British Dogs at Work 



The axiom that like begets like has led 

 many astray, and needs certain qualifications. 

 It is quite true that if you mate a fox terrier 

 with a fox terrier the resulting progeny will 

 also be fox terriers, but it must not by any 

 means be assumed that the produce of the 

 best dog and the best bitch of their kind 

 will be as good from a show point of view as 

 their parents. This is such a commonplace 

 to all who have kept a kennel of dogs that I 

 write it with diffidence, but as I am en- 

 deavouring to be helpful to beginners I trust 

 that the older hand who does me the honour 

 of reading these remarks will be kindly 

 tolerant. Remember, then, that you have to 

 take into consideration that most potent law 

 known to biologists as the law of heredity. 

 Put in plain language, if success is to reward 

 your efforts you require to know the charac- 

 teristics that are at the back of the dog and 

 bitch you are using, what their parents and 

 grandparents were like, and further back 

 still, if it is possible. Certain head qualities, 



94 



