refuses, punish him by putting away the coveted 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 against
you long. It is a bad plan to make a dog repeat too frequently a trick
which he obviously dislikes, and insistence on your part may do great
harm. The Poodle is exceptionally sensitive, and is far more
efficiently taught when treated as a sensible being rather than as
a mere quadrupedal automaton. He will learn twice as quickly if his
master can make him understand the reason for performing a task. The
whip is of little use when a lesson is to be taught, as the dog will
probably 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 the master, and is the chief
reason why the Poodle has sometimes been regarded as a spiritless
coward.

The Poodle bitch makes a good mother, rarely giving trouble in
whelping, and the puppies are not difficult to rear. Their chief
dangers are gastritis and congestion of the lungs, which can be
avoided with careful treatment. It should be remembered that the dense
coat of the Poodle takes a long time to dry after being wetted, and
that if the dog has been out in the rain, and got his coat soaked,
or if he has been washed or allowed to jump into a pond, you must
take care not to leave him in a cold place or to lie inactive before
he is perfectly dry.

Most Poodles are kept in the house or in enclosed kennels, well
protected from draught and moisture, and there is no difficulty in
so keeping them, as they are naturally obedient and easily taught
to be clean in the house and to be regular in their habits.