9O THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



performances of baiting the bull, the lion in the Tower of London, and, in 1825, the lion at 

 Warwick. 



"The purpose for which the dog was formerly bred having disappeared, the admirers of the 

 breed, being at a loss for a common object, have cultivated a variety of specimens, according to 

 the taste or perhaps, more correctly speaking, according to the accident by which they attached 

 themselves to this noble dog, whose character combines all the qualities his more distinguished 

 owner can boast, and many which his less fortunate hater or admirer might well aspire to imitate. 



" It is not my province here to narrate the many acts of intelligence and faithfulness performed 

 by this oft-maligned section of the friend of man, although they would compare most favourably 

 with those of any of the more esteemed. 



" It is generally acknowledged that of all breeds none are more liable to deterioration than 

 the Bull-dog. In a litter you seldom find more than one specimen up to the mark when arrived 

 at maturity. This breed of dogs varies very much in appearance, and even now, but more 

 especially a few years ago, the types in different parts of the country were very marked. 



" The Birmingham district has long been noted for its Bull-dogs. The marked defects of its 

 specimens are that they want greater depth from the nose to the bottom jaw, many being so 

 thin as to approach what is termed in the fancy " monkey-faced." Many are also wanting in 

 length and width of under-jaw, and with few exceptions they are greatly in want of larger noses. 



" Nottingham is another district where this breed has been fostered, and here again you find 

 a marked difference of type. Generally they have good limbs and body, good skull and large 

 eyes, but many are spoiled by a " tulip " ear, and are, moreover, inclined to be " frog-faced " 

 a great defect. The types of the London dogs vary considerably. 



" In breeding it will therefore be seen that much depends upon the selection of a suitable 

 sire for the bitch intended to be bred from. Most of our best specimens are undoubtedly in- 

 bred. No doubt Percival's Toss holds prior claims, he being the grandsire of the celebrated 

 dog King Dick, whose pedigree shows close in-breeding ; nevertheless it is an undisputed 

 fact that he can claim near relationship to the greater majority of the prize-takers of the 

 present day. 



"Were I breeding for size I should select a large roomy bitch and put her to a high quality 

 dog, for I have almost invariably found the dog stamp the quality of the puppies. Experience 

 has taught me that you cannot obtain the points you breed for from the first cross, but must 

 breed in once, at least, to secure the improvement you seek. I am certainly an advocate for 

 judicious in-breeding, believing it to be the much wiser plan to breed from reliable and good 

 blood than to admit questionable blood into your strain." 



Having endeavoured to enumerate the leading exhibitors, past and present, and some of their 

 best-known dogs, we will pass on to the formation of the Bull-dog. 



The skull of the Bull-dog is essentially one of the chief characteristics of the breed. It 

 should be of as great a circumference as possible (19 inches in a dog and 17! inches in a bitch is a 

 fair estimate for a dog of 50 Ibs. and a bitch of 45 Ibs. weight), square in shape, broad in front, not 

 wedge-shaped, and carrying a quantity of loose skin, which should lie in a number of heavy 

 wrinkles over the head and face. 



The jaw s are peculiar in formation, as the lower jaw projects a considerable distance beyond 

 the upper, and has, in addition, an upward turn in front 



The tusks, or canine teeth, should be wide apart, and it is desirable that the front teeth 

 should be regular, though this feature is absent in many of our best dogs. 



