SELECTION OF SIRE. 199' 



dominant characters but the characters of his family, the 

 constancy with which good qualities have been trans- 

 mitted, whether the existing perfections will compensate 

 for ancestral defects, etc. 



He who would improve his dogs by developing their 

 most valuable qualities and fortifying them with others,, 

 and so give evidence that he is something more than a 

 breeder in name merely, must have a conception of the 

 qualities that constitute perfection — an idea of what he 

 wishes to create, the ideal form he would mould. He 

 must also be able to detect slight variations in form and 

 qualities within ; moreover, have a knowledge of the funda- 

 mental laws of animal organization, and especially those 

 that relate to inheritance. 



With these and good judgment and perseverance he 

 can feel confident of success. But their acquirement 

 means systematic observation and an abundant material 

 for study, consequently it is scarcely surprising that there 

 are so few real breeders. 



The one who possesses these eminent qualifications 

 seeks the dog that is most likely to correct the faults of 

 his bitch and at the same time preserve her good qualities^ 

 in the offspring. But he does not follow the custom- 

 which seems so prevalent among breeders and choose- 

 always a dog that is strong where his bitch is weak. For 

 instance, if the average breeder has a bitch whose muzzle 

 is too long his choice is a dog with a good muzzle ; or 

 'if she is "leggy" he seeks a stocky dog with plenty of 

 bone and muscle. Again, if breeding for color and his 

 bitch is rather light, he chooses a dog that is inclined to 

 be dark. And in all his selections he considers merely 

 individual excellence ; with the result that only compara- 

 tively rarely does he breed puppies nearly as good as their 

 parents. 



