6 A MANUAL OF TOY DOGS 



to. True, the terms always do, or certainly always 

 should, include a second visit free if the first proves 

 fruitless, but there is the loss of time, the disappoint- 

 ment to the owner, and sometimes to the little bitch 

 herself, who may have been quite anxious to breed and 

 not have had a fair chance, and the trouble and expense 

 of travelling for her. On the whole, I am much inclined 

 to advise the novice to, at any rate, begin by rearing up 

 a male puppy of such breeds as Pekingese and Griffons, 

 or the scarcer toy Bulldogs, and using it for the home 

 stud ; for the other plan is less likely to result in disap- 

 pointment when a little knowledge has been gained of 

 the kennel world in general. This, of course, unless 

 the whole thing is gone into under the aegis of some 

 experienced owner, as before suggested. Some little 

 bitches are exceedingly capricious, and will not take 

 the least notice of a strange dog, where they would 

 willingly mate with one they knew and liked ; others 

 are so upset by a journey and a strange place as to be 

 useless pro tern. ; others, again, instead of being ready to 

 breed twice a year, as is the usual habit of female dogs, 

 may only come in season once in twelve months, and then 

 but fugitively. In such cases it is a positive necessity 

 to have a dog on the spot. Where a sire must be 

 chosen from among strangers, his points should correct 

 any in which the bitch is deficient ; your toy pug may 

 have too small a head, with little wrinkle you must 

 look for a dog with good head properties as her mate ; 

 your Pom may be long in back, and you must seek a 

 male with the opposite quality, and a plume well over 

 and touching his frill. 



The first puppies of two young dogs are generally 

 larger than the parents, but I do not believe the theory 

 often advanced that the first litter is always the best. 

 Puppies by a very old sire are usually small. 



A toy bitch, if sent away, should be carefully packed 

 in a roomy, warm basket ; the provision of draughty, 

 tumble-to-pieces baskets is false economy, both for 

 show and breeding purposes. If possible, a toy dog of 



