vi INTRODUCTION 



I would strongly advise the obtaining a well-bred 

 dog, of whatever variety is selected, as, not only is it 

 more satisfactory to have about you the best procurable 

 type of any breed you may fancy, whether dogs or any- 

 thing else, but if you want to part with either the orig- 

 inals, or any of their progeny, it is usually much easier 

 to find purchasers and at much better prices for what is 

 called " pedigree stock," that is of which the parentage 

 for one or more generations is known, than when no 

 particulars or references can be given. 



There are fashions in dogs, the same as in other 

 things, and I can remember a great many " crazes " for 

 different breeds of dog. Fox Terriers, which are 

 smart, lively, game little fellows, well able to adapt 

 themselves to almost any circumstances, have had a 

 long term of favour, and are still largely kept, perhaps 

 as largely as any breed of their size; another ele- 

 ment in their favour, is their not having much coat, and 

 so not bringing in much mud upon them, even in 

 dirty weather, if kept in the house. This, of course, 

 has been rather against Skye Terriers, which are other- 

 wise capital dogs for the house, full of life and 

 spirit, but, to be kept in any order, they must be occa- 

 sionally brushed, or their coats, which should be hard 

 and straight, somewhat of the texture and straightness 

 of a horse's tail, will get matted, and be a disfigurement, 

 instead of an ornament. 



A great movement has existed, for sometime, in fa- 

 vour of the Irish Terrier, who should be almost un- 

 broken in reddish-brown colour, I mean with little or no 

 shading, what is called self colour. This is a " good all 



