526 BRITISH DOGS 



that illustrates the original form from which our show dog has sprung 

 is occasionally still to be met with. Dog shows have, no doubt, had 

 much to do with transforming the rather cloddy Black-and-tan of 

 former years into the graceful and refined animal now to be seen on 

 the show bench. Noted among breeders who have had a large 

 share in producing this "dog of the day " was Mr. Sam Handley, 

 who in the earlier years of dog shows successfully exhibited, and 

 became generally recognised as the greatest authority and most 

 expert judge of this breed, some of the best dogs exhibited tracing 

 back to his strain. That a. cross has been resorted to in bringing 

 about this change is more than probable ; the great length of head, the 

 tendency to show a tucked-up flank, and a something in the general 

 contour, gives one the impression that Greyhound blood is in the 

 breed ; and if so it was probably obtained through the Whippet. Some 

 specimens show the wheel back of the Italian Greyhound, a very 

 decided fault in a Terrier of any breed. In the Black-and-tan the 

 skull is certainly much narrower in proportion to length and to the 

 size of the dog than in the Greyhound, and rumour says this end has 

 been obtained by continued compression with wet bandages during 

 puppyhood. 



With improved elegance of form was introduced gradually a finer 

 coat, and richer and more decided contrast in the colours ; and 

 when Nature had not been so kind as was desired in this respect, 

 it was no uncommon thing, a few years back, for some of the votaries 

 of the breed to assist her. Staining, dyeing, and painting are not now 

 so commonly resorted to as was the case in former days, when the 

 preparation of these Terriers for the show-bench was quite an art. 

 To such an extent was this preparation carried out and condoned by 

 judges that a dog shown in its natural condition had little chance of 

 success. Careful breeding has done much towards bringing these 

 dogs to perfection, but the more stringent regulations of the Kennel 

 Club as to legitimate preparation for the show-bench and the enforce- 

 ment of penalties where an infringement of these regulations is dis- 

 covered may account for the diminution in the number of cases 

 in which "faking" (which cannot be too severely censured), is 

 resorted to. 



Although the modern Black-and-tan Terrier is unfitted for the 

 hard, rough work at which his progenitor was an adept, it must not 

 be inferred that he is a useless dog ; on the contrary, he is game 

 enough and death to vermin as all the Terrier family are, but he is 

 simply not fitted to stand rough weather. He is also a remarkably 

 active and cheerful companion, and makes a first-rate house-dog, 

 being generally quite free from any objectionable smell, and does 

 not harbour fleas, or carry dirt on wet days into the house, as 

 rough-coated dogs do. 



The Black-and-tan is frequently called the Manchester Terrier, 



