THE SCIENCE OF BREEDING. 63 



study their good and bad qualities, and then apply the theory in 

 mating, so as to increase the good and diminish the bad. In other 

 words, we must constantly strive to breed up to the good and away 

 from the bad attributes. 



A COMMON MISTAKE. 



Before attempting to give in detail the plan to be followed in 

 breeding, we must say a word of warning against the most common 

 and fatal mistake which occasional breeders make, viz. : that of 

 thinking because a dog has a first-class show and field record this 

 is sufficient to make him a good one to breed to. Certainly these 

 qualities are of great importance, and in the absence of special 

 unfitness such a dog should be used in preference to one of whom 

 nothing is known, or of less reputation ; but, on the other hand, it 

 must be remembered that no male that ever lived has produced 

 equally fine progeny from all the females sent to him, even when 

 they have been equally fine between themselves. This variation 

 in progeny is due to the variation in individual characteristics to 

 which we have referred, and the consequent greater fitness in some 

 unions than in others. Men who own breeding-kennels will bear 

 us out in the assertion, that it is very rare for an applicant for a 

 dog's services to ask any questions as to his physical peculiarities, 

 character, or disposition, yet as regards the contemplated union 

 these are as important items as any others. It seems to be taken 

 for granted that a noted dog is all right in these particulars, and 

 so he may be in the abstract, yet all wrong in view of the special 

 requirements in a given union. No absolutely perfect animal 

 exists, and though a good dog must certainly possess a great pre- 

 ponderance of good over bad qualities, the best have their faults, 

 and if care is not taken to discover these, it may easily happen 

 that two individuals with the same faults are brought together, in 

 which case natural law will compel the reproduction of the faults 

 in still greater degree in the progeny. As we have said, the influ- 

 ence of like on like is equally potent in bad as in good qualities, 

 an intelligent breeder will therefore make such selection as will 



