622 BRITISH DOGS 



to a previous generation, and beget puppies that will make bigger 

 dogs than himself; but among the litter there may be at least one 

 or two sufficiently small to warrant the continuance of the experi- 

 ment. The dogs from this litter might be mated with bitches of, say, 

 281b. weight, and a slightly further reduction in the size of the 

 puppies might be confidently looked for. 



To attempt to build up a strain of Toys is practically an im- 

 possibility when the breeder is possessed of only one bitch. 

 The equipment of the would-be Toy Bulldog breeder should be, 

 say, three more, if possible bitches weighing from 281b. to 35lb., 

 and bred from a stock which has always inclined to smallness. 

 The three or more bitches might be mated to different stud dogs 

 of English parentage and of the very lightest weight procurable. 

 Then from subsequent litters the smallest of the dogs should be 

 mated with the medium-weight bitches of the other litters, while the 

 excessively small bitches should on no account be bred from at all. 



In the same work referred to Mrs. Clarke recommends the 

 mating of the smallest English-bred bitches with French dogs, the 

 idea she has in view being to guard against the probability of 

 the sire throwing back ; but it must also be borne in mind that the 

 dam is as likely to throw back as the sire, and the danger to 

 the bitch is almost as great as if the small English-bred dog was 

 used. Besides, as has been before stated, the introduction of the 

 French blood cannot tend to the improvement of the breed, and the 

 two breeds should be kept entirely apart, or incalculable harm to 

 the English Toy Bulldog will result. 



The Toy Bulldog Club, of which the Hon. Mrs. Bailie, of 

 Dochfour, is the Honorary Secretary, has adopted the standard of 

 points as set forth by the Bulldog Club Incorporated, the sole 

 difference being in the weight : 2olb. is considered by the Toy 

 Bulldog Club to be the utmost that a Toy Bulldog should weigh. 

 There will be, of course, many dogs bred that scale a few pounds 

 or even ounces over this weight ; and while they are practically 

 useless from a show point of view except when, as is rarely the 

 case, classes for the "outcasts," as they are sometimes called, are 

 provided by show committees, for dogs weighing between 2olb. 

 and 25lb. they can, of course, be utilised with advantage to 

 continue the breeding operations, while as companions and house 

 pets they will generally find purchasers quickly enough. 



To select a puppy from the nest is always a difficult task for 

 the novice, and even for the fancier of experience, and the selection 

 is rendered even more difficult when the dogs are of any Toy 

 breed. Small size will be one of the first points the purchaser 

 will look for, but he must not confound smallness with weediness ! 

 A weedy puppy is poor in bone, feeble in its actions, and lacking 

 stamina generally. Such a puppy is not likely to do well in fact, 



