136 The Fox Terrier. 



which we hear, when they are analysed, comes to this. 

 There are certain points of merit about which modern 

 judges and breeders are lax. That is, I fear, an almost 

 inevitable result of the show system. Stress is laid on 

 certain points, perhaps because before they have been 

 unduly neglected. Other points gradually drop into the 

 background. Public opinion is of necessity largely formed 

 by those who have a personal interest in certain dogs or 

 certain strains, and who often persuade themselves, no 

 doubt in all good faith, that their favourites are perfection. 

 The dog on whom breeders ought to be keeping a watchful 

 eye is the dog who is strong in just those points where the 

 generality of the prize winners of the day are weak. Un- 

 happily that is just the dog which is apt to be thrust aside 

 and forgotten. But this can easily be averted if there are 

 a sufficient number of breeders who are content steadily to 

 work their way towards their own standard of perfection, 

 and not to be turned aside by the caprices which at times 

 make their way into the judging ring, nor the effect of such 

 caprices on the sale market. 



" There is one other point on which perhaps I ought to 

 say a word, and that is the size of modern terriers. For 

 some twenty years I have been told that terriers are 

 getting bigger, and if at that stage the complaint was well 

 founded they should by this time weigh about 3olb. As a 

 matter of fact I believe Buffet was well up to the size of 

 most winners of to-day. Brockenhurst Joe, who won the 

 Fox Terrier Club's challenge cup in 1881, was, I feel pretty 

 sure, the biggest dog, except perhaps Venio, who ever won 

 it. At the same time I do think that there is a certain 

 tendency on the part of critics, and, I fear, even of some 

 judges, to be indifferent to the question of size, and to 



