THE CHOICE OF BREEDS 41 



haired dogs are not to be recommended, because of the 

 occasional washing, which is a vexation alike to dog and 

 owner. The colouring of the Blenheims is very taking, 

 and one with all the show points, spot on the head 

 included, is sure to be admired ; but toy spaniels, as 

 a race, the Jap and Pekingese excepted, are very much 

 in the hands of professional exhibitors, and but seldom 

 now seen as pets. The black-and-tan King Charles is 

 inclined to be rather a silly dog, pretty enough, but 

 not " brainy " ; a loving little thing, but unintellectual 

 such, at least, is my experience of him. The faults 

 of both breeds are generally too much leg, long heads 

 and noses, instead of the big round skulls desired ; 

 small eyes, and curliness the latter a direful mistake. 

 The Prince Charles, or Tricolour, is the King Charles 

 over again in three colours black, tan, and white ; 

 and the Ruby is, as its name implies, all red ; rather 

 scarce, this is, to my mind, the prettiest of the toy 

 spaniels. All are very susceptible to damp and cold, 

 and should be carefully dried, especially as to the feet, 

 after being out in rain or mud. They are sweet dogs 

 in skin, and seldom smell " doggy " a great virtue. 



Maltese have a good many friends. These are 

 the oldest of all lap dogs, and a good specimen, 

 with perfectly straight hair which is, however, but 

 seldom found is really a thing of beauty. They 

 should be treated like Yorkshire terriers, except that 

 some of the ever-recurring tubs may be avoided by 

 dusting flour or violet powder (pure starch) into the 

 coat and well brushing it out again. They are often 

 spoiled by brown noses, which are a great handicap, 

 and also by the brown marks caused by running of the 

 eyes, which are a great disfigurement in a white dog. 

 Here I may break off to remark that these marks 

 would also spoil white toy Poms, but for the fact that 

 white toys of that breed are scarce. Breeders have 

 done their best to get them, and a good many small ones 

 under 6 Ibs. have been bred, but the tiny whites 

 shown are generally deficient in some point. Of toy 



