22 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



breeds in the way suggested, it has never been done sys- 

 tematically or completely ; nor, so far as the writer knows, 

 have the proposed ideal cuts ever been published accom- 

 panying any set of standards. It has been customary 

 to say little of the psychic characteristics of dogs in the 

 standards, though surely there is no subject of higher 

 importance. Possibly this omission is to be explained 

 on the ground that it is impossible to learn these fully in 

 the judging ring, etc. However, it seems to the writer 

 that a dog of an objectionable disposition or of very de- 

 fective intellect should not be encouraged in the least, as 

 such qualities are, unless the result of bad usage, very 

 likely to be inherited by offspring, and in fact may be in 

 any case. To give such an animal a prize is to stamp him 

 with approval, and it is well known that the owners of 

 bitches often breed to prize dogs regardless of every other 

 consideration. It should never be forgotten that the dog 

 of every breed is meant to be the companion of his own 

 fellows and of man himself to some extent, and in the case 

 of some breeds very largely. It is unfortunate also that, 

 taking the standards as a whole, they do not agree on the 

 terms used or the subdivisions of the animal's form recog- 

 nized. 



Since the clubs established in the interest of each breed 

 do now draw up and publish standards, a few words in re- 

 gard to these organizations may not be out of place. 



In some countries specialism in the breeding of dogs is 

 carried so far that it is not uncommon for the admirer of 

 one breed to feel no interest — ^possibly a sort of contempt 

 or repugnance — as regards others ; or it may be that his 

 very enthusiasm may lead him to overestimate one breed 



