BREEDING. 55 



the character of the bitch herself in regard to these 

 qualities. 



I am presuming that the brood bitch has been trained 

 and used at her proper work, for it is very advisable 

 that every dog of practical use, whether Pointer, Setter, 

 Colley, or Greyhound, should be practised in its proper 

 vocation before being used to the stud; for the secondary 

 instincts created by training and practice are as assuredly 

 hereditary as those we recognise as natural, although, it 

 may be, in a much fainter degree. 



The object being to obtain in the pups the qualities 

 above spoken of, the next important step is the selection 

 of a mate. In these days there is abundance to choose 

 from, though it is becoming almost impossible to match a 

 dog and bitch that have not, to a greater or less degree, 

 the same blood in them. It is advisable, however, to avoid 

 too close consanguinity, although, under some circumstances, 

 it may be well to mate the nearest of blood relations, 

 even to brother and sister; but, as may be inferred from 

 the preceding statement, such cases do not now often arise. 

 Still, whenever it is considered advisable to concentrate 

 distinctly-marked and desirable family character, no breeder 

 need hesitate to adopt such close breeding, so long as he 

 does not continue it in-and-in, for that would certainly lead 

 to degeneracy. 



The dog and his strain must be considered with care 

 equal to that bestowed on the bitch and her family, alike 

 as to health, physique, and running qualities. As like 

 begets like, within certain limits, and with variations the 

 causes of which are obscure, a dog should be selected 

 possessing and, if possible, known to inherit those 



