34 8 Modern Dogs. 



caudal appendage intact it is of course cut off, and 

 as the operation is performed skilfully, not even 

 an expert can tell whether he is naturally or but 

 artificially tailless. In Holland there is a dark 

 fawn-coloured variety of the breed, but here nothing 

 but black is acknowledged, though I consider 

 those fawn in hue are by no means displeasing to 

 the eye, and possess quite as much character as 

 the blacks. The latter breed true to colour, and 

 it is very unusual for one of any other hue to be 

 produced from black parents, still this does occur 

 at times, but such as are "off" colour and have 

 much white about them should be at once destroyed, 

 as they are in most instances. 



A friend of mine who keeps several Schipperkes 

 in conjunction with his deerhounds, gives the 

 former a very high character. He says they make 

 " excellent house dogs, being capital guards, ever 

 on the alert and always busy, the latter being one 

 of their prevailing characteristics. As companions 

 they are affectionate and docile, will take the water 

 freely, are good swimmers, and can kill rats and 

 hunt rabbits almost as well as some of our terriers. 

 When properly kept and attended to, they are 

 absolutely free from any offensive odour. In consti- 

 tution they are hardy and healthy, and altogether 

 most desirable as house dogs." 



