The Black and Tan Terrier. 331 



Another point (of course, artificial, yet great stress is laid on it), is 

 the cutting of the ears unless this is what is euphonistically and most 

 erroneously called artistically done, it mars the chance of an otherwise 

 first-rate dog winning. 



This is a custom I most strongly deprecate, and I hope to see it done 

 away with, as it has been in the case of pugs, Dalmatians, and others. 

 Whether it improves the dog's appearance is a matter of opinion ; I 

 think it does not, and I do not think without better reasons than 

 I have ever heard given we are justified, for a mere whim or fancy, in 

 exposing to all weathers one of the most delicate organs of the body, 

 which nature has specially protected, thus leaving the poor beast easily 

 liable to ear canker, deafness, and other evils. The following are the 

 points required in a first-rate specimen : 



The head must be long and narrow, clean cut, tight skinned, with no 

 bulging out at the cheeks ; the skull flat and narrow. 



The muzzle should be long, lean, and tapering, with the teeth level, or 

 the incisors of the upper jaw just closing over the under ones. The nose 

 must be quite black. 



The eyes are black, bright, and small, neither sunk in the skull nor 

 protruding. 



The ears are, for exhibition purposes, invariably cut, and much impor- 

 tance is attached to the result of this operation. It is required that the 

 ears correspond exactly in shape and position with each other. They 

 must be tapered to a point, stand quite erect, or slightly lean towards 

 each other at the tip. This is a practice I strongly deprecate, and never 

 miss an opportunity of protesting against ; and I believe there is a 

 general feeling arising against it. Among others who strongly condemned 

 it I may name the late Mr. S. Handley. The supporters of the practice 

 cannot offer a single valid argument in its favour, whilst there are many 

 strong reasons against it. It is sheer nonsense to say the dogs look 

 better cropped. It is not many years since people thought pugs looked 

 better with their ears shorn off by the roots, but nobody thinks so now ; 

 and the practice as regards terriers could be effectually stopped by a 

 resolution of the Kennel Club to the effect that no dog with cut ears 

 would be eligible to compete at any of their shows after 1879. There is 

 this practical evil, too, in cropping, that it places the dog with naturally 

 defective ears on an equality in competition with the dog born with 



