5IO 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



including Turc and Cora, were dead ; 

 Amazone died from blood-poisoning due to 

 the sting of a wasp, and the few that remained 

 in the hands of Mr. Woodiwiss and Air. Brooke 

 were sold to a Canadian gentleman. So 

 ended the history of the Dogue de Bordeaux 

 in England. 



In general appearance the Dogue de 



.. '-«ji(S2.i ^'saifc. 



A TYPICAL SPANISH BULLDOG, 



THE PROPERTY OF M. RIEU OF BORDEAUX 



Bordeaux is impressively massive, and the 

 size of the much-wrinkled head in proportion 

 to the bodv is greater than in any other 

 breed. The muzzle is broad, deep and 

 powerful. The lower jaw projects slightly. 

 but the turn-up is almost concealed by the 

 pendulous flews. The teeth are enormous. 

 The nostrils, too, are particularly large. 

 The eyes are small and deep set, light in 

 colour, rather wicked in expression, and 

 penetrating. A deep furrow extends from 

 between the eyes up the forehead, adding 

 to the general impression of ferocity. The 

 thick neck, muscular shoulders, wide deep 

 chest, and powerful limbs, all contribute to 

 give him the semblance of a fighting gladiator. 

 The coat is smooth, and in colour preferably 

 a reddish fawn, with a red mask and a 

 reddish brown nose. The height may be 

 from 23i inches to 27^ inches at the shoulder, 

 and the weight about 120 lb. for dogs, and 

 100 lb. for bitches. 



The estimate of excellence in these dogs 

 seems to have undergone a change in France. 

 At a recent show in the Tuileries Gardens 

 ten specimens were exhibited. None of these 

 was cropped-eared ; only three had the 

 red mask, the light eyes, and the liver- 

 coloured nose. The other seven with their 

 drop ears and black muzzles resembled the 

 English Mastiff, and it was to 

 1 two of the presumably un- 

 typical seven that the first and 

 second prizes were awarded. 



The Spanish Bulldog. — 

 Associated with, and some- 

 times mistaken for, the Dogue 

 de Bordeaux is the Spanish 

 Bulldog, which is an almost 

 equally massive animal, bred 

 and trained for fighting. Some 

 . —g -1 writers doubt the existence of 



'JH| a genuine Spanish Bulldog ; 



^^M but notwithstanding their in- 



credulity such a breed exists. 

 Mr. F. Adcock imported seve- 

 ral specimens from Spain in 

 the 'eighties. One of these, 

 which he bought in Madrid, 

 weighed 105 lb., and another, 

 named Alphonso, over 90 lb. 

 He was a rich fawn in colour, with slight 

 white markings, his tail short and crooked ; 

 very massive and muscular, but exceedingly 

 active, and reputed to be a grand dog in 

 the arena. One named Toro was used with 

 the purpose of improving the stamina of 

 the British strain, but the experiment was 

 not necessary, since it has always been the 

 object of British Bulldog breeders to eliminate 

 the Mastiff type. A very good Spanish 

 Bulldog was exhibited at the Aquarium in 

 1896, and mistakenly entered as a Dogue de 

 Bordeaux. He was red in colour with a 

 black mask, and had a good Bulldog head. 

 It seems a pity he was not shown again in 

 his proper place, as he was a fine specimen 

 of his kind. The one whose portrait is 

 here given was the property of M. Rieu, of 

 Bordeaux. This dog, of the real fighting 

 strain, was brindle, with his ears close- 

 cropped. He is shown in fighting form, and 

 consequently somewhat light. His weight 



