46? 



CHAPTER LX. 



FOREIGN DOGS. 



HAVING arrived at the conclusion of our remarks upon British dogs, we propose venturing 

 to turn the attention of our readers to the consideration of foreign canine subjects. As 

 almost everybody who has given the matter one moment's serious consideration must be 

 aware, this country has gained for itself a reputation for its dogs which no other nation has 

 hitherto attempted to question or dispute. It therefore has followed, in the natural course 

 of events, that affairs in the canine world are in a more settled state in Great Britain than 

 they are elsewhere, and consequently the types and standards of our various breeds have 

 been more generally agreed upon than has been the case in other countries. That we have 

 improved our breeds since dog shows have been matters of almost weekly occurrence, very 

 few practical people can deny, and it is equally certain that field trials have also done much 

 service, as they have been the direct means of bringing clever field dogs to the front. But 

 not only have the varieties of dogs directly been benefited in the manner just alluded to, but 

 they have also received indirect encouragement by the facilities placed before the public for 

 comparing good dogs with bad. Foreign countries have not kept pace with us in such like 

 matters, and consequently, even in the present day, considerable differences of opinion exist 

 amongst Continental and other lovers of the dog upon many of their commonest breeds. Dog 

 shows must, in the process of time, be the period long or short, have the effect of reducing 

 the number of opposite types of every breed to a minimum, and still further must, sooner or 

 later, assimilate the remaining ones to something approaching one definite standard. Few 

 men would obstinately persist in exhibiting a class of dog which invariably found disfavour 

 with the judges ; and even if these authorities differ, as they often do, the voice of public 

 opinion eventually steps in, and places one type above the other. However, of late our 

 German cousins and our French allies have seriously taken the matter of canine exhibitions 

 up, and much good has, we believe, already come from the exertions they have made. It 

 would, nevertheless, be premature to discuss the question of Continental dog shows before a 

 few more remarks have been passed upon the condition of canine matters in quarters of the 

 world other than our own. 



Before commencing, however, we must warn our readers that it should be borne in mind 

 that many nations possess varieties of dogs which are practically unknown in this country, but 

 which are peculiarly adapted to their native climes. From the Esquimaux dog of Greenland 

 to the Dingo of Australia it is a very wide leap, and in his travels the lover of the dog 

 will not only find much to interest and amuse, but also a great deal to surprise him. In 

 short, we English must not parade the virtues of our native dogs too fully before the world 

 jntil we feel assured that, under altered circumstances of climate and of fare, our tykes would 

 do as well as those we secretly despise, simply because we do not properly appreciate their 

 worth. Foreign sportsmen know for the most part what they require without much help from 

 us, though we must fain confess that the exportation of English sporting dogs to France and 



