CHAPTER LXIX 



The Lhassa Terrier and Tibet Spaniel 



HE latest European introductions in toy dogs are the Lhassa 

 terrier and Tibet spaniel, neither of which has yet reached 

 America, hence we are unable to write of them with any 

 personal knowledge. As they will undoubtedly be brought 

 to this country ere long a few words by way of introducing 

 them seemed advisable and for the following we are indebted to the Hon. 

 Mrs. McLaren Morrison, the acknowledged authority in England on 

 Central Asiatic dogs. 



"In the cold tableland of Central Asia nature provides her creatures with 

 ample clothing. We find there in the canine breeds the grand Tibet mastiff 

 one mass of gigantic coat and we find too the little Lhassa terrier well 

 protected against the piercing winds whose way no cities and structures of 

 Western civilisation yet have barred. 



"How the Lhassa terrier lives in his own country, what he does, how he 

 is kept we know but little of. One of these little Asiatics which has had the 

 honour to be called the standard dog by experts was purchased out of a 

 Bhuteer's market cart; unkempt, unwashed, uninviting, and loath to be 

 civilised he valiantly guarded his vegetables, till made reluctantly to under- 

 stand that he was born for higher things and that a show career beyond 

 the waters awaited him. 



"Another was brought down from the very interior sent by a Tibetan and 

 accompanied by an attendant wreathed in turquoises. Yet another was 

 carried across the saddle for miles and miles. The character of the Lhassa 

 terrier is true and confiding. Not taciturn, as of some other Asiatic breeds. 

 I am inclined however to think that this is really only correct of the Eng- 

 lish bred Lhassa terrier; for the little fellow who came from the market 

 cart was by no means friendly, and for years devoted himself only to one 

 person whose room and chattels he would defend to grim death. The 

 Lhassa's coat should be long and straight, very profuse and shaggy. Feet 

 large and wide, to tread the snows of the Uplands. The size varies a good 



74S 



