34 THE OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG 



vigour, and courage. For Nature has laid down a line 

 beyond which we may not experiment ; and the law of 

 heredity insists upon the reproduction of evil charac- 

 teristics as surely as good ones. The more closely two 

 animals are in-bred, the stronger becomes the probability 

 of exaggerating a family failing into a deformity, and 

 the greater becomes the certainty of mental deterioration. 



The case I have assumed is, purposely, a very extreme 

 one, but the same rule applies, proportionately, to every 

 degree of relationship. Therefore, I do not propose here 

 to touch upon any of the arguments in favour of occa- 

 sionally resorting to a moderate degree of consanguinity 

 in order to fix a type. Such argument is not for the 

 beginner. Rather let me urge him to shun, as he would 

 the plague, every temptation to mate two animals whose 

 relationship to one another is open to this charge of 

 consanguinity. If he has the slightest doubt in his 

 own mind as to whether they are too closely allied, he 

 is unhesitatingly to decide against the union. 



Next to consanguinity the most common evil is that 

 of breeding from immature stock. To mate a bitch at her 

 first season is a practice which should have no toleration 

 from those who have the welfare of their dogs at heart. 

 It is almost incredible that anyone can seriously advo- 

 cate it. 



For common-sense must surely show that an animal 

 herself in need of nourishment and development cannot by 

 any possibility be in a condition to nourish and develop a 



