1 66 Modern Dogs. 



well pronounced, his head is round, his forehead is strongly 

 arched, his muzzle is short, high, and stumpy, his neck short 

 and thick; his body is compact and cobby, his legs are com- 

 paratively short and strong, and he is more web-footed than 

 any other breed. The hair over his body is long, thick, soft, 

 woolly, and entirely curled, even over the face, and especially 

 the mouth, where it forms a decided moustache. On the ears 

 and tail the hair is more knotty and matted. Specimens of this 

 breed are white, light liver, liver, light grey, dark grey, dark liver, 

 or black. Sometimes the markings are peculiar, inasmuch that, 

 on a light ground, great irregular dark grey, or black patches 

 occur. When the dogs are liver-coloured or black, there are 

 white spots on their muzzles and throats, on the nape of their 

 necks, on their breasts, bellies, feet, and tail. They are seldom 

 cropped, but are almost invariably docked. The Italians call 

 them can barbone ; the French barbels, grands barbets, barbetons 

 caniches ; the English denominate them water dogs, water 

 spaniels, finders, and poodles. Neither the Greeks nor the 

 Romans appear to have known these dogs, and the old German 

 authors of the middle ages do not mention them. In the 

 sixteenth century they are, for the first time, mentioned by 

 Conrad Gesner, who, in 1555, gives a description and illus- 

 tration of these dogs. The great poodle is most easily trained, 

 and his peculiar adaptation for marsh work is not found in any 

 such high degree in any other kind of dog. 



His liveliness, attachment, and faithfulness, combined with 

 his good temper, trust, and obedience, make of him a thoroughly 

 good companion. He always looks for his master, likes to 

 please him, and is never tired of doing all he can to further 

 that end. He is a splendid swimmer, and the best of water 

 retrievers. He grasps everything he is taught so readily that 

 he is trained very quickly; hence he is a good performer in 

 whatever pursuit his talents may be called into requisition. 



Der mittlere Pudel, or medium-sized poodle, is only a variety 

 of the great poodle. He has the same qualities and properties. 

 Size is the only difference between them ; he is sometimes two- 

 thirds, and sometimes only half, the size of his greater congener. 



