32 A MANUAL OF TOY DOGS 



pishness at all justified by facts ; but here and there 

 a sharp-tempered Pom may be found. Their quality of 

 disdain towards strangers is one which ought to be 

 considered a virtue in all pet dogs. They are not of the 

 easiest dogs to train to the house, especially when kept 

 in numbers, and are not always reliable in this way, 

 mainly on account of their quick, nervous disposition ; 

 but for cleverness, affection, and beauty, they have 

 few, if any, equals among toy dogs, and they are never 

 likely to lose their popularity ; a really good toy Pom is 

 always immensely admired and courted wherever it is 

 taken. Puppies are not now so easily saleable at high 

 prices as was formerly the case, as so many people took 

 them up that they have become plentiful : and it is not 

 worth while to breed second-raters ; but a good Pom 

 will still sell. 



Next to toy Poms I will mention toy Schipperkes, 

 because, though they are not as yet so fashionable, 

 and probably never will be, they resemble Poms in many 

 ways. As house dogs they are eminently desirable, 

 wonderfully clean and well-mannered, and like the 

 Pom in cleverness and fidelity to one person, while they 

 are much hardier and easier to rear and keep in good 

 condition. They are not at all nervous dogs ; but 

 wildly full of life and greedy for exercise ; their incessant 

 activity vying with that of the merry little Spitz. 

 They are decidedly " barky " and exceedingly inquisi- 

 tive, good travellers, and dogs which settle themselves 

 down anywhere, and are content so long as they are 

 with the favourite " human " they specially possess. 

 Schipperkes are extremely heavy dogs for their size, 

 and quite a wee one will weigh four times as much as a 

 Pom which hardly looks smaller. Both breeds require 

 a meat diet and plenty of good food, which they work 

 off by their active ways ; but the bulk of the Schip's 

 meals should be larger. As a rule, Schips are very 

 good-tempered dogs, and, like Poms, sharp followers 

 at heel. They are, however, pugnacious little things, 

 and have only the grand forbearance of bigger dogs 



