APPENDIX 



POODLES, FRENCH AND RUSSIAN-THE TRUFFLE DOG-THE 

 CHINESE CRESTED DOG-THE GREAT DANE. 



THE POODLE. 

 BY " WILDFOWLEE." 



HE POODLE was (and to a certain extent is still) the water spaniel par 

 excellence of Continental shooters ; but the fact that draining is carried 

 on to an unlimited extent has necessarily curtailed considerably the use 

 of water dogs of all species, including that of the poodle ; and now the 

 vast majority of poodles one may see are decidedly aptly ranked, in show 

 catalogues, with the non-sporting division. Nevertheless, the poodle was originally, 

 to all intents and purposes, and exclusively, a sporting dog, and to this day in the 

 fenny districts of the Continent he may be seen in all his purity ; and he is then a 

 large and grand dog, not to be compared with the specimens which are now being 

 bred to suit the requirements of the toy or companion market. 



There are, therefore, two grand classes of modern poodles one of which is still 

 strictly sporting, and one which should include performing, companion, and toy 

 poodles and each of these two classes comprises several different types. Con- 

 cerning the first category, it is very rare indeed to see a poodle used as a sporting 

 dog in the British Islands (I have only seen one in the course of my experience) ; 

 and we have therefore to refer to foreign writers for information on the subject, or 

 go abroad. to see the dogs at work. I have done both, and in the course of this 

 paper will beg to submit the fruit of my gleanings in book lore and my own sporting 

 experience concerning the poodle. Dr. Fitzinger, in his book, " Der Hund und seine 

 Eacen," states that there are no less than six very distinct varieties of poodles, viz.: 

 der grosse Pudel, der mittlere Pudel, der kleine Pudel, der kleine Pintsch, der 

 schnur Pudel, and der Schaf -Pudel, besides other, but minor, varieties, produced by 

 crossing. 



, The characteristics of the breeds he names, the eminent doctor states to be as 

 follows : 



Der grosse Pudel, or the great poodle, he says, originated in the north-west of 

 Africa, probably in Morocco or Algeria. He is always larger than the largest-sized 



