442 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



important point is the coat. It should be 

 abundant, particularly about the neck, 

 where it forms a ruffle, and it ought to be 

 quite straight and very silky. Allowing 

 of course tliat it is of good shape, I sliould 

 always select a Japanese Spaniel that is 

 below rather than above 7 lb. in weight, 

 and I have always been exceedingly par- 

 ticular regarding the size of a pair from 

 whom I ha\-c intended to breed, never 



MISS SERENAS JAPANESE SPANIELS, 



Ch. FUJI DE KOBI, KUSA, and NIPPON DE KOBE. 



Photograph by A'liss.;/. 



mating a small bitch with a large dog, 

 notwithstanding that there are instances of 

 a small bitch being successfully mated 

 with a dog double her weight. I find it 

 necessary when the time for whelping 

 approaches to isolate the prospective mother, 

 and to exercise constant watchfulness. As 

 a rule, tlie Japanese is so coddled and 

 pampered that she gi^•es way to caprice, 

 and will often neglect her offspring, e\"cn 

 obstinately refusing to undertake her 

 maternal duties, and giving one the irk- 

 some task of bringing them up by hand. 

 In such cases I rely upon the aid of an 

 infant's feeding bottle, and have used it 

 with advantage. 



The Japanese Spaniel is constitutionally 

 delicate, requiring considerable care in feed- 

 ing. A frequent — almost a daily — change 

 of diet is to be recommended, and manu- 



factured foods are to be avoided. Rice 

 usually agrees well ; fresh fish, sheep's head, 

 tongue, chicken livers, milk or batter pud- 

 dings are also suitable ; and I occasionally 

 gi\-e oatmeal porridge, alternated with a 

 little scraped raw meat as an especial 

 fa\-our. For puppies newly weaned it is 

 well to limit the supply of mUk foods and 

 to a\-oid red meat. Finely minced chicken, 

 rabbit, or fish are better. 



My experience in con- 

 ditioning dogs for ex- 

 hibition confirms me 

 in the opinion that 

 special preparation is 

 not necessary. Further 

 than seeing that my 

 jiets are thoroughly 

 washed and carefully 

 groomed on the morn- 

 ing of a show, I do 

 nothing. A dog of 

 whate\er breed should 

 be judged on its own 

 merits, and not win 

 prizes by reason of 

 artificial aid. 



Of the Japanese 

 Spaniels which have 

 recently been promi- 

 nent in competition, I 

 may be permitted to mention one of my 

 own, the late Champion Fuji of Kobe, a 

 remarkably beautiful bitch, who was under 

 5 lb. in weight, and who in her brief 

 life gained sL\ full championships. Mrs. 

 Gregson's Ch. Tnra of Braywick, a fine 

 red and wliite dog, somewhat over 7 lb., 

 is also to be remembered as a typical 

 example of the breed, together with Kara, 

 the smallest Jap ever exhibited or bred in 

 this country, weighing only 2} lb. when 

 2h years old ; Lady Samuelson's Togo 

 and O'Toyo of Braywick, and IMrs. Hull's 

 Ch. Daddy Jap. 



Tliere has lately been a tendency to lay 

 too much stress upon diminutive size in 

 this variety of the dog, to the neglect of 

 well-formed limbs and free movement ; but 

 on the whole it may be stated with con- 

 fidence that the Japanese is prospering 



