The Bull Terrier. 45 



which would not require cropping. I have heard it 

 urged that bull terriers never had such good " drop " 

 ears as were sometimes to be found on the original 

 Irish terrier, and that unsuccessful attempts have 

 already been made to breed them with drop ears 

 that would look well uncropped. However, be 

 that as it may, I am afraid that we are a long way 

 off such a desirable change, and the ordinary " bull 

 terrier breeder " is not yet educated up to that 

 point attained by the admirers of Irish terriers ; 

 at any rate, education or otherwise, the cropped 

 bull terrier has not yet had his day. I need 

 scarcely say here that cropping a terrier is illegal, 

 and prosecutions for cruelty to animals under such 

 circumstances have been successful. 



This mutilation is usually done when the animal 

 is from seven to ten months old. It is a troublesome 

 performance, requiring considerable skill and nerve. 

 It is customary in many cases to have the dog under 

 chloroform when it is being performed upon, and 

 one operator has an ingenious contrivance' to which 

 he fastens the patient with straps. Even when the 

 actual cutting is finished the trouble is not ended, 

 for the ears have to be fastened up, and daily 

 manipulated until they grow into the correct position. 

 Prior to showing bull terriers it is the custom to cut 

 their whiskers, which is again said to smarten their 



