NORTHERN DOGS 367 



and his teeth are a caution to dentists. His owner tells me that the 

 dog does not bark, but utters a low growl when enraged, and at night 

 howls piteously." 



The Norwegian and Swedish dogs are very much alike, both 

 having larger and more pointed ears than the Esquimaux, which 

 they frequently throw back, which is not the case with the 

 Esquimaux. The coat is very thick and lies close to the body. 

 The Swedish Elkhunds (Fig. 78) are used for hunting the elk, keeping 

 them at bay until their owners are able to reach the spot. Both 

 these dogs are very handsome and make good companions, showing 





FIG. 78. THE SWEDISH ELKHUND. 



an amount of intelligence not to be surpassed by any of our own 

 breeds of dogs. It is easier to obtain specimens of these dogs than 

 of the Esquimaux, and they are therefore much more frequently to be 

 seen at shows than the latter ; but the trouble and expense of import- 

 ing dogs under the existing quarantine regulations are likely to 

 militate against the success of breeders in this country, as in all 

 probability inbreeding will have to be largely resorted to, which 

 cannot but prove detrimental in course of time. 



Shows have familiarised the present generation of dog-lovers 

 with many varieties that a few decades ago were known scarcely by 

 name to the average Britisher. To-day, in fact, we have in our 

 midst canine representatives of countries that, to even the most 



