192 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



legs and to shorten slightly in the muzzle, assuming more staid, sturdy, and aldermanic 

 proportions. The white Poodle also presents marked variations, ranging from the great 

 muscular fellow who draws a milk-cart in Antwerp and Brussels to his more slender French 

 brother familiarly called Mouton, who is so constantly met with on the Paris boulevards. The 

 size of the two breeds differs considerably, the larger one averaging some 30 or 40 Ibs., while 

 the smaller, generally known under the name of Barbet, only weighs about half that figure. 

 Of the various breeds mentioned the Russian is the most valuable. As a rule he is highly 

 intelligent, and is altogether a handsomer and more gracefully-formed dog, while his coat, being 

 black, is free from that soiled appearance which is so great a drawback to the white breed. 

 The hair of the various breeds is also somewhat different that of the Russian being more 

 wiry and less woolly than the French, who, from the texture of his coat, frequently merits 

 his pastoral nickname. There is also a " sheep " Poodle in Germany, but his coat is long 

 and pendent, in bunches something resembling those of the Musk Sheep, and presenting 

 altogether a heavy and uncouth appearance. The Poodle appears to have been introduced into 

 England during the Continental wars at the beginning of the century, although performing 

 dogs were known previous to this era ; but he was a favourite in France long before that 

 date, and in a fashion plate of the time of Louis XVI. he is represented, shaven and shorn, 

 begging hard for a biscuit from a child of the period. 



" A word, to conclude, about training Poodles. In the first place, teach your dog when 

 you give him his meal of biscuit, letting him have it piece by piece as every trick is per- 

 formed ; secondly, never attempt to teach him two new tricks at a time, and when instilling into 

 him a new trick, let him always go through his old ones first ; thirdly, never be beaten by him, 

 If as is frequently the case with young dogs he declines to perform a trick, do not pass it 

 over or let him go through something that he may like better, but when you see that he 

 definitively refuses, tell him that he cannot eat without working, and put away his food for an 

 hour or two. If he once sees he can tire you out you will have no further authority over 

 him, while if you are firm he will not hold out long ; and, once beaten, will not make a second 

 attempt. It is, however, a bad plan to make a dog go through a trick, which he may apparently 

 dislike, too many times during one lesson. A whip is of little use when training, as the dog 

 will learn to associate his tasks with a thrashing, and go through them in that unwilling, cowed, 

 tail-between-legs fashion which too often betrays the unthinking hastiness of a master, and is 

 the chief reason why the Poodle has so often been dubbed a spiritless coward. The Poodle, 

 properly treated, is a true and intelligent friend, and deserves more attention than is bestowed 

 upon him by English fanciers. 



" In selecting Poodles the chief points to be observed are : 



" I. The Head. This should be broad, well developed, and carried high. 



" 2. The Muzzle in the French and Russian breeds should appear comparatively long when 

 shaven, but in the German somewhat shorter and thicker, while the nose of the first-named 

 should be a clear pink, and in the black breed the colour of jet. The roof of the mouth 

 should also be black. 



" 3. The Eyes are a great criterion ; they should be dark hazel, and clear, and look you 

 straight in the face when spoken to ; this in itself being no small test of the animal's intel- 

 ligence and previous training. 



" 4. The Ears should be long, and thickly covered with long silky hair. 



" 5. The Neck should be well proportioned to the size of the animal, while the shoulders should 

 be firm, but not too thickly set, the fore-legs being muscular, not too long, and perfectly straight. 



