I have already alluded to the fashion that obtains of clipping and shaving the poodle according to the ideas prevailing at the time, indeed, a well regulated and fashionably dressed poodle requires about as much attention to be kept in order as do the jackets of some of our choice little Yorkshire terriers. It is said that the custom of trimming the poodle arose through an anxiety to look after the comfort of the dog, because the long ringlets or cords interfered with the general health of the poor beast that nature caused to wear them. In winter they became matted with snow and dirt; in summer they were uncomfortable and harboured vermin; so it came about that the poodle had to be clipped, and trimmed, and dressed.

All this is done in various fashions, and there are "professors of the art," high in their line, who will dress your poodle for you, and tie him up with ribbons blue or yellow or white, for any charge varying from half-a-guinea to a couple of pounds.

A poodle ought to have his coat attended to even before he leaves his puppyhood. When four or five months old it is well for his comfort and appearance, say his admirers, or rather I should say for their fancy, to trim or clip the coat on the face and feet and on the hind-quarters from below the tail and about his buttocks. When he is eleven or twelve months old he should be properly clipped, but, as a matter of fact, it is best to have him clipped three or four times before he is actually what may be called finished, i.e., shaved. This ought not to be forgotten, as were the dog shaved before the skin had become in a degree hardened by exposure to the air, pain would be caused the dog, and perhaps some inflammation might arise, as the contact of the razor is by no means pleasant to the patient. When once matured, and having undergone the preliminary process, a poodle ought, if the desire be to have him neat and in nice condition, to be trimmed some six times in the year - about every two months.

Poodles are, notwithstanding their "clipping," apt to get dirty, the white specimens especially so. Still it does not do to wash them too often, as the water and soap are not likely to improve the coat, and there is considerable difficulty in drying the jacket. Once a month is frequent enough, even not so often as this, unless in the judgment of the owner the dog actually requires it. As a matter of fact, the well-known Lyris, alluded to earlier on, was repeatedly exhibited with success, and he looked well, too, without being washed immediately prior to the exhibition. He might be washed, say, and benched in January, and at another show held six weeks afterwards, he would again appear and look equally well without having had an additional tub in the meantime.

Whilst the coats, especially of the corded varieties require so much attention as to clipping, it is only natural that equal care is required to keep that part in order which does not come under the operation of the shears and razor. There is the "bedding ' to be considered, for it will never do for one of these extraordinarily long-coated dogs to be on a bench covered with straw or shavings. The best bed is to fill a sack with clean straw or dry pitch-pine shavings, and sew up the ends; then this ought to be properly beaten, shaken, and aired daily, so that no dust remains thereon. The straw or shavings strewn loosely upon the bench in the ordinary fashion are too heating, and, besides, little pieces get into the coat and cause endless trouble to remove. Moreover, dirt of any kind quickly makes the coat matted, the ringlets sticking together near the skin, ultimately causing long tags, which drop off and leave bare places. As a matter of fact, too much attention and care cannot be given the poodle in the respect of tending and keeping his coat free from dirt, but he must not be combed or brushed, and the fingers must be used to separate the ringlets. Do not be afraid of soap and elbow grease, but beware of the first appearance of mange or skin disease. The latter is simply ruin to a poodle, at any rate for a time. Here, as in most other matters, prevention is far easier than cure.

When the ringlets, where they are allowed to remain, grow to such an inordinate length as to be in the way of the dog, either so far as exercise or sight is concerned, they ought to be nicely tied up all round. Then the coat of the black poodle has to be dressed with some emollient, and nothing is better for this purpose than a mixture composed of a quarter of a pound of vaseline to half a pint of paraffin. This should be put into a suitable receptacle, which is to be placed in a heated oven and kept there until the concoction is thoroughly blended. It may be scented with any perfume fancy suggests, and must then be placed in a jar, kept covered, and applied when cold.

This dressing, which will darken and brighten the coat of a black dog, is also suitable for brown poodles, as too much washing of the latter, transforms the dark chocolate shade into a somewhat mealy tint. Should the paraffin odour remain in the dog, an hour in the open air will soon remove any unpleasantness. The dressing should be applied about three times a week.

White poodles require equal care in washing, and a great authority on the breed tells me there is nothing that keeps the coat whiter, and in better order, than Hudson's extract of soap, applied in the usual manner.

In cases where neglect has caused the coat to become matted, it is best to cut off the unpleasant tags close to the skin. Particular attention, too, must be paid to cleaning the coat about and below the root of the tail. It should be frequently washed thereabouts - whenever it seems to be required.

If these instructions are attended to and the poodle be given a little cooling medicine, such as Epsom salts or magnesia, in his food occasionally, he will not be found to harbour anything offensive about him, nor will the smell from his skin or coat be more objectionable than it is in an ordinary long-coated terrier or collie dog. Indeed, one admirer and connoisseur of the variety will have me believe that his favourite dog has not naturally any offensive smell whatever, and that where such is perceived, it arises solely through neglect.