CHAPTER LXI 

 THE TOY BULLDOG 



To briefly describe the Toy Bulldog, it is or should be a dwarfed 

 specimen of the British Bulldog, its weight not exceeding 2olb., 

 and in type, character, and points an exact reproduction in miniature 

 of its larger relative ; but, unfortunately for both the writer and 

 the Toy Bulldog fancy, there are, so far as Toy Bulldogs are 

 concerned, two Richmonds in the field the one the dog above 

 described, the other a French importation which has little in 

 common with the British Bulldog except its name, and this un- 

 authorised by the ruling body of English Dogdom, the Kennel 

 Club. But as there are many fanciers and breeders of the French 

 Toy Bulldog in this country, the claims of the breed must be 

 seriously considered. 



Its origin, like that of the Bulldog itself, is yet to be satisfactorily 

 accounted for, though a letter which recently appeared in Our 

 Dogs may shed some light on the subject. The letter, which is 

 worthy of the careful attention of those interested in the breed, was 

 as follows : 



FRENCH BULLDOGS 



Sir, I see in the newspapers (especially Our Dogs} frequent allusions 

 to the origin of the so-called French Bulldog. I think its origin can 

 be easily traced, as some years ago I was in that fancy, with many others 

 in this city (Nottingham), where scores of small Bulldogs were annually 

 bred. They were fallow-pied, brindle-fawn, brindle-and-white, etc., mostly 

 with semi-erect ears, from 25lb. to i61b. weight. The principal breeders 

 were E. King, D. Milward, Baker Read, B. North, etc. The reason so 

 many got to France was that there was a continual stream of people going 

 from Nottingham to Calais and St. Quintin, lace-makers, Notts men, many 

 of them taking a dog back with them. George, of London, came down 

 periodically buying, also Fagy Joe, Hincks, and others. Public-house 

 shows were very common. I have a collar now, won at one. On the 

 introduction of Fox-terriers into prominent notice they seemed to quite 

 die out, and the dear, good old souls who bred them as well. The very 

 best small Bulldog we ever bred in Nottingham was bred by D. Milward, 

 and purchased by E. King. It was bred from brother and sister. Every 



