198 THE DOGS OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 



THE BOB-TAILED SHEEPDOG. 



"Until within the last half-century sheepdogs without tails were exempt from 

 taxation, it being supposed that no one would keep a tailless dog who could afford 

 to pay the tax. As a consequence, almost every sheepdog had its tail cut off, and 

 owing to this cause the tailless sheepdog, still met with in some localities, is 

 supposed to have arisen. Bob-tailed pointers, however, were at one time not 

 uncommon, though their tails never were cut short, fashion only leading to their 

 being cropped to the same extent as our fox terriers and spaniels, among whom I 

 never heard of a bob-tailed strain. It is far more probable that the bob is derived 

 from a cross with the bulldog, which is subject to the natural loss of tail in a 

 greater or less degree, and was probably used to give courage to the pointer, as was 

 known to be done with the greyhound, and also to the drover's dog, to which class 

 the " bob-tails " belong, rather than to the sheepdogs. Usually these " bobs " are 

 strongly made and symmetrical dogs, but without any definite type ; they have 

 frequently a tendency to the brindle colour, which favours the theory of the 

 derivation of short tails from the bulldog, though it cuts equally against a similar 

 derivation in the pointer, in whom the brindle is absolutely unknown. Not being 

 able to arrive at any definite type of the " bob-tail," I shall not attempt to describe 

 him. He has the peculiar habit of running over the backs of sheep when in 

 flock in order to head them, and on that account is highly valued for fairs and 

 markets. 



OHAPTEE II. 



THE POMERANIAN OR SPITZ DOG; ALSO CALLED 

 LOUP-LOUP. 



ITHIN the last twenty years this dog has been largely imported from 

 Germany and Prance, in addition to those bred in this country; 

 but, nevertheless, he has not become so general a favourite as was 

 expected, owing in some measure to the fashion of the day tending 

 towards the fox terrier and colley, and also to the temper of the 

 Spitz, which is too short and snappish to make him fit to be trusted with 

 children. It is true that the colley has the same disposition, but not quite to 

 the same extent ; and, being a better traveller with horses and carriages, he is more 

 suited to act as a companion in country rides and drives that his more delicate rival. 



