GREAT DANES 195 



for over a hundred years, but it was not until the 

 dog show days that English people seriously gave 

 him their attention. Probably his gigantic stature 

 suggested that he possessed an appetite in proportion, 

 and that he would therefore be a costly luxury to 

 maintain. Now we have a number of large kennels, 

 and the Benches set apart for this variety at an 

 important show are a sight to see. Of course there 

 are many Had specimens about, with slouching hind- 

 quarters, coarse, thick necks, and indifferent heads. 

 They are the reverse of pleasing. One is inclined 

 to think, having in mind the best the Fatherland 

 has to show, that we are paying too much heed to 

 size at the expense of symmetry. The Germans, too, 

 say that until recently we have neglected colour, a 

 point upon which they lay much stress. In our 

 defence be it said that in a large animal, designed 

 .for working purposes, the Englishman usually puts 

 most emphasis upon structure, and rightly so I think. 

 After all, colour is more or less a fancy point, but 

 if it can He obtained good without the sacrifice of 

 essentials, so much the better. This question of 

 colour, requires some understanding, as the breeder 

 of poultry and pigeons will b'e aware. The continued 

 mating together of dogs and bitches of the same 

 self-colour will ultimately result in progeny of a 

 washed-out appearance, the rich shades looked for 

 being sacrificed. Curiously enough the mating of 

 brindle and brindle has the result of intensifying 

 this marking until the red body colour upon which 

 the black stripes are set practically disappears. Black 

 will help to improve blue, fawn goes with brindle, 

 and so on. 



One hears the Dane, at times called a tiger dog. 



