454 The Dog Book 



dogs. We noticed in Mr. Pegg's judging that he did not favour length of 

 head or muzzle, but dogs that showed strength; went for the type that 

 Vero Shaw used to show when he was the leading exhibitor in England 

 years ago. 



There has been an inclination on the part of many judges to select a 

 dog too high on the leg for the proper type of bull terrier. The correct 

 thing is a dog showing substance and strength, with a punishing jaw. The 

 standard says that the skull should be widest "between the ears," which is 

 ridiculous, for the ears are well up on the skull. The formation of the head 

 is slightly oval, or looks so owing to the muscle on the cheek, but as little 

 of cheekiness should appear as possible. The set of the eyes is peculiar, 

 as they are or should be rather close together and set obliquely, black and 

 small. The fore face shows no drop below the eyes nor the muzzle any 

 snipyness. The latter should be carried well out to the nose, and in profile 

 the under jaw should show strength. Teeth strong, devoid of canker and 

 meeting evenly in front. Lips showing no hang, other than sufficient to 

 cover the teeth. The bull terrier is the widest dog in front of any of the 

 terriers, not out at elbows but wide because of the width of brisket. A 

 short back is imperative in this breed, with plenty of chest room and short, 

 strong loin. The hind quarters should show great strength and power, 

 with the second thighs well developed. The standard we give is that in 

 Vero Shaw's "Book of the Dog," and our reason for selecting that some- 

 what out-of-date publication is because Mr. Shaw was, as we have already 

 stated, a leading bull-terrier exhibitor and had a better knowledge of the 

 breed than any person of his day or any writer since then. A word is per- 

 haps necessary to explain the term "moderately high" with reference to the 

 fore legs. Fox terriers and all, with the exception of the Irish terrier, were 

 decidedly cobby compared with our terriers. We know the type of terrier 

 he had and wanted. Some of our readers may recall Mr. Mason's Young 

 Bill; if they do, then they will know the type of dog Mr. Shaw meant when 

 he wrote his description. 



DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS 



Head. Should be flat, wide between the ears and wedge shaped; that 

 is, tapering from the sides of the head to the nose; no stop or indentation 

 between the eyes is permissible, and the cheek bones should not be visible. 



