442 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



important point is the coat. It should be 

 abundant, particularly about the neck, 

 where it forms a ruffle, and it ought to be 

 quite straight and very sUky. Allowing 

 of course that it is of good shape, I should 

 always select a Japanese Spaniel that is 

 below rather than above 7 lb. in weight, 

 and I have always been exceedingly par- 

 ticular regarding the size of a pair from 

 whom I have intended to breed, never 



MISS SERENAS JAPANESE SPANIELS. 



Ch. FUJI DE KOBI, KUSA, and NIPPON DE KOBE. 



Photograph by Russell. 



mating a small bitch with a large dog, 

 notwithstanding that there are instances of 

 a small bitch being successfully mated 

 with a dog double her weight. I find it 

 necessary when the time for whelping 

 approaches to isolate the prospective mother, 

 and to exercise constant watchfulness. As 

 a rule, the Japanese is so coddled and 

 pampered that she gives way to caprice, 

 and will often neglect her offspring, even 

 obstinately refusing to undertake her 

 maternal duties, and giving one the irk- 

 some task of bringing them up by hand. 

 In such cases I rely upon the aid of an 

 infant's feeding bottle, and have used it 

 with advantage. 



The Japanese Spaniel is constitutionally 

 deUcate, requiring considerable care in feed- 

 ing. A frequent — almost a daily — change 

 ■of diet is to be recommended, and manu- 



factured foods are to be avoided. Rice 

 usually agrees well ; fresh fish, sheep's head, 

 tongue, chicken livers, milk or batter pud- 

 dings are also suitable ; and I occasionaUy 

 give oatmeal porridge, alternated with a 

 httle scraped raw meat as an especial 

 favour. For puppies newly weaned it is 

 well to limit the supply of milk foods and 

 to avoid red meat. Finely minced chicken, 

 rabbit, or fish are better. 



My experience in con- 

 ditioning dogs for ex- 

 hibition confirms me 

 in the opinion that 

 special preparation is 

 not necessary. Further 

 than seeing that my 

 pets are thoroughly 

 washed and carefully 

 groomed on the morn- 

 ing of a show, I do 

 nothing. A dog of 

 whatever breed should 

 be judged on its own 

 merits, and not win 

 prizes by reason of 

 artificial aid. 



Of the Japanese 

 Spaniels which have 

 recently been promi- 

 nent in competition, I 

 may be permitted to mention one of my 

 own, the late Champion Fuji of Kobe, a 

 remarkably beautiful bitch, who was under 

 5 lb. in weight, and who in her brief 

 hfe gained six full championships. Mrs. 

 Gregson's Ch. Tora of Braywick, a fine 

 red and white dog, somewhat over 7 lb., 

 is also to be remembered as a typical 

 example of the breed, together with Kara, 

 the smallest Jap ever exhibited or bred in 

 this country, weighing only 2+ lb. when 

 2-V vears old ; Lady Samuelson's Togo 

 and O'Toyo of Braywick, and Mrs. Hull's 

 Ch. Daddy Jap. 



There has lately been a tendency to lay 

 too much stress upon diminutive size in 

 this variety of the dog, to the neglect of 

 well-formed limbs and free movement ; but 

 on the whole it may be stated with con- 

 fidence that the Japanese is prospering 



