THE DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER. 107 
Entirely concurring as I do with the above opinions, and having 
previously stated almostly exactly similar ones in “The Field,” I 
think it desirable to adduce Mr. Smith’s testimony, though I con- 
fess I do not attach any great importance to the question of purity, 
nor to the Walter Scott type as the ideal of perfection. Still, if 
fanciers desire the original breed in all its pristine purity, I agree 
with Mr. Smith that it is not presented to them among the prize- 
takers at our modern shows. 
‘But granting, as I think we must, that the modern Dandie is 
not purely descended from the old Teviot strain, it becomes a 
question what cross has been employed to produce the change. 
Now the variation is—(1) in ear; (2) in length of body; (3) in 
width of chest and bandiness of fore-legs; and (4) in tempera- 
ment; and when we find all these points combined in the dach- 
shund and in no other breed, it is a natural consequence that we 
should come to the conclusion, that recourse has been at some time 
had to the latter as a cross, possibly not intentionally, but from 
accident. But not being, like Mr. Smith, quixotic enough to 
expect breeders of the Dandie to set to work afresh with a view 
to resuscitate his original shape, I am content to take him as I 
find him in the kennels of Mr. Bradshaw Smith, Mr. James Locke, 
and other well-known breeders, and, excepting with his peculiar 
temperament, I have no quarrel whatever with the dog of the 
present day. But of this I certainly complain; for I have found 
the breed as utterly unmanageable as the dachshund when once 
on the scent of fur. While residing in Worcestershire in the year 
1865, I reared “ Rhoderick Dhu,” given me when a puppy by Mr. 
Macdona, and attempted to break him as a rabbit dog, but could 
never get the slightest control over him when on bunny’s scent. 
Whether in covert or hedgerow, he would persevere until actually 
restrained by force ; and if he once got into a wood, it was hopeless 
to expect to recover him until he was compelled by hunger and 
exhaustion to leave off. No punishment had the slightest effect, 
and at length I- gave up the task of breaking him as hopeless, 
parting with him as a show dog to Mr. Murchison, from whom 
I again obtained him in consequence of his bandy fore-legs for- 
bidding his reaching premier honours. His end was that I lost 
him on Wimbledon Common, where he got on a rabbit scent, and 
