Modern Dogs. 



carried out the needless mutilation. This system of 

 cropping I have already descanted upon in the 

 chapter devoted to the bull terrier and to the white 

 English terrier, and I have no more to add on the 

 subject. I am of opinion that had as much care 

 been used in producing on the black and tan terrier 

 a small thin drop ear, or a neat semi-erect one, as 

 there has been in breeding for colour, he would be a 

 more popular and commoner dog to-day than is the 

 case. He had everything to recommend him for a 

 house dog. He is not too big, is smooth-coated, 

 handsomely shaped, intelligent in expression, 

 brilliant in colour, which being dark is less liable 

 to show dirt, and therefore in advance of any white 

 animal in a town where grimes and smuts prevail 

 and dirt is one of the common objects of the streets. 

 In addition to the illegality of " cropping," there 

 are all the trouble and an unpleasantness connected 

 therewith, which are quite sufficient to keep such a 

 dog from being found in almost everv household. 

 I am not alone in the opinion that this mutilation, 

 continued for so many generations, has had a most 

 injurious effect upon his health and general nature. 

 The black and tan, like other terriers with their ears 

 cut, is more liable to deafness than dogs whose ears 

 remain as nature made them, and so far as the first- 

 named is concerned, I believe that his spirit is in 



