DOGS. 707 



between the eyes. As a house dog they are watchful, and will bark at intruders, thus giving 

 warning; they however possess but little courage, and do not follow well when out of 

 doors. 



The Pug Dog. This dog is at present quite a favorite as a pet. It is said to be of 

 Chinese origin, and has long been quite common in Holland, where they are much admired. 

 He seems to bear the same relation to the Bull-dog that the Bantam does to the largest breed 

 of fowls. The Pug is sensible, affectionate, and playful, and bears the confinement of the 

 house better than most breeds. The points have been given by good authority, as follows: 



General appearance low and thick-set, the legs being short, and the body as close to the 

 ground as possible, but with an elegant outline; weight from six to ten pounds; color fawn, 

 with black mask and vent. The clearer the fawn, and the more distinctly marked the black 

 on the mask, which should extend to the eyes, 

 the better; but there is generally a slightly 

 darker line down the back. Some strains have 

 the hair all over the body tipped with &quot;smut,&quot; 

 but on them the mask is sure to shade off too 

 gently, without the clear line which is valued 

 by the fancier; coat short, thick, and silky; head 

 round, forehead high ; nose short, but not turned 

 up; and level-mouthed; ears, when cut, cropped 

 quite close, naturally rather short but falling; 

 neck of moderate length, stout, but not throaty; 

 chest wide, deep, and round; tail short, and 



curled closely to the side, not standing up above PUG DOG 



the back. It is remarkable that the tail in the 



dog generally falls over the off side, while in the bitch it lies on the near. The legs are 

 straight, with small bone, but well clothed with muscle; feet like the hare, not cat-footed; no 

 dew-claws on the hind legs. The height is from eleven to fifteen inches. 



Breeding. The general principles of breeding adapted to the dog are similar to those 

 of other domestic animals, which have been so fully discussed in a separate department of 

 this work that nothing need be said in this connection, except what applies particularly to the 

 canine race. The following special principles have been derived from the best English and 

 American authorities on this subject: &quot;The best age to breed from, in almost all breeds, is 

 soon after the sire and dam have reached maturity. When, however, the produce is desired 

 to be very small, the older both animals are, the more likely the result is, excepting in the 

 last litter which the bitch has, for this being composed of only one or two puppies, they are 

 not smaller than the average, and are sometimes even larger. All bitches should be 

 allowed to reach fully maturity before they are permitted to breed, and this period varies 

 according to size, small dogs being adult at one year, whereas large ones are still in their 

 puppyhood at that time, and take fully twice as long to develop their proportions. The 

 Mastiff is barely full grown at two years, large hounds at a year and a half, Greyhounds at 

 the same time, Pointers and Setters from a year and a quarter to a year and a half, while 

 Terriers and small toy dogs reach maturity at a year old, or even earlier. 



The best time of the year for breeding dogs is from April to September, inasmuch as in 

 the cold of winter the puppies are apt to become chilled, whereby their growth is stopped, 

 and some disease very often developed. The toy dogs, and all small dogs which are reared 

 in the house, may be bred at almost any time of the year; but even they are stronger and 

 healthier if born in the summer months, because the puppies may then be supposed to get 

 more air and sun than they could in the winter, when the warmth of the fire is essential to 



