THE SMOOTH FOX-TERRIER 211 



say a few words as to the breeding and rearing of Fox 

 terriers. 



In the first place, never breed from an animal whose pedigree 

 is not authenticated beyond a shadow of a doubt ; and re- 

 member that while like may beget like, the inevitable tendency 

 is to throw back to former generations. The man who elects 

 to breed Fox-terriers must have the bumps of patience and 

 hope very strongly developed, as if the tyro imagines that he 

 has only to mate his bitch to one of the known prize-winning 

 dogs of the day in order to produce a champion, he had better 

 try some other breed. Let him fix in his mind the ideal dog, 

 and set to work by patient effort and in the face of many 

 disappointments to produce it. It is not sufficient that, 

 having acquired a bitch good in all points save in head, that he 

 breeds her to the best-headed dog he can find. He must 

 satisfy himself that the head is not a chance one, but is an 

 inherited one, handed down from many generations, good in 

 this particular, and consequently potent to reproduce its 

 like. So in all other points that he wishes to reproduce. In 

 the writer's experience, little bitches with quality are the 

 most successful. Those having masculine characteristics 

 should be avoided, and the best results will be obtained from 

 the first three litters, after which a bitch rarely breeds anything 

 so good. See that your bitch is free from worms before she 

 goes to the dog, then feed her well, and beyond a dose of castor 

 oil some days before she is due to whelp, let Nature take its 

 course. Dose your puppies well for worms at eight weeks old, 

 give them practically as much as they will eat, and unlimited 

 exercise. Avoid the various advertised nostrums, and rely 

 rather on the friendly advice of some fancier or your veterin- 

 ary surgeon. 



Take your hobby seriously, and you will be amply repaid, 

 even if success does not always crown your efforts, as while 

 the breeding of most animals is a fascinating pursuit, that of 

 the Fox-terrier presents many varying delights. 



