348 BRITISH DOGS 



"he laughs best who laughs last," and for the time being, at any 

 rate, that smile is on the side of the far more numerous body who 

 swear by the Flat-coat. 



So far the question of colour in the Retriever has not been 

 alluded to, the writer having purposely left it to the last. It goes 

 without saying that black is the orthodox pattern which is almost 

 universal ; moreover, there seems to be a prevailing idea that any 

 other colour is taboo. It may be that some Retriever experts 

 hold to this doctrine ; but personally, the writer is altogether at 

 variance with such views, and red, liver-coloured, or even fawn dogs, 

 if of sufficient high standard of excellence in points of conformity 

 and action, would stand as good a chance under his aegis as a 

 black ; but he would draw the line at a parti-coloured dog a line 

 of action that would doubtless be endorsed by his confreres of the 

 ring, and by readers and exhibitors at large. 



It is certain that a really good liver-coloured or red dog i.e. the 

 colour of an Irish Setter would be met with acclamation ; but, 

 strange to say, that although a goodly number of puppies of these 

 colours are born, of the very choicest strains, we have yet to see 

 a mature specimen that approaches the standard of the black 

 champions. One of the strains that is apt to break out in this 

 direction is that in which the name of Champion Taut appears 

 in the lineal pedigree ; but it is difficult to trace the why and the 

 wherefore of this phenomenon, for apparently this sire traces back 

 to the same tap-roots from which spring a race in which a 

 " coloured " Retriever is a far greater rarity. The writer has bred 

 dozens of these puppies, but he has never reared one that he 

 considered up to the standard of first-class show form. On one 

 or two occasions he has seen fawn or cream-coloured specimens, 

 and he has been given to understand that these have their origin in 

 a " throw-back " to an ancient strain which is, or was, in the possession 

 of the Dukes of Leeds. The question of white markings on a 

 black dog is quite a different matter, and here the boycott has been 

 promptly applied. A small bunch of white hairs on the chest, or 

 the same distributed singly on the coat and stern, is no great 

 detriment ; but a distinct white patch, white toes or feet, should 

 constitute a disqualifying blemish. These remarks apply to both 

 Flat- and Curly-coated Retrievers alike. At the end of the century 

 a few of the leading breeders were anxious to see if an entry of red 

 dogs could be gathered together, and one of these enthusiasts 

 guaranteed classes at the Crystal Palace (Kennel Club Show) for 

 such ; but the result hardly justified the experiment, as the writer 

 believes only one specimen was forthcoming, and that of very 

 moderate quality. 



