io8 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



It would thus seem that a Terrier's work three hundred years ago was very much the 

 same as it is now, this class of dog acting as a bolter when animals went to ground on being 

 chased. It is very remarkable, however, that the attribute of pluck and endurance varies consider- 

 ably in the different varieties of Terrier pure and simple, the rough-coated ones being generally 

 decidedly gamer and hardier than their smooth-haired relations. Formerly there was but 

 little regard paid to colour and markings, and the general outline of the dog was less graceful 

 than it is in the present day. A fair idea of what the ancient Black-and-tan Terrier was 

 like may be gathered from the accompanying spirited woodcut, where the dogs appear not 

 only of a very indifferent colour but also far heavier and coarser as well ' as thicker in the 

 head than would now be tolerated. 



Though one of the most beautiful breeds, the Black-and-tan Terrier is, nevertheless, one 

 of the most neglected at the present time. A reason for the lack of patronage bestowed upon 

 him by the general public is hard to discover, for his many good qualities are "so palpably in 

 excess of any shortcomings which may be alleged against him, that it is a matter of surprise 

 to numbers of his admirers that he should be neglected as he is by lovers of the dog. The 

 fact of his being so exceedingly difficult a dog to breed up to show form may have deterred 

 would-be exhibitors from attempting to gain celebrity as breeders under his auspices. 



As a vermin dog the modern variety can only reach mediocrity, for though gifted with 

 sufficient pluck and endurance to enable him to hold his own with most breeds at ratting, he 

 ceases to be of any material service when badgers or foxes are introduced. We do not desire 

 to claim any virtues for a breed which we believe do not fairly belong to it, and, therefore, 

 greatly though we admire the Black-and-tan Terrier, and appreciate his good qualities, we 

 candidly confess, from experience, that as a rule he is inferior in sustained courage to most 

 breeds of Terrier. As a companion or house-dog he is unrivalled, for though invariably on the 

 alert indoors, and always ready to give tongue on the approach of a stranger by day or night, 

 his temper is such that he can be trusted to roam at large without the slightest fear of his 

 attempting to injure man or beast. 



Owners of Black-and-tan Terriers experience great difficulty in keeping their coats in good 

 order and their skin free from scurf and dandriff. In highly-bred show specimens of the breed 

 this liability to skin disease seems to be more fully marked, and condition is very often the 

 cause of a good specimen going down in competition with dogs of inferior quality. We 

 believe heat of blood, the result of want of exercise accompanied with over-feeding, is responsible 

 for many such cases, and cannot do better than suggest periodical doses of the sulphur and 

 magnesia powder which is referred to on page 20. If an outward dressing is desirable, we 

 have invariably tried the following very simple remedy with complete success : 



Two parts hogs' lard. 

 One part pine tar. 

 One part sulphur. 



This mixture must be well stirred together, and then thoroughly rubbed into the dog's skin. 

 It has the effect of bringing off a great deal of hair, so that the dog is unable to appear at a show 

 for perhaps five or six weeks. Two or at the most three applications at an interval of four 

 or five days, accompanied by the administration of the sulphur and magnesia internally, has 

 never in our experience failed to produce a cure. 



Amongst the few really successful breeders and judges of this variety the name of the 

 late Mr. Samuel Handley of Pendleton, Manchester, will always stand conspicuously first. To 

 this gentleman's judgment and perseverance we are undoubtedly indebted for most of the beautiful 



