124 The Fox Terrier. 



are most carefully nursed from their infancy, and no risks 

 run of injury from any source. Soon after seven months 

 old, sometimes even earlier, their public career commences, 

 and if continual knocking about in a dog box and on the 

 bench does not soften a dog, what will ? I do not 

 approve of showing young puppies, and prefer them reared 

 by cottagers in the country, where they literally are allowed 

 to run wild. Those so brought up will, when first chained, 

 behave like a fox under similar conditions. They possess 

 constitution, nerve, and more terrier character than the 

 pampered nurseling who, before he has finished changing 

 his teeth, has made the acquaintance of many show rings, 

 and never tackled anything harder than a bone or an 

 unsoaked dog-biscuit. 



" The great point to be borne in mind by the present 

 generation of fox terrier breeders, is not to out-Herod Herod 

 in the race to obtain quality. Do not ' quality ' your terriers 

 until there is nothing else left. Unwise critics, who have 

 no care for, or knowledge of what constitutes, a working 

 terrier, are often saying such and such a dog ' is a trifle 

 coarse.' When such a remark is heard or read, let my 

 sporting friend give an eye to the dog so described. The 

 chances are he is really a good one, with bone, coat, and sub- 

 stance, who perhaps looks a trifle manly when compared with 

 the weak-headed, vacuous looking, effeminate weed alongside 

 him. The great risks fanciers of any breed always run, are 

 that exaggerated developments of certain points are pre- 

 served to the detriment of what I may term that breed's 

 original form and character. We do not want to improve 

 a variety "off the face of the earth," and I sincerely hope 

 that, in fox terriers, a later race of owners may be able to 

 say that wisdom has been shown in the present day by 



