THE BULLDOG 29 



who, naturally, in the course of play, try the patience and 

 good temper of the firmest friend of man. 



THE MINIATURE BULLDOG 



Fifty or sixty years ago, Toy or, rather, as a recent edict 

 of the Kennel Club requires them to be dubbed, Miniature 

 Bulldogs were common objects of the canine country-side. 

 In fact, you can hardly ever talk for ten minutes to any 

 Bulldog breeder of old standing without his telling you tall 

 stories of the wonderful little Bulldogs, weighing about 

 fifteen or sixteen pounds, he either knew or owned in those 

 long-past days ! 



Prominent among those who made a cult of these " bantams " 

 were the laceworkers of Nottingham, and many prints are 

 extant which bear witness to the excellent little specimens 

 they bred. But a wave of unpopularity overwhelmed them, 

 and they faded across the Channel to France, where, if, as is 

 asserted, our Gallic neighbours appreciated them highly, 

 they cannot be said to have taken much care to preserve their 

 best points. When, in 1898, a small but devoted band of 

 admirers revived them in England, they returned most 

 attractive, 'tis true, but hampered by many undesirable 

 features, such as bat ears, froggy faces, waving tails, and a 

 general lack of Bulldog character. However, the Toy Bull- 

 dog Club then started, took the dogs vigorously in hand, and 

 thanks to unceasing efforts, Toy Bulldogs have always 

 since been catered for at an ever increasing number of shows. 

 Their weight, after much heated discussion and sundry downs 

 and ups, was finally fixed at twenty-two pounds and under. 



The original aim of Miniature Bulldogs i.e. to look like the 

 larger variety seen through the wrong end of a telescope 

 if not actually achieved, is being rapidly approached, and can 

 no longer be looked upon as merely the hopeless dream of a 

 few enthusiasts. 



To enumerate in detail the Miniature Bulldog scale of points 

 is quite unnecessary, as it is simply that of the big ones 



