264 BREEDING. , 



the terrier; chiefly, I imagine, because these dogs are more fre- 

 quently the, companions of man than the sporting dogs, which' 

 are kept in kennels. No dog is more capable of being taught than 

 the half-bred bull-terrier, although the bulldog is by no means so, 

 and, as he is almost always tied up, the reason is obvious enough. 

 Solitary confinement makes all animals, and even man himself, 

 more or less idiotic, and if any dog is to be rendered as sagacious 

 as possible, he must be constantly associated with his master. 

 Hence it is that the poacher's dog is so much more clever than 

 the fair sportsman's, for, being the constant companion and friend 

 of his master, he understands every word he says, and is ready 

 also to communicate his own ideas in return. 



To sum up, it may be assumed that the following breeds may 

 be taken as types of the qualities so remarkable in each, and may 

 be resorted to when any other kind is deficient in them. Thus, 

 speed is typified in the greyhound, courage in the bulldog, and 

 nose or scenting power in the bloodhound ; for hunting purposes, 

 the pointer or setter, when required in conjunction w _ ith setting ; 

 and the spaniel or terrier, for finding or " questing '' both fur and 

 feather. Lastly, sagacity is displayed in the poodle, Newfound- 

 land, and terrier, chiefly because they are the constant associates 

 of man. 



IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH IN BOTH SIRE AND DAM. 



Health in both parents should be especially insisted upon, 

 and in the bitch in particular there should be a sufficiently strong 

 constitution, to enable her to sustain the growth of her puppies 

 before birth, and to produce milk enough for them afterwards, 

 though in this last particular she may of course be assisted by a 

 foster-nurse. 



