vi PREFACE. 



tlicir ])ractical helji : to Mr. E. \\'. Jaquet, the energetic Secretary of the Kennel 

 Club, for \-aluable advice most courteously given, and not less to Mr. V. Gresliam, 

 Mr. \V. J. Stubbs, ]\Ir. G. S. Lowe, ^Ir. Francis Redmond, the Re\-. Hans 

 Hamilton, Mr. George Raper, Mr. Handley Spicer, and Count Heni-i de B\ianclt, 

 for suggestions which I have adopted. ]\Iy particular tlianks are due to the 

 experts on the different breeds for the conscientious thoroughness with which 

 they have dealt with the subjects assigned to them. Their names are appended 

 to the chapters the}' have written. In many instances I am afraid that I 

 ha\'e taken what they may consider undue editorial liberties with their material ; 

 but where I lia\'e altered, excised, or amjilified, it has mainlv been with the 

 ])ur])Ose of bringing the various chapters into literary harmony and proportion, 

 and I have been careful not to distort facts or misrepresent opinions. 



I prefer to let the reader discover for liimself the chajiters which are of 

 especial imjiortance, but I am perhaps justihed in referring to 'Sir. Walter 

 Glynn's section on canine laws as the most exhausti\-e treatise on tlie legal 

 status of the dog that has yet been compiled, and I think I do not mistake 

 in regarding the section dealing with the dogs of foreign lands as unique in its 

 comjileteness. In this connection I desire to acknowledge mv obligations to 

 the generous helji of .Mr. H. C. Brooke, whose intimate familiarity with rare 

 exotic breeds is j)erliaps unequalled. 



For the selection of the illustrations I am myself wholly responsible. In 

 a large proportion of cases the specimens depicted are well-known examj^les 

 of their resuective breeds or varieties ; but because a dog's jiortrait appears 

 in illustration he is not necessarily to be accepted as a superlative and faultless 

 individual. I consider it enough if he is t^'pical of his kind. Obviously, the 

 labour of collecting so many hundreds of canine portraits has been no light one ; 

 but my requests ha\'e usually been met with a ready response from the many 

 dog owners at home and abroad who have kindly favoured me with photo- 

 graphs, or with the loan of pictures, or who have as kindly allowed the artists 

 to jiaint portraits of their dogs for reproduction in the series of colour plates. 



ROBERT LEIGHTON. 



Loudon, Oct obey, 1907. 



