THE RETRIEVERS 



337 



supposed desideratum at the expense of depth and strength of 

 rib, and consequently of power of loin and quarters. One seldom 

 sees a well-ribbed, square-quartered Fox-terrier nowadays. Again, 

 it was laid down that Bulldogs should be more powerful in front 

 of the saddle than behind it, and that the shoulders should be 

 loose, and the elbows well turned out. Harping on this string, 

 fanciers have produced a result of which they have no reason to 

 be proud; for what do we too often find? Weak, ricketty legs, 

 foundered chests, and wasted loins ; rendering what should be a 



FIG. 73. MR. HARDING Cox's RETRIEVER CHAMPION BLACK QUEEN. 



powerful, active dog, a monstrosity and a cripple. Such examples 

 could be amplified ad infinitum. 



Far be it from the writer to maintain that dog shows have, in 

 the aggregate, failed to advance the objects for which they were 

 initiated. On the contrary, the unbiassed and unprejudiced eye 

 cannot fail to see in all directions, signs of a great advance as 

 regards the levelling of type and the elimination of mongrels and 

 wastrels; whilst the British public has had its innate love of the 

 dog cultured and expanded to such an extent that where formerly 

 few had an expert knowledge on canine subjects, it is now a rare 

 thing to find any one who does not know, or who thinks he does 

 not know, all about them. For the harmless hobby of dog-breeding 



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