THE SMOOTH FOX-TERRIER. 



343 



would not be looked at if a hard-and-fast to breed Fox-terriers must have the bumps 

 line were drawn over which no dog should of patience and hope very strongly developed, 

 win a prize. There are hundreds of as if the tyro imagines that he has only 

 Fox-terriers about quite as capable of to mate his bitch to one of the known prize- 

 doing their work as their ancestors ever winning dngs of the day in order to pro- 

 were, and there is hardly a large kennel duce a champion, he had better try some 

 which has not from time to time furnished other breed. Let him fix in his mind the 

 our leading packs with one or more dogs, ideal dog, and set to work by patient effort 

 and with gratifying results. It is, there- and in the face of many disappointments 

 fore, a great pity that our leading ex- to produce it. It is not sufficient that, 

 hibitors should often be the greatest delin- having acquired a bitch good in all points 

 quents in showing dogs which they know in save in head, that he breeds her to the 

 their hearts should be kept at home or best-headed dog he can find. He must 



drafted altogether, and it is 

 deplorable that some of our 

 oldest judges should by their 

 awards encourage them. 



So much for the utility of 

 the present breed. Now as to 

 a comparison of its appear- 

 ance with bygone genera- 

 tions. I have no hesitation 

 whatever in saying that if 

 the old time worthies could 

 come to life again they 

 would look a sorry crew, 

 and hold no chance what- 

 ever with our average 

 specimens ; while as to our 

 first flight they are incom- 

 parably ahead of them. It 

 is true that far too many 

 Fox-terriers are now bred, 

 and one sees many indiffer- 

 ent ones ; but the type is 

 vastly improved, and with 

 it, heads, shoulders, fronts, feet, 

 character. 



satisfy himself that the head 

 is not a chance one, but is 

 an inherited one, handed 

 down from many genera- 

 tions, good in this particu- 

 lar, 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 hav- 

 ing 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 

 and she is due to whelp, let Nature take its 

 course. Dose your puppies well for worms 



MR. REDMOND'S 

 DUSKY DALESMAN 



BY DARLEY DALE 



LASSIE. 



Photograph by Reveley, Wantage. 



-DURHAM 



Before concluding this chapter it may at eight weeks old, give them practically 



not be out of place to say a few words as as much as they will eat, and unlimited 



to the breeding and rearing of Fox-terriers, exercise. Avoid the various advertised 



and in doing so I will presume I am address- nostrums, and rely rather on the friendly 



ing those of my readers who are novices advice of some fancier or your veterinary 



striving to compete with older hands. surgeon. 



In the first place, never breed from an Take your hobby seriously, and you will 



animal whose pedigree is not authenticated be amply repaid, even if success does not 



beyond a shadow of a doubt ; and remem- always crown your efforts, as while the 



ber that while like may beget like, the in- breeding of most animals is a fascinating 



evitable tendency is to throw back to pursuit, that of the Fox-terrier presents 



former generations. The man who elects many varying delights.. 



