48 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



puppies give way at the ankle, and have to be destroyed. Therefore, the greatest care has to be 

 taken in rearing this breed ; and no Mastiff should ever be chained if it is desired to exhibit 

 him. Cow-hocks are also common, and a great eyesore, and this state is almost always accom- 

 panied with more or less wasting of the muscles of the hams, which gives a thin, almost wedge- 

 like appearance to the hind-quarters. Some judges, we believe several members of the Mastiff 

 Club included, consider dew-claws no disqualification ; they are, however, most unsightly appen- 

 dages which should not be encouraged. 



The Colour. The recognised colours are brindle and fawn, and the latter at present holds 

 the highest place in popular favour. When the fawn is bright, and the mask a decided black, 

 with an entire freedom from white, the effect is very pleasing. Some of the fawns run into red, 

 which is not so desirable, and such as are of that colour are generally coarse in coat. The 

 brindles are of various shades. 



The Coat should be fine, short, and even, except along the shoulder, back, and tail, where it 

 is stronger and longer. 



The Tail should be of great length, strong at the root, and gradually lessening, but not 

 tapered as a Pointer's is. 



We are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. W. K. Taunton, the well-known and successful 

 Mastiff breeder, for the following paper on mastiff breeding : 



"The following is what I consider a Mastiff ought to be, and what I should endeavour to 

 breed for: The head should be large and massive, skull perfectly flat and very wide across, 

 the forehead well wrinkled, with a depression up the centre, a good stop, the eyes small, of a 

 light brown or hazel colour, and set very wide apart ; the muzzle short and very broad, with a 

 square, blunt finish ; lips loose, and a certain amount of flews, but not to the same extent as in 

 the Bloodhound ; the teeth level ; ears small, set on high, and carried close to the head ; neck 

 muscular, free from throatiness ; chest deep, good shoulders, body rather long with large girth, 

 well-rounded ribs, wide strong loins, broad thighs showing plenty of muscle, fore legs perfectly 

 straight with immense bone ; feet round and close ; tail tapering, not too long, and carried low. The 

 dog should be compact and well knit together, and be the picture of muscular power and 

 symmetry, with an open, honest countenance. 



" I consider 30 to 31 inches a fair average height for a dog, but should prefer one 32 or 33, 

 provided the extra height is accompanied by a proportionate increase in bone and size throughout. 

 The increase in the size of a dog standing 32 inches over one 30 inches should be far greater in 

 proportion than the increase in size of one 30 inches over one 28 inches. Size in a Mastiff is a 

 great desideratum, but not mere height alone. Bitches generally stand two to three inches lower. 

 I like a fine coat. 



" It cannot be denied that the colour most admired at the present day is fawn with black 

 muzzle and ears, the black commencing just below the eye. At the same time, I cannot 

 help thinking the brindle would become somewhat more popular if better specimens of this 

 colour were more frequently exhibited. I do not recollect to have seen an illustration of a 

 brindle in any book or paper with the exception of Mr. Lukey's Wallace, and I do not 

 hesitate to say that a very large number of the public do not recognise a Mastiff when 

 of this colour. This is a fact I think to be regretted, because most of the oldest breeders 

 and best authorities are agreed that the brindle was the original and is the true colour of the 

 Mastiff, and, in the opinion of some judges, many of the finest specimens of the breed have been 

 of this colour ; in addition to which, it must be admitted that most, or at least many, of our 



