THE CORRECT TYPE 23 



condition. A dog that can walk slowly across the 

 ring, ambling with true characteristic liberty and freedom, 

 can gallop with the required elasticity of movement, if 

 properly conditioned to do so. 



And now let us consider the crucial question of size 

 most fertile subject of periodical controversy. Person- 

 ally I would sum it up in the ancient truism, a good 

 big one will beat a good little one. 



Always assuming that the proportions are perfect, 

 my own ideal is a dog of twenty-four inches and a half 

 at the shoulder. But there must be no suspicion of 

 legginess and weediness on the one hand, no hint of 

 bulky coarseness on the other. The perfect medium 

 combines quality with his size, and conveys an impres- 

 sion of immense strength and muscular activity. He is 

 big of bone and skull, but he is wonderfully sturdy, 

 symmetrical, and compact. Elastic in his gallop, free 

 and limber in his shuffling walk, he is a model of 

 courage, hardihood, and sagacity a workman all over; for 

 we must remember above everything that we are dealing, 

 with a dog whose primary purpose in life is to do a 

 drover's work, and that not only with sheep, but with 

 bullocks frequently, in the New Forest country, with 

 headstrong, wilful ponies. 



I think that the late Dr. Edwardes-Ker, whose thirty 

 years' experience as owner, breeder, and exhibitor entitled 

 him to an authoritative voice in the matter, was sound 

 in his argument when he urged : 



