THE BULL-TERRIER 411 



weight is allowed i5lb. to 5olb. The latter some think far too 

 heavy, as the majority of those dogs belonging to the heavy-weight 

 brigade seem to lack type, sacrificed doubtless by the effort to 

 obtain size. The Club, however, made the minimum i5lb. so as 

 to draw a distinctive line for the "Toys." For some years now 

 the bulk of the specimens at shows have varied between about 

 25lb. and 5olb. or a little heavier. And though the margin is very 

 wide, it seems to have been brought about by accident rather than 

 by design, owing to the fact that individual specimens of the same 

 litter vary to this extent. The i61b. or 2olb. Bull-terriers are 

 practically extinct nowadays, and the 25lb. specimens are not much 

 better. It is several years since a good class of " under 3olb." has 

 been seen at any shows ; indeed, this class has practically been 

 dropped from the classification of show schedules owing to lack 

 of support. 



Mr. Tredinnick many years ago wrote upon the weight question 

 and his remarks thereon may be well worth reiterating at the 

 present moment : 



" Breeders should not go too much for great weight in the 

 large-sized specimen. I consider 45lb. quite large enough for 

 any specimen, especially for exhibition purposes, as when we get 

 above that weight we lose more important details, such as formation 

 of skull, tightness of lip, straight legs, and symmetry points which 

 should not be sacrificed to get weight. The best sizes for exhibition 

 purposes are i61b., 2olb., 25lb., and as near to 45lb. as can be. 

 I do not mean to say that a pound or two either way in the 

 large-sized specimens would be objectionable ; but the nearer they 

 can be bred to the weights named, the better chance of their 

 success upon the show-bench." 



Since cropping was abolished the Bull-terrier Club has worked 

 very hard to settle satisfactorily the "great ear question," and 

 with more or less success ; but the ideal ear has yet to be 

 produced. Their efforts have chiefly been directed towards getting 

 the ears as small as possible. It does not matter whether the 

 ears are carried erect or semi-erect, so long as they are small. 

 The " drop " ear does not meet with the approval of Bull-terrier 

 fanciers : it gives the dog a bad expression ; but neither this nor 

 any other carriage disqualifies. For show purposes a powerful 

 muzzle and face " well filled up " under the eyes are essential, 

 as the natural ears throw weakness in these points into great 

 prominence. 



In selecting a young Bull-terrier, particular attention should 

 be paid to the head. One with a short thick head or showing 

 any tendency to cheekiness is to be avoided. Still, in some strains 

 it is a singular fact that the heads of young puppies are of the 

 " apple " variety. On no less an authority than that of Mr. Pegg 



