The Dalmatian. 273 



Dalmatians are unusually plentiful in the charming districts sur- 

 rounding the Crystal Palace, and fair puppies may often be bought very 

 cheaply from some of the owners of public carriages, as they are pretty 

 generally kept about these stables ; good specimens are also often seen 

 accompanying private carriages in the neighbourhood. I do not 

 know whether Dalmatians show the same pleasure in accompanying a 

 bicycle as a carriage, but I have no doubt that if they did not at once 

 take to the iron steed they could very soon be brought to do so, and the 

 bicycling tourist would in this dog have a highly ornamental adjunct to 

 his travelling equipage, a pleasant companion, and a good guard of his 

 property. 



The Dalmatian has been accused of an apathetic temper, of concen- 

 trating all his affection on the horse and showing none to his master. 

 This, is, however, an unjust charge. Dalmatians, like all other dogs, 

 are very much what they are made, and if the owner forgets that the Dal- 

 matian is an animal appreciative of caressses and kindness, and treats 

 him merely as an ornament to his establishment, he cannot reasonably 

 complain if the dog bestows his affections on his fellow-occupant of the 

 stable, and strong are the friendships sometimes seen to exist between 

 the dog and the horse. But the carriage dog, when made a companion, 

 is faithful and affectionate if less demonstrative than some breeds, and 

 therefore I strongly recommend him to the bicyclist, whilst I should 

 like to see him regain his popularity as a carriage dog. It is said he is 

 used in some continental countries as a pointer, and I do not doubt his 

 innate capacity to fill that position if his powers were developed by 

 training, but as he is never so used here I treat him merely as an 

 ornamental and companion dog. 



I shall now take the points of the Dalmatian seriatim, and, first of all, 

 I think, should be considered his fitness for travelling, which so much, 

 depends on his strength and symmetry : a heavy, lumbering, unshapely 

 dog, lumpy in shoulders, bulging at the elbows, and stilty behind, would 

 be incapable of travelling at horse pace for the time a well-made Dalmatian 

 can do so with apparent ease and pleasure, and, therefore, capability to 

 travel with the carriage being a necessity, no cripple, however beautifully 

 spotted, should gain a prize, and for strength, build, and symmetry I 

 should give twenty points in judging. 



The head very much resembles that of the pointer, but is neither 



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