned or tied under- 

 neath to keep it in place. 



It is not necessary to say anything about the amount of clipping 

 or shaving, as so much depends on the taste of the clipper, the char- 

 acter of the animal, and its size, that it will not be the same in all 

 cases. The parts usually left bare are the face, except for a mous- 

 tache and an " imperial," the chin, and the lower jaws ; the back, from 

 back of the shoulders to the tail, except some bosses of hair on the 

 sides of the thighs ; the tail, except two or more circles of hair on 

 it and at its end ; the legs, with one or more circles of hair round 

 the ankles and higher up. In a general way also the sides and 

 belly are clipped clean, giving a leonine character to the whole of 

 the trimming of the hair. 



As regards colour, this opens up a wide question. There are 

 many beautiful Poodles of all the colours, but speaking from ex- 

 perience, perhaps the whites are the most difficult to keep in form. 

 They not only have all the vicissitudes common to the variety, 

 but are liable to become soiled or tinted in colour, and require 

 ceaseless attention to keep them up to the mark. 



Browns, reds, blues, and greys are all very nice in their way, and 



