THE CHOICE OF BREEDS 37 



but such, if good in points, are quickly snapped up for 

 brood bitches. Japs have the same toy weight limit 

 as Poms 8 Ibs. and the over toy weight dogs are far 

 hardier and easier to breed than the midgets. 



Griffons Bruxellois are quaintness personified, and 

 their funny little characters, full of dignity and self- 

 sufficiency, are indicated by their no less funny little 

 exteriors. The characteristics of a good Griffon are 

 smallness, hardness of coat, deep, rich red colour, huge 

 black eyes, a fleur de t'te, the shortest possible black- 

 ended nose, as flat as may be with the face (this appear- 

 ance generally aided by the breeder, who presses the 

 baby cartilage upwards at every opportunity), and fine 

 and sound legs and feet. The tail is docked, but the 

 ears may not now be interfered with a righteous 

 rule. An undershot " monkey face " is the desidera- 

 tum, and though sometimes shy breeders, these little 

 dogs are well worth having, and make the best of 

 house pets. 



Of black-and-tan toy terriers there is not much to 

 be said, for the simple reason that they are at present 

 quite out of fashion. A vague idea still, I believe, 

 prevails that the bare and leathery, not to say mangy, 

 appearance some of the former little creatures present 

 about their appleheads and big ears, is a sign of good 

 breeding ; indeed, I have often been seriously invited 

 to consider the high claims of a spidery, ill-shaped 

 atom so affected to distinction ori the score of aristo- 

 cratic descent. 



In the show-ring things like this are not tolerated, 

 and the really well-bred black-and-tan is not like the 

 little abortions sold but seldom now, though frequently 

 of old by itinerant vendors whose characters were far 

 from being above suspicion, and by dog-dealers, as the 

 crcme de la crcme of pet dogdom. The show black- 

 and-tan toy is like a miniature Manchester terrier 

 glossy of skin, long and neat in head, with small, dark 

 eyes, oval, not round and goggling ; fine, well-made 

 limbs, with the correct pencilling of deep, rich tan on 



