The Poodle is usually recognized to be the most intelligent of all members of the canine race. There is a general belief that it is a fop, whose time is largely spent in personal embellishment, and that it needs a great deal of one's attention in the matter of his toilet. It may be true that to keep it in exhibition order and perfect cleanliness its raiser needs to allocate more consideration to it than is necessary in the case of many other breeds; however in other respects it gives very little trouble, and all who are attached to it are consistent in their thinking that there is no dog so intensely interesting and responsive as a companion as poodle. Its qualities of mind and its acute powers of reasoning are indeed so great that there is something almost human in its attractiveness and its devotion. Its aptitude in learning is never denied, and many are the stories told of its marvelous talent and versatility.

Not merely as a showman's dog has it distinguished himself. It is something more than a mountebank of the booths, trained to walk the tight rope and stand on its head. It is an adept at performing tricks, but it is its alertness of brain that places it apart from other animals.

The profuse and long coat of this dog has the uniqueness that if not kept constantly brushed out it twists up into little cords which increase in length as the new hair grows and clings about it. The unwashed old hair and the new growth entwined together thus become a unique rope-like cords. Eventually, if these cords are not cut short, or accidentally torn off, they drag along the ground, and so prevent the poor animal from moving with any degree of freedom or comfort.

Corded Poodles are very showy, and from the remarkable appearance of the coat, attract a great deal of public attention when brought at shows; but they have lost popularity among most fanciers, and have become few in number owing to the clear fact that it is impossible to make pets of them or keep them in the house. The reason of this is that the coat must, from time to time, be oiled so that to keep the cords supple and prevent them from snapping, and, of course, as their coats can't be brushed, the only way of keeping the dog clean is to wash it, which with a corded Poodle is a lengthy and laborious process. In addition, the coat takes hours to dry, and unless the newly washed dog be kept in a warm room it is very liable to catch cold. The result is, that the coats of corded Poodles are almost invariably dirty, and smelly.