AND HINTS TO BUYERS 13 



one would not be a bargain at 5. But as a general 

 principle you may take it that you cannot expect 

 to get any puppy from highly bred parents at less 

 than the latter sum. Again, it will depend upon 

 the variety. In some breeds 3 would be considered 

 a reasonable sum for a puppy just weaned that was 

 not possessed of a superabundance of good points. 

 If you are prepared to pay as much as this, it is 

 advisable that you should only buy of responsible 

 persons who have a reputation to maintain, and you 

 must then to a large extent put yourself in their 

 hands, because you certainly will not be in a position 

 to judge as to whether a puppy is good or bad of 

 its kind ; they change so much month by month that 

 it is a most difficult thing even for an experienced 

 man to forecast with any exactitude the future de- 

 velopments. Take, for instance, the case of the York- 

 shire Terrier. The proper colour of this little dog 

 when it reaches maturity is a dark steel blue, not 

 a silver blue, extending from the peak of the head 

 to the root of the tail, while the rest will be a 

 rich golden tan, grading off to a lighter shade at 

 the ends. At birth the tiny Yorkies are black and 

 tan, and the change in colour may not come until 

 they are nearly twelve months old. 



You may, however, exercise a few elementary pre- 

 cautions. Unless you are purchasing one of the Toy 

 varieties, you should select a puppy with good bone, 

 having its front legs straight, and moving well behind. 

 Cow hocks are very objectionable, and are not easily 

 got rid of. If there is much weakness at the 

 shoulders, with the elbows sticking out instead of 1 

 being placed well under the body, you must certainly 

 be wary. See, too, that the skin is clean and free 



