164 THE BOOK OF THE Doc. 



by damp when out of doors in bad weather, and the task of washing her pet and making him 

 comfortable is beneath the consideration of many lady owners, who only keep the creatures because 

 they, when in health, gratify their eyes by their beauty ; their comfort being quite a secondary 

 consideration with those whose duty it is to keep them comfortable. Such persons should most 

 certainly eschew keeping Spaniels in favour of a pet of a more phlegmatic temperament, and one 

 that takes its pleasure and its exercise in a more respectable though a sadder manner. There 

 is so much life and "go" in King Charles or Blenheims, if they are in perfect health, and 

 accustomed to regular exercise, that they splash themselves with mud to a far greater degree 

 than a quieter dog. On the other hand, as a rule, no toy dog is in possession of so much 

 intelligence, and so capable of being brought under command, and we know of more than one 

 first-rate specimen which is in the habit of following its owner about London as quietly and 

 safely as it would in a country lane. 



A Toy Spaniel is in reality a toy only from force of circumstances, and we believe could be 

 readily broken, and worked with the gun, though there would not be much chance of its standing 

 a day's work, on account of its smallness of stature. Our opinions here are shared by the author 

 of the Sportsman's Repository above alluded to, who remarks, " The very delicate and small, or 

 ' carpet Spaniels,' have exquisite nose, and will hunt truly and pleasantly, but are neither fit for a 

 long day nor a thorny covert." With so much, therefore, to recommend them, it is to be hoped 

 that these most beautiful of all dogs may yet regain the position they once occupied, especially as 

 his affectionate disposition renders a " Charlie " or a Blenheim doubly dear to his owner. An 

 instance of the importance attached to his dogs (which were presumably Toy Spaniels) by King 

 James II. lies in the fact that once, on his escape in a boat from a sinking ship, he insisted 

 on putting back to the wreck to save his dogs, though no room could be found on board for 

 several sailors, who were left behind and eventually drowned. 



An essential distinction between the ancient and modern type of Toy Spaniel lies in the 

 formation of the muzzle, as well as in colour. In days gone by it is undoubtedly a fact that 

 the short retrousse noses now so fashionable were things unknown ; in fact, the first reference 

 to them that we have come across is in the Sportsman s Repository, which we have already 

 quoted. That some outside cross has been at one time or another resorted to in order to produce 

 this we may be quite assured, but how it came about is another matter, and presents a difficulty 

 in solution. For our own opinion we fancy a cross of Pug has played some important part in 

 the change of shape in the skull of the Toy Spaniel. One thing is certain, that by reducing the 

 length of nose, much of the animal's sense of smell must have been impaired, and it is therefore 

 reasonable to suggest that if breeders of Toy Spaniels deliberately set to work to try and breed 

 short-nosed dogs, they did so subsequently to the variety being withdrawn from an active participa- 

 tion in field sports. 



The subject of colour is a different one entirely, and we can only suppose when discussing the 

 merits of the King Charles that the partial disappearance of the black-tan-and-white dog, is the 

 result of neglect, and not of any fixed determination on the part of admirers of the breed to 

 exterminate a colour which is to many tastes the most beautiful Spaniel colour we have. That 

 white is a perfectly legitimate colour in a King Charles Spaniel, a reference to old paintings will 

 prove, and we are glad to find the authorities at some of our shows instituting a class for King 

 Charles other than black-and-tan. Here (unfortunately we think) red dogs are allowed to compete 

 at the present time, but we are of opinion that the proper place for the latter under any 

 circumstances is the Blenheim class; and a class for Blenheims other than red-and-white would, 

 we believe, soon be well filled with entries. There is not the slightest desire on our part to 



