144 The Fox Terrier. 



so for a longer period than one cares to recall. Why, many 

 years ago, the cry as to the growing bigness of fox terriers 

 was so rife that in 1877 the Birmingham executive arranged 

 their classes accordingly, having divisions for fox terrier 

 dogs over i81b. weight, for bitches over i61b. in weight, 

 and others for animals below these stipulations. I need 

 scarcely say that this arrangement was not satisfactory, and 

 though it was continued till 1885, the weight classification 

 finally lapsed, and has not since been restored. It may be 

 instructive to note that in 1876, the year before divisions 

 by weight were arranged, there were 72 entries in the dog 

 class, a number which has not been equalled since. 



Some fox terriers look bigger than they actually are and 

 weigh accordingly, and vice versa is likewise frequently the 

 case. A fox terrier dog iglb. in weight in show bench trim 

 is really not over-sized, and often enough dogs heavier than 

 this have become champions and no fault found with them. 

 As a rule exhibitors are chary about sending their dogs to 

 scale when they are about 191b. weight or more. 



However, I cannot do better than give prominence here to 

 Mr. Doyle's valued opinion on the progress made by fox 

 terriers of late years, and some comparisons between the 

 prize winners of an earlier generation and those of to-day. 

 He says : " For twenty years I have bred somewhat 

 extensively, judged not unfrequently, and observed pretty 

 attentively and regularly. If, therefore, I cannot make 

 something like an accurate estimate of the results which 

 have been reached during that period, it is not for lack of 

 opportunity. 



" To begin with, I feel pretty sure that I shall have every 

 competent critic of the breed with me as to the great general 

 improvement of the breed as a whole. Whether our best dogs 



