CHAPTER XLVIII 

 THE WHITE ENGLISH TERRIER 



LIKE many other breeds, the White English Terrier has undergone 

 considerable modification since public dog shows came into being. 

 How the modern dog of that name was manufactured one cannot 

 with certainty say. Mr. Fred White, of Clapham, Mr. James 

 Roocroft, Mr. Peter Swindells, and a few other Lancashire fanciers 

 could throw light on the subject; but possibly a small dash of a 

 light-bodied and rather weedy Fox-terrier, and a strong dash of 

 Bull-terrier and Whippet, were some of the ingredients used. 



In the early days of exhibitions the White English Terrier was 

 a comparatively thick-headed and a heavier made dog than its 

 modern prototype. The Lancashire breeders appear to have taken 

 the Black-and-tan Terrier as their model, and moulded the White 

 Terrier to his form : it was a good line to take, and the idea has 

 been worked out with considerable success, although in many 

 specimens we are still unpleasantly reminded of the Italian Grey- 

 hound in the mincing gait, the wheel back, and the hooped tail, 

 that detract from the Terrier character of specimens possessing 

 them. 



Among the old show celebrities Mr. Walker's (of Bolton) Old 

 Tim stood high, winning at all the principal shows, and siring many 

 good ones, some of his own name ; whilst a host of others were 

 called after him, for, in nomenclature, dog-fanciers are often 

 imitative. Gem, by Old Tim out of Swindell's Empress, was 

 another great success in the ring; and his son Joe, out of Pink, 

 was, like his sire and dam, a great prize-winner indeed, when the 

 three last named were in one kennel and at their best, they were 

 invincible. When they went off from their best form, Roocroft's 

 (afterwards Mr. Alfred Benjamin's) Sylph and her son Silvio, by Joe, 

 held supreme sway ; and Mr. Mather's Vril and his Snow also 

 succeeded in taking premier honours at many shows. These may 

 all be said to be of the same blood, being more or less related ; 

 and close inbreeding will still be of advantage in fixing the type it 

 has been the desire to establish. 



