1 82 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



large masses give him a very beautiful appearance. Although his attachment is very weak, yet 

 he is difficult to be stolen." 



The same writer alludes to the colour in the following words : " Of a pale fallow 

 colour, lightest on the lower parts ; some are white, some black, but few spotted." 



In the "Sportsman's Cabinet," published 1804, this breed is termed the Pomeranian or 

 Wolf-dog, and the colour is referred to as being "mostly of a pale yellow or cream colour, 

 and lightest in the lower parts ; some are white, some few black, and others, but very 

 rarely, spotted." The similarity of this description to the one given above renders it more 

 than probable that the two were by the same hand, more especially as both works were pub- 

 lished at so brief an interval. According to the latter authority the following was the 

 pleasing method of breaking Pomeranians to harness adopted in Kamtchatka : " As soon as 

 the puppies are able to see they are thrown into a dark pit, where they are shut up until 

 they are thought able to undergo a trial. They are then harnessed with other seasoned 

 dogs to a sledge, with which they scamper away with all their might, being frightened by 

 the light and by so many strange objects. After their short trial they are again confined 

 to their gloomy dungeon, and this practice is repeated until they are inured to the business 

 of drawing, and are obedient to their driver. From this moment begins their hard and 

 miserable course, only alleviated by the short recreation the summer affords them. As in this 

 season they are of no service, nobody cares about them, but they enjoy a perfect liberty, which 

 they principally employ in assuaging their hunger. Their sole nutriment consists of fish, 

 which they watch for all this time by the banks of the river, and which they catch with the 

 greatest cunning and dexterity. When they have plenty of this food, like the bears, they 

 devour only the heads and leave the rest behind." In the opinion of the latter writer the 

 character of the dog is superior to that given him by Sydenham Edwards, assuming that the 

 two authors are not identical. In the " Sportsman's Cabinet " Pomeranians are said to 

 possess an "instinctive sagacity of giving infallible notice when storms are approaching by 

 scratching holes in the snow, and endeavouring to shelter themselves beneath it. By these and 

 many other good qualities the Kamtchadale dogs by far outbalance the casual mischiefs they 

 do in their occasional petulance and perverseness." Further on the writer remarks : " He 

 bites most severely, and always with greater vehemence in proportion as he is less resisted ; 

 for he most sagaciously uses precautions with such animals as attempt to stand upon the 

 defensive ; and is admitted to be instinctively a coward, as he never fights but when under 

 the necessity of satisfying his hunger or making good his retreat." 



In the "Naturalist's Library," edited by Sir William Jardine, Col. Charles Hamilton Smith, 

 who is responsible for most of the canine information, remarks that " these dogs are white, 

 white-and-brown, or buff." Thus showing that the white colour was becoming more popular 

 amongst us. This latter is by far the favourite and most common colour in the present day ; 

 though some authorities (with whom, however, we disagree) rather favour the fawn or lemon- 

 coloured dogs. It may, however, be taken as a rule that, whatever the colour is, the 

 dog should be " whole " coloured, not pied, as patches are universally objected to in 

 Pomeranians. 



As regards shape the " Cynographia Britannica " says : " Head broad towards neck and 

 narrowing to the muzzle; ears short, pointed, and erect; about 18 inches high; is dis- 

 tinguished by his long, thick, and rather erect coat, forming a ruff around the neck, but short 

 on the head and ears ; the tail large and bushy, curled in a ring on the rump ; instances 

 are few of short-coated ones." This description very closely resembles that of the modern 



