468 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



Germany has considerably increased of late ; but this, we think, is greatly due to the institution 

 of dog shows in these countries, and the belief that for looks, at least, the English dogs must 

 carry off the palm. In discussing the comparative merits of English and German Pointers 

 with a Continental authority at the Hanover dog show of 1879, he remarked to us: "Your 

 English Pointers have too great pace for our work at all events, to my idea it is so and I 

 shall try a cross between some staunch native dogs I own, with some I have imported from 

 England, so as to get the best qualities of both." Such words might horrify Mr. Price or 

 Mr. Whitehouse, who have done so much for English Pointers, but still they were used by a 

 thorough sportsman, who knows a dog, and who was almost English Setter mad at the time 

 he spoke, as he was determined to do wonders at some forthcoming field trials with some 

 specimens of the latter breed which he had recently imported. We have merely alluded to 

 the above conversation as tending to corroborate our own idea that, though the English may 

 possess, as we have no hesitation in affirming they do, the best dogs in the world, taken 

 collectively, it is quite possible for our crack breeds to be inferior to Continental dogs under 

 the altered circumstances in which they find themselves placed. 



We have before shown, in the course of what has gone before, that many of our principal 

 varieties of dog have sprung from Continental sources, and that even of recent years the 

 Dachshund and the Basset Hound have taken root amongst us, and therefore it is only 

 reasonable that we from our abundance should in our turn supply our neighbours' canine 

 wants. It is not with this subject, however, that we have now to deal, for we propose 

 treating of the principal varieties of dog as best we can, and with every desire to do the 

 breeds justice. The task which is set before us is, nevertheless, we regret to find, one which 

 is beset with many difficulties, for the very reason which we have already alluded to- the 

 variance of opinion which exists between Continental authorities upon many points. Dog 

 shows have not yet had time to do their work, and bring about that concordance of ideas 

 which all true lovers of the dog so cordially desire, and consequently, in many instances, our 

 correspondence and conversations with eminent breeders have not been fruitful in the good 

 results we anticipated that they would have been. Many a pitfall for the unwary has been 

 dug by the dealers of every country (and it must be said that our own are not at all behind 

 in this respect when selling dogs to foreigners), and the inferior specimens of every breed 

 which are perpetually crossing the sea in every direction have only succeeded in making the 

 natural obscurity which exists more thoroughly developed. A stranger desirous of purchasing 

 dogs in a, to him, totally unknown country, can have but little chance of getting what he 

 wants, if in the search of pure-bred stock, unless he has secured an introduction to some 

 brother lover of the canine race who will help him in his search. Apocryphal breeds, too, 

 have been sprung upon the world, which, though they find but little favour at home, have, by 

 dint of the "writing up" which they have received in foreign sporting papers, been recognised 

 abroad as pure and valuable varieties. Having, therefore, had so much to contend against 

 ourselves in our search for information, which was certainly prosecuted under peculiarly 

 favourable circumstances, we have only done our duty in warning our readers of the risks 

 they run, and trust that our experiences may prove of service to them, in saving them from 

 being taken in by what they hear from interested parties. 



Allusion having been already made to foreign dog shows, we will endeavour to briefly 

 sketch their method of procedure. In America, as in England, two, or at the most three 

 judges officiate in a class, and in many instances single-handed judging is the order of the 

 day. On the Continent all is different, for, with the exception of the classes for British dogs, 



