30- 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



hound when first exhibited was required to 

 undergo a probationary period as a foreign 

 dog in the variety class at the principal 

 shows. It was not until 1880 that a class 

 was provided for it by the Kennel Club. 



MRS TOTTIES SMOOTH BASSET-HOUND DOG 



CH. LOUIS LE BEAU. 



rlinloKUlfh l,y A. Horner. SMU. -. ' 



The hounds originally imported were some- 

 what smaller than those of to-day. Sir John 

 Millais' historic couple, :Model and Garenne, 

 were considered the best of their time. 

 Their measurements and weights were as 

 follows : — 



the girth of chest, 24 inches to 25 inches, 

 height at the shoulder, 12 inches, the ears 

 from tip to tip 22 inches, and the length 

 from the point of the nose to the tip of 

 the tail from 44 inches to 50 inches. 



In referring to some of the early 

 e.xamples of the Basset - hound in 

 France, Sir John Millais wrote that 

 "it might be interesting to note from 

 a breeder's point of view the gradual 

 development of this hound to modern 

 times from the mating of Fino de 

 Paris and Trouvette, over a quarter 

 of a century ago." Sir John's care- 

 fully compiled pedigrees of his dogs 

 are too long for quotation, but Fino 

 de Paris was taken as the principal 

 factor in the line of descent, and by 

 inbreeding to this type the Champions 

 Forester, Psyche, Paris, Xena, Xitta, 

 Isola, Bowman, and many other spe- 

 cimens of high quality were produced. 

 It is to be regretted that owners of this 

 beautiful hound are not more numerous. 

 Admirable specimens are still to be seen at 

 the leading exhibitions, but the breed is 

 greatly in need of encouragement. When 

 the pioneers who had done so much to 



MR. J. W. PROCTORS SMOOTH BASSET-HOUND BITCH 



CH. QUEEN OF THE GEISHA 



These measurements are all smaller than 

 would apply to a typical hound at the present 

 time, but it may be stated that the forelegs 

 of the smooth Basset should not be longer 

 than five to six inches from elbow to foot, 



establish the Basset retired the present 

 writer endeavoured to continue their work. 

 I bred my hounds from the purest strain only, 

 and was successful in those which I brought 

 out, striving always towards improvement. 



