CHAPTER XXVII 



THE BULL TERRIER 



THE Bull Terrier has passed through more vicis- 

 situdes than the majority of our domestic dogs. 

 For some reason or other he has never really caught 

 on with the general public, although his magnificent 

 courage and fidelity entitle him to our respect. No 

 doubt early associations still linger round his name, 

 and people do not readily forget the part played 

 by him in dog-fighting and badger-baiting. His 

 appearance, too, is not altogether aristocratic. His 

 birth probably dates back to the end of the eighteenth 

 century, when Taplin mentioned that " terriers have 

 by the lower classes for the purpose of badger-bait- 

 ing been bred in and with the Bulldog, which has 

 enlarged them arid increased their natural ferocity." 

 Sir Walter Scott once said : " The cleverest dog I 

 ever had was what is called a Bulldog Terrier. I 

 taught him to understand a great many words, inso- 

 much that I am positive the communication between 

 the canine species and ourselves might be greatly 

 enlarged. ' Camp/ the name of my dog, once bit 

 the baker when bringing bread to the family. I 

 beat him and explained the enormity of the offence, 

 after, which to the last moment of his life he never 



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