436 BRITISH DOGS 



Next as to " stop." This is one of those technical terms that 

 may be found puzzling to the beginner, and may therefore be briefly 

 explained for his benefit. It is a perfectly legitimate zoological 

 expression, and is in reference to the depression or indentation 

 (found in many breeds, but most pronounced in Bulldogs, Pugs, 

 and Toy Spaniels) between the skull and the bones of the nose. 

 As the description suggests, in the case of the Fox-terrier it should 

 be slight, yet it is astonishing what a difference to the appearance 

 of a dog even the amount of " stop " allowed makes. To fully 

 realise this one has but to mentally compare a dog with the 

 regulation amount of stop with one having a practically level head. 

 The much-coveted expression in the case of the latter is lost. 



Ears are now and again found which are highly suggestive of 

 the Beagle cross resorted to in order to stamp certain characters 

 in the dog. The novice must therefore be on his guard against 

 heavy and badly carried ears. They should be disposed with the 

 tips pointing to the eyes, and not "hanging by the side of the 

 head, like a Foxhound's." Again, it must be borne in mind that 

 tulip, prick, or rose ears absolutely disqualify. That Fox-terriers 

 do occasionally crop up with prick ears is not to be wondered at, 

 however, when the ear-carriage of their remote ancestors is con- 

 sidered. While ears must not be heavy and thick, the other extreme 

 must be guarded against, and the happy medium, if possible, struck. 

 Here it may be well to state that in estimating the chances of 

 puppies of good lineage at an early age, too much attention must 

 not be paid to ear-carriage. Young puppies when teething frequently 

 carry their ears irregularly, and until that process is complete, a 

 slightly unorthodox carriage need not .detract from a puppy's merits. 

 Teething, it must be remembered, causes considerable systemic 

 disturbance. 



The Fox-terrier Club recognises, and with reason, only a black 

 nose. For all that, one should not too hastily discard a puppy 

 with such a defect, if otherwise typical, as such may be regarded as 

 purely accidental and not inherent. More than one cherry-nosed 

 specimen has been used for breeding, and their blood permeates 

 the veins of some of the fashionable Fox-terriers of the present day. 



As will be seen by referring to the Fox-terrier Club's description, 

 some considerable stress is laid upon the eyes being dark-rimmed, 

 small, and deeply set. With regard to the first two it may be said 

 that red-rimmed, small-eyed Fox-terriers have an objectionable 

 Bull-terrier cast even when they otherwise very closely approach 

 the standard. Now and again such specimens are seen upon the 

 show-bench and amongst the prize winners. A few years ago a 

 fashionable dog (for which a large sum had been paid by a lady 

 fancier) was sadly handicapped for his extremely small eyes. Light 

 eyes are, of course, very objectionable ; the colour to be desired is a 



