DOG-BREEDING 



of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree, and pilled 

 white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was 

 still in the rods " and used them in breeding, still persists 

 both in Tibet and China. The Tibetan Lamas state that 

 images of the Tibetan lion are used in breeding the lion-dog. 

 The eunuchs of the Peking palace use pictures of good dogs 

 and dog-scrolls with the same intent. 



The late Empress Dowager bred her pet dogs chiefly 

 with a view to developing symmetrical markings. There 

 appears little doubt that both she and her predecessors 

 strongly encouraged the lion-dog idea on account of the 

 implied comparison of themselves with Buddha. The " Old 

 Buddha " herself was, according to Miss Carl, strongly 

 against the development of any abnormality or artificial 

 modification of shape. This was not the view of the palace 

 eunuchs, however. They endeavoured to modify develop- 

 ment of body in many ways. One method was to allow the 

 dog to take little exercise from the third month to maturity, 

 with the idea of lessening the appetite, and thus retarding 

 growth. Some of them were accustomed, even in recent 

 years, to hold the growing specimen in the hand for days at 

 a time, inducing, by gentle pressure of the fingers, a slight 

 exaggeration of width between the shoulders. Another 

 artifice was the feeding of the puppy with sugar, but it is 

 stated that this was found to induce thirst, with the result 

 that there was a tendency for the nose to lengthen on account 

 of over-drinking, especially during the third month. During 

 this period nose-development is said to be greatest, while 

 the development of the legs is believed to be most intense 

 during the fourth month. Consequently, from weaning, 

 about the fortieth day to the ninetieth, strong soup only 

 and no water is given to the puppies. One method alleged 

 to have been in use for arresting development was, as in the 



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