1 8 Modern Dogs. 



I have mentioned as having seen at Bill George's kennels some 

 sixteen years ago; while others that I frequently used to meet 

 with at that time were of the same character. These, one and all, 

 presented the same type a strong proof of their purity and 

 that type was in all respects the same as the old English mastiff 

 portrayed by Vandyke. The same may be said of the dogs in 

 Landseer's picture of Alpine mastiffs, which have all the points of 

 the true mastiffs, although their tails, as might be expected from 

 the cold climate, are hairier than they should be. At that time 

 one used to meet with good English mastiffs also, but they were 

 few compared to the number of half-bred animals that went by 

 that name ; and, with the exception of Mr. Lukey's breed, the 

 good ones have nearly all come from Lancashire, Cheshire, and 

 the north of England generally, where some years ago they were 

 still in considerable request for guarding the large bleaching 

 grounds. Between these and the Alpine dogs I never could 

 discover the slightest difference except in size the best English 

 dogs varying from 2 gin. to 33in. at the shoulder, while the Alpine 

 male specimens were seldom under 3 2 in. 



Now, it is ridiculous to suppose that the dogs that used to be 

 found at the convent, and in a few of the Swiss valleys, were a 

 breed indigenous to that small part of the continent of Europe ; 

 and yet it was there only that the breed existed. When, therefore, 

 we find the same animal common in England two hundred years 

 ago, and still to be met with in considerable numbers, though 

 more rarely than formerly, it is only reasonable to conclude that 

 the English and Mount St. Bernard mastiffs are identical breeds, 

 and that the monks, requiring large, powerful, generous, and high- 

 couraged animals for their benevolent purposes, selected the old 

 English dog in preference to all other breeds. It is very easy to 

 understand that, with the disuse of the breed for combating wild 

 animals, they should have been allowed to die out and degenerate 

 in England ; and it is equally easy to understand that the mastiffs 

 kept at the Convent of St. Bernard for a particular purpose, 

 requiring strength and courage, should have been kept up, and 

 thus that the best specimens of the breed in modern times have 

 come from there. 



