70 The Fox Terrier. 



As a commencement it must not be forgotten, that twenty 

 years ago there were fewer dog shows than now, fewer 

 people who knew a terrier when they saw one, and that 

 canine knowledge was comparatively rudimentary. I lived 

 in a country town, and had no more than visited a few dog 

 shows, the principal ones, however, amongst the number. 

 I went, saw, and fancied the fox terrier as he then was, and 

 in due course, after obtaining a couple of puppies from the 

 same source, which died, got a bitch through the late Rev. 

 T. O'Grady, of Hognaston Rectory, Ashbourne. This was 

 Riot, by Old Trap Venus, by Old Jock a suspicious 

 pedigree to be handed to a novice, but ultimate proceedings 

 convinced me of its correctness. 



After sending her over to the Hilmorton Paddocks, near 

 Rugby, to be served by Jock II., said to be by Old Jock out 

 of Grove Nettle, I had for my pains and expense a litter of 

 mongrels, one of which, because it had an " evenly-marked 

 black and tan head," I was persuaded to show. However, 

 so disgusted was I with my own dog alongside others, that 

 I sold him for seven shillings, and, though the entry fee 

 and expenses had cost ten times that sum, was told, by one 

 who knew, that I had made a good bargain. Purchasing 

 Crack (brother to Trimmer), in due course Riot became 

 his consort, and the foundation was laid of a strain which, 

 I believe, if it had been properly and judiciously kept up to 

 the present day, would have been equal to the best. After 

 three generations I found that my strain bred fairly truly ; 

 prick ears were absent, and any puppy I cared to sell 

 easily realised two or three guineas at least, and when 

 grown up would turn out by no means unpresentable. 



Some crosses I tried were worse than useless ; thus with 

 the Foiler blood, with Rivet, who was by Gadfly from 



