104 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



and thick ; too much stop ; parti-coloured nose ; eyes too wide apart ; 

 heavy ears ; heavy shoulders ; wide chest ; " barrel " ribbed ; dew- 

 claws ; elbows turned out ; wide behind. Also light eyes and over or 

 undershot jaws. Colour The Club standard makes no mention of 

 colour. White, of course, should predominate; fawn, lemon, orange, 

 brindle, blue, slate and black markings are met with. Too much 

 of the latter, or black and tan markings, are disliked. Whole coloured 

 dogs are also seen. 



The foregoing description embodies the standard of points 

 as laid down and adopted by the Borzoi Club, interpolated 

 with some remarks for the further guidance of the novice. 



The Borzoi Club was founded in 1892, and now consists of 

 about fifty members, with the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle 

 as joint-presidents. It does much good work for the breed, 

 guaranteeing classes at shows, where otherwise few or none 

 would be given, encouraging the breeding of high-class Borzois 

 by offering its valuable challenge cups and other special prizes, 

 and generally looking after the interests of the breed. 



Although the Club standard of height has been raised from 

 27 and 26 inches to 29 and 27 inches for dogs and bitches 

 respectively, it must be borne in mind that the best dogs of to- 

 day far exceed these measurements, and, unless exceptionally 

 good in other points, a dog of 29 inches at shoulder would 

 stand little or no chance in the showing under the majority of 

 English judges ; indeed, bitches of 29 to 30 inches are by no 

 means uncommon. 



Not many of us can afford to start at the top of the tree, and, 

 except for the favoured few to whom money is no object, 

 and who can buy ready-made champions, there is no better 

 way of starting a kennel than to purchase a really good bitch, 

 one, say, capable of winning at all but the more important 

 shows. She must be of good pedigree, strong, and healthy ; 

 such an one ought to be obtained for 15 upwards. Mate her 

 to the best dog whose blood " nicks " suitably with hers, but 

 do not waste time and money breeding from fourth-rate stud 

 dogs, for if you do it is certain you will only meet with disap- 

 pointment. On the other hand, if you have had little or no 

 experience of dogs, you may possibly prefer to start with 



