The Dalmatian. 197 



has always been a great admirer of the breed. 

 His dog Captain was one of the best of his day, 

 and at the earlier shows Mr. R. J. Lloyd Price 

 used to win with a dog called Crib, which was 

 quite equal to the best we have now. Another 

 good one came from Kirkby Lonsdale, Dr. James' 

 Spotted Dick, and about twenty-five years ago 

 there were, perhaps, more of these coach dogs in 

 the north of England than in any other part of 

 the country, though in Staffordshire Messrs. 

 Hales had a kennel containing many first-rate 

 specimens. 



The Dalmatian has not of late years proved 

 particularly popular with the general public ; he has 

 been left to the care of the servants, and children 

 jeered and called him " the plum-pudding dog." He 

 has not deserved such treatment, and although I 

 do not go so far as many of his admirers and 

 vouch for his excellence as a sporting dog when 

 trained for the purpose, I do believe that brought 

 up as a companion to man, he proves quite equal 

 to any other of the canine race. 



Perhaps his lack of popularity (a special club 

 was established in 1890 for the purpose of in- 

 creasing his fading fortunes) may have been owing 

 to the great difficulty in breeding perfectly marked 

 specimens. Litter after litter may be produced, 



