 section 43 of the American Book of the Dog. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Natalia Cox. The American Book of the Dog. G. O. Shields editor. section 43 The Italian Greyhound by G. Irwin Royce, M.D. History has not told us, with any degree of certainty, when or where this delicate, sensitive, and graceful little animal originated. But it is safe to conclude that it had the same origin as the other types of the Greyhound family, that by careful breeding, and no doubt by considerable inbreeding, it has been reduced to its present size and form, and from the name we may reasonably infer that it has long been known as a native of Italy. It is also plentiful in southern France and in other countries where the climate is always mild and equable. The Italian Greyhound was taken to England about the time of Charles I. At least this is as far back as any account is given of their being seen in that country, and since their introduction there they have been bred down to finer and more perfect models, more nearly resembling in confirmation the larger type of Greyhound. Still they have always been the same delicate, graceful creature that we see them today, and they have ever been the favourites of the nobility in nearly all parts of Europe where they can survive. We read of them as the pets of the Montague's and the Capulets, and even in our own day some of the best specimens extant have been in the possession of Her Majesty the Queen of England. Poets have immortalized this dog in verse, and Lancer, Paul Veroneza, and others of the Old Masters have employed their brushes to faithfully chronicle his exquisite formation and graceful outlines. Comparing the more modern form of the Italian Greyhound with pictures of the older specimens we see but slight variation between the various models. In fact the Italian is but a miniature English Greyhound in most of his points of beauty, with rather larger and more languishing eyes, and a more delicate colour to his coat. These latter excellencies no doubt contribute largely to their popularity, and have been instrumental in making them the pets of royalty and the inmates of chateaus and palaces. There has probably been less change in their general formation than that of any other variety of the canine race, and still in but rare instances has anything like the correct type been produced. The noted Molly, owned by Mr. W. MacDonald of Winchmore Hill, Middlesex, England, having been nearer perfection than any other Italian ever brought to public notice. She was small, of a delicate dove colour, especially good in head, and all judges under whose observation she came pronounced her nearly perfect. There have been but few fanciers in this country who have given attention to breeding this toy dog, and consequently, at the present time, few good specimens are seen at our bent shows. Only now and then is one seen in this country that it all approaches the standard of the breed. But I see a gradual tendency towards substituting the Italian for the pug and other toy varieties, and in the near future we may look for a vast improvement in these pets. They are grace itself, and their beauty, their loving disposition, delicate sensitiveness, and scrupulous cleanliness make them an ornament and a delight to any household. Occasionally they have been utilised in the field for coursing hairs, but with poor success, for having so long been confined to the parlor, the hunting instinct has lain dormant, and should the average Italian greyhound be shown a hair, a rat, or other vermin, he would undoubtedly show fear rather than a desire to kill. Now and then one may be seen with courage enough to stand for his rights, and may be so pugnacious as to dispute your right of entrance to the house. Two good specimens that have been under my observation for several years will destroy the largest rat with all the skill and eagerness of a terrier, and I can see no reason why the breed should not serve a useful purpose in this direction. But it will require considerable care in breeding and training to overcome the natural timidity and the extreme sensitiveness that they possess in such a marked degree. Those bred in England and in this country have only been used as pets and lap dogs, but in Italy they have been put to more practical use, and there they show more courage, gameness, and better staying qualities. Where the questionable sport of box coursing with small rabbits has been indulged in, the Italian greyhound has been crossed out with the fox terrier and the bull terrier, with the object of increasing the speed of the terrier and adding to the gameness of the Italian. The cross produces a very useful little dog with a strong inclination toward the form of the terrier, and such dogs have been found useful in coursing hairs. The Italian has also been crossed with the black and tan terrier, with a view to softening and refining the latter, and the experiment has been attended with considerable success, but it is necessary to breed back to the terrier the second time to fully establish the colour and restore the formation to the standard for that breed. I can see but little to be gained by outcrossing with the English greyhound, as only a small specimen of the greyhound would be the result, and this would be neither ornamental nor useful, and there could scarcely be any gain in either formation or disposition. But the position that they should occupy in the canine world is that of a lap dog or parlor pet. Here they are in their true element, and one can lavish on them all the affection that he may desire, and it will be reciprocated with as nearly human love as can be expected in any one of the domestic animals. They are as loving as a dove, and delicate enough in their manifestations of affection to satisfy the most sensitive and refined lady. They are harmless, amiable, and ornamental, and their elegant attitudes and delicate shades of colour can but please the most fastidious. They are never happier or more contented than when curled up in the lap of a loving mistress, feeling the gentle caress and enjoying the natural warmth and magnetism of the human body. During the warm weather they enjoy a romp on the lawn, but it is usually of short duration, and the appearance of a rude boy or a large strange dog will be the signal for a sudden disappearance, and they hide away to a place of safety. Being naturally of a delicate constitution, and with a very thin skin, the Italian is sensitive to sudden changes of temperature, even in summer, and at the approach of autumn they show that pinched up look that is so characteristic of a cold dog. Should they be exposed to cold and dampness combined for any length of time, they would likely contract so severe a disease as to carry them off in a short time. The tendency would be towards some form of lung disease. They should therefore be carefully guarded against severe changes, and when taken out should be warmly clothed with a neat blanket, but should they contract any disease, the utmost care should be exercised in administering treatment, for remember they are like a frail infant. The medicine given should be scrupulously reduced to minimum doses, and only the milder preparations should be used in treating any skin eruption with which they may be afflicted. Other portions of this work will give full directions for treating diseases of the dog, but I wish to especially enjoy care in the matter of dose, for even the physician is not always careful enough in graduating the prescription to the more delicately organised human being. The Italian should have, in formation, the same points of excellence as the English Greyhound, with little or no variation from the fixed standard, but the special fanciers of this variety of the species allow considerable margin in some few points, as in the form of the head, the greater fullness of the eye often giving them that dish-faced appearance that greatly detracts from the beauty of a large Greyhound. Their tails are inclined to be shorter in proportion to the size of the body, their ears larger, and much allowance is made for the lack of muscle, but by judicious and careful breeding these points can be wholly overcome, and a specimen that will, in truth, be a miniature English Greyhound, will reward the efforts of the fancier. However, in too many instances, instead of breeding to produce a perfect Italian Greyhound, the money value only has been considered, and little effort has been made in this country to build up a reliable strain of this breed. My first experience in trying to secure one of the Italians was so unfortunate that it put a damper on my enthusiasm which took some years to overcome. I sent to a breeder in one of the western states for a female, and after receiving several very enthusiastic letters concluded to order one. When the little creature came, to keep her company, the party sent along a changed dog, weighing somewhere about twelve pounds, on chance of my taking him too. I received them of the express company, paying, I remember, a rather long price for the immense box in which they were shipped, took them home in the evening to the suburbs of the city in which I then resided, opened the box with all confidence that they would come to me to be fondled, but what was my astonishment to find them as wild as a coyote? They would scarcely come near the house, and for two weeks were like wild dogs staying in the woods and fields at a good safe distance from any residence. They were finally captured in a large trap by a neighbour, after two days of careful watching, he being especially stimulated by a reward of five dollars that I offered. They were once more tamed, and after a time I gave them away, as the female was practically valueless as a breeder, and the dog wholly so, of course. Both were very poor specimens of the breed. I have since purchased six of different breeders, but only two out of the lot were at all suitable for breeding purposes, and I have been led to conclude that there are no really scientific breeders that are giving attention to the Italian Greyhound. If there is one, I have not been fortunate enough to learn the fact. There are several grand good specimens scattered about, but they are owned by individuals who have them simply for their own pleasure, as in the case of Peach, who is owned by Mr. Hanson of Topeka, Kansas. She is a fine specimen, and no money consideration would tempt him to part with her. Peach weighs about seven and one-half pounds, is of a rich golden fawn colour, and is quite symmetrical throughout. She would undoubtedly win on the bench in company with the best of them. The standard and points of judging in Italian Greyhound are as follows. Head, value five. Neck, five. Ears and eyes, five. Legs and feet, ten. Four quarters, ten. Hind quarters, ten. Tail, five. Coat, five. Colour, fifteen. Size, fifteen. Total, one hundred. The head, value five. If possible, should be as snake-like as that of the English Greyhound, but such formation is now never met with. The nearer it approaches it, the better. In all recent exhibits, the skull is more or less round, and the face, though still pointed, is too short, with a tendency to turn up. The neck, value five, is long and elegant, resembling closely its larger cauldroner. Ears and eyes, value five. Many modern prize takers are deficient in the proper shape of the ear, but this should not be overlooked, for it still exists in the breed as an exact counterpart of the English Greyhound's corresponding organ, though always somewhat enlarged in comparison with the body. The eye is much larger proportionately, soft and languishing, but it ought never to weep. The colour of the iris is usually a dark brown. Legs and feet, value ten. See the Greyhound. Four quarters, value ten. See the Greyhound. Hind quarters, value ten. As with the last two sections, the only difference lies in comparative value, the English dog's points being estimated from the workman-like view, while the Italian is regarded from an artistic standpoint. The tail, value five, is somewhat shorter than the English dog's, but it must be gently curved in the same tobacco-pipe way, and should be fine and bone except at the root, as well as free from hair. The coat, value five, should be short, soft and silky. The colour, value fifteen of the Italian Greyhound, is largely to be taken into consideration, and is consequently estimated at a high figure. Fonds are now far in the ascendant, and to no other colour would the full value be accorded. A small star on the breast, or a white toe, takes off a point or two according to the extent of white, but in all cases the toenails should be dark. The symmetry, value fifteen of this little dog, must be carefully estimated, as a want of elegance in detail, or of combination and due proportion, alike lowers the value of these points separately to a very low ebb. The size, value fifteen, of the bitch for modern successful exhibition, should be little over five pounds, nor should the dog exceed seven or seven and one-half pounds. Beyond these weights, a specimen, however good in other respects, has little or no chance of a first prize in anything like a good class. The Italian Greyhound is not a prolific breeder, and but few of the females are strong enough to nourish a large litter. To balance this, not more than three or four are usually produced in a litter, though occasionally there may be six. But should this occur, a foster mother will have to be secured, or hand-raising resorted to, in order to save those that the delicate mother is not able to nourish. It is therefore wise to provide for such an emergency that the whole litter may be saved, for generally the smaller and more desirable ones would succumb first to lack of care. The food most suitable for the Italian at all times is table scraps. These should be carefully prepared by mixing bread, cooked meat and potatoes with a little gravy, milk, or the like. If too much meat is given, they are apt to contract skin disease, which is quite difficult to overcome. But he won't eat anything but meat, you may say. That may be so now, but by reducing the quantity and gradually mixing other articles with the meat, you can bring about a radical change, even in the case of an old dog. Begin with the puppy, and you can mold his taste to your liking. The Italian must have plain food and a certain amount of vegetable matter, and all should be free from pepper, mustard and acids. You should vary the diet more or less, giving different articles of food every few days. Preparation for the bent show is simple enough, but a few suggestions may not be amiss. Be especially careful not to have the dog too fat. This is a common fault and can be overcome by reducing the diet and giving plenty of vigorous exercise. But they should be round and smooth, with coats glossy, the bony framework showing the least bit, and with as much muscle as can be developed conventionally. As, however, they are not designed for field work, muscle is not so important. They need not be washed very frequently, as their cleanly habits will obviate the necessity for this. But rubbing with a damp cloth, followed by a vigorous application of a dry flannel and the dry hand, will serve the purpose much better. The rubbing will also serve to develop the muscles. Get the dog accustomed to the ways of the street and to strangers, and your task is finished. The principles of breeding will undoubtedly be thoroughly treated of in other portions of the work, but there seems to be so little heed given to the careful directions for improving the different varieties of the domestic animals, that repetition becomes fairly a necessity. In selecting a mate for an Italian greyhound, the first consideration should be to overcome any defects that may exist, and at the same time to preserve in the offspring the good qualities that either or both parents may possess. Of course the dog nearly perfect is desired, if it be possible to secure such, but you can at least get a mate that is strong and fine where yours may be deficient. If your dog has a bad head, get a mate with especially good head. If his tail is too short, see that the mate has a good long tail. In some of the young you will be sure to combine the good qualities of both parents. Keep such and still try and go on to perfection. The greatest care should be exercised, lest some of the most valuable puppies be lost. Reserve the best always. Select carefully and nick properly should be the motto in breeding. The greyhound family is deservedly popular, and as the larger varieties are brought into favorable notice through their valuable qualities as coarsers, I hope to see their more elegant but feebler relatives, modestly and timidly though they may be, share in the general popularity of these aristocratic dogs. End of section 43, recording by Natalia Cox. Section 44 of The American Book of the Dog. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Jill Engel. The American Book of the Dog, G.O. Shields Editor. Section 44. The Pug. By George W. Fisher. The true origin of this peculiar breed of dogs is unknown. Some naturalists believe that the pug and the mast are closely related. Indeed, the close resemblance between the two breeds gives the theory considerable force. Other naturalists infer that a dwarf mastiff may possibly have been mated with a bulldog, and that they were the parents of the first pug. The latter theory has certainly a great deal in its favor, for the reason that so many of the pugs have the rose ear, are undershot, out at elbows, and some have black breasts with white legs and feet, all characteristics of the bulldog. The latest theory is that the pug is the result of a cross between the bulldog and the Japanese spaniel. To my mind, the pug shows no evidence of such a cross, either in shape, color, or disposition. The first pugs were doubtless bred in England, but further than this it is doubtful if the true origin of the breed will ever be known. We know that everything, whether animate or inanimate, is of some particular utility and has some purpose to serve, and so the pug, whatever his origin, doubtless is here for a purpose. While perhaps he is of no value as a hunter, yet his gentle disposition and good temper render him invaluable as a companion for children, and as a pet for the fair sex. Indeed, it seems that his special mission is to be a companion to the little ones. His chief delight and pleasure is to frolic and romp with them. They may pull, bite, and whip him with impunity, and he never resents their assaults. He has never been known to go mad or to become ill-tempered, as do many other dogs when they grow old. As for cleanliness, he is unequaled. He can repose on silk or satin without leaving behind him that disagreeable smell so common to dogs of other breeds. He can also be utilized to a certain extent as a watchdog. He's a close observer, and scarcely anything escapes his watchful eye. One characteristic of the pug which seems to command attention everywhere is his aristocratic nature. His dignified carriage and haughty manner are proofs of his aristocracy, besides the fact that he is owned and caressed by the kings and queens, the lords and ladies, and by people of every class who endeavor to possess him on account of his affectionate, lovable, and intelligent nature. Another characteristic is that he bears confinement in the house better than almost any other breed. It can also be said that he is the only sweet-skinned animal in the whole canine race, and this fact, combined with his smooth, glossy coat, makes him a desirable pet for the carriage and drawing-room. Mr. Morrison, a prominent English fancier, took more pains in cultivating this breed in his day than any other breeder. Yet Lord Willoughby Derisby claimed a strain from a totally different source. The Morrison pug is of a yellow fawn color, with a distinct trace from oxyput to tail, while the Willoughby is a stone fawn with a black saddle. There is no breed that has been bred more carefully and that has been improved so much in the last ten years, as has the pug. The long-legged and muzzled pug is now replaced by the handsome little cobyfellow of an entirely different type. I am perfectly safe in saying that the pug requires more care and breeding than does any other breed. There are so many difficult points to perfect and overcome, and such a strong tendency in the breed to revert from approved types, that the greatest care and watchfulness are necessary to prevent this. The most important point of all is to first select a good sire. Get the best that is obtainable. Be careful that he possesses the essential points, such as the hereditary transmission of character and disposition. This is one of nature's most important laws. Strings are only properly sustained in their purity by breeding to the best stock that can be had. In selecting a sire, never breed to a long-legged one. Limit his weight to fifteen pounds, if possible. It is much easier to find a good large pug than a good small one. The bitch usually comes in season when eight months old, and after she has attained that age, generally comes in season twice a year. As soon as she gives evidence of coming in season, remove her to a warm room on the second or third floor. If possible, give her a companion, either a playful puppy or an old bitch. This will keep her from fretting, and will keep her in good cheer and humor during her confinement. The confinement usually lasts about twenty-one days, and a cheerful companion doubtless adds to the number of her puppies. The bitch should be bred on the twelfth day after the first signs are given. One service is sufficient, and more than two should never be given. These should be twenty-four hours apart. She should wellp in sixty to sixty-three days. During her pregnancy, the breeder should take particular care to give the bitch a sufficient amount of exercise. The more she is left in the open air, the better it will be for her and her offspring. There's no definite way of ascertaining until twenty-one days have passed, whether or not she is in wellp. About ten days before she is due to wellp, rid her of fleas if she has them, by an application of insect powder. I consider a well-tanned sheepskin, with the wool on, the best bed for a bitch to wellp on. Care must be taken to have it well-tacked in a tight box. The puppies will be born one after another at intervals of a quarter to three-quarters of an hour. During this time, allow nothing whatever to disturb her. Keep her warm and quiet, and as soon as she is through, remove her and puppies to clean dry quarters. Restrict her food for the first ten days to sweet milk, boiled rice, oatmeal, and meat broth. After that time has elapsed, she may be fed of any kind of suitable food. She should be allowed free access to open air and yard for exercise, etc. Puppies should be taken from the bitch when five weeks old. The important process of rearing pug puppies should begin when they are three weeks old. They should be taken separately in place to a dish containing two-thirds milk and one-third warm water, adding a little sugar. By touching their lips to the mixture, they will instinctively begin to lap it with an apparent appreciation. This process should be continued three times a day for the space of ten days, and at the expiration of that time, they can be given pure milk and meat broth, thickened with wheat bread, boiled rice, and oatmeal. They should frequently be given bones to gnaw at, which exercise acts admirably as a toothbrush. A careful effort should be made to avoid overloading their stomachs. Never allow food to remain in their dishes. When they have attained the age of six or seven weeks, they are old enough to sell. At this time it is also well to rid them of worms. This can be accomplished by giving each puppy ten grains of camalia on an empty stomach. This will expel all worms in three hours, without any danger to the dog. In three days, repeat the dose. This precaution has saved many a puppy for me. To prepare the pug for the show bench, he should be washed once a week with pure castile soap, and should be groomed every day with a soft brush. It will add greatly to his appearance to rub his coat freely with the hands. His food should consist of boiled meat, rice, and oatmeal. By adding a tablespoon full of ground flax seed and raw egg twice a week, a marvelous effect will be produced on his coat, and it will at the same time regulate his bowels. Let it be remembered that outdoor exercise is as essential as good food. The pug is, of course, subject to the same diseases as other dogs, and their symptoms are the same. The following remedies I have prescribed and used in my kennel with great success. Four worms. Give ten grains of camalia on an empty stomach. Repeat in three days. This will expel pin, tape, and stomach worms without danger. Four fits. If caused by worms, give the camalia as above. If caused by teeth or distemper, give twenty grains of bromide potash every three hours. Four distemper. Take saltpeter, sixty grains. Sulphur, sixty grains. Allows, twenty grains. Mix and put in twelve powders. Give one powder each day. Avoid giving open air exercise. Keep them in a separate room at a temperature of about sixty degrees. Tonic. For loss of appetite or to tone up the system after distemper or other disease, take quinine, twelve grains. Extract gentian, twelve grains. Extract nooksvomica, one grain. Mix and make in twelve pills. Give one pill morning and evening. Mange. Take sulfur, two ounces. Sulpheter, one half ounce. Cosmoline, four ounces. Mix and apply to parts affected by rubbing well. Wash it off in twenty-four hours. Then cover the dog completely with cold oil and allow it to remain on for twelve hours. Then wash it with castile soap. Repeat in five days if not thoroughly cured. The standard. Symmetry. Value ten. Size five. Condition five. Body ten. Legs five. Feet five. Head five. Muzzle five. Ears five. Eyes ten. Mask five. Wrinkles five. Tail five. Trace five. Coat five. Color five. General carriage five. Total one hundred. Acknowledged points. Symmetry. Symmetry in general appearance, decidedly square and coby. A lean leggy pug and a dog with short legs and a long body are equally objectionable. Size and condition. The pug should be multum imparvo, but this condensation, if the word may be used, should be shown by compactness of form, well-knit proportions, and hardness of developed muscle. Weight to be from thirteen to seventeen pounds. Dog or bitch. Body. Short and coby. Wide in chest and well-ribbed up. Legs. Very strong. Straight of moderate length and well under. Feet. Neither so long as the foot of the hair nor so round as that of a cat. Well split up toes and the nails black. Muzzle. Short, blunt, square, but not up-faced. Head. Large, massive, round, not apple-headed, with no indentation of the skull. Eyes. Dark in color. Very large. Bold and prominent. Globular in shape. Soft and salacious in expression. Very illustrious and, when excited, full of fire. Ears. Thin, small, soft, like black velvet. There are two kinds, the rose and button. Preferences given to the latter. Markings. Clearly defined, the muzzle or mask, ears, moles on cheeks, thumb mark, or diamond on forehead. Back trace should be as black as possible. Mask. The mask should be black. The more intense and well-defined it is, the better. Wrinkles. Large and deep. Trace. A black line extending from the occiput to the tail. Tail. Curled tightly as possible over the hip. The double curl is perfection. Coat. Fine, smooth, soft, short, glossy, neither hard nor woolly. Color. Silver or apricot fawn. Each should be decided to make the contrast complete between the color and the trace and mask. Among the many breeders of good pugs in this country, we may mention the following. Dr. M. H. Crier, 1527 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. George W. Fisher, Cadawissa, Pennsylvania. A. E. Pitts, Columbus, Ohio. Everhart Pug kennels, 212 Main Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. J. H. Bowden, 296 West, 12th Street, New York City. C. W. Bojure, 1939 Kamek Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ms. L. Linden, 214 West, 45th Street, New York City. Acme kennels, 413 Chestnut Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. J. J. Lynn, Port Huron, Michigan. Ms. M. E. Bannister, Cranford, New Jersey. Ms. Charles Wheatley, 129 East 16th Street, New York City. Ms. S. C. Barnum, 329 Lexington Avenue, New York City. E. D. Bruce, 17th Street and Broadway, New York City. Ms. M. A. Cunningham, 412 West, 45th Street, New York City. R. Schreyer, 365 First Avenue, New York City. C. E. Osborne, Stepney, Connecticut. Ms. J. F. Campbell, Custom House, Montreal, Canada. Ms. J. A. Yard, 2 West, 43rd Street, New York City. Roger Harrison, 84 Cherry Street, New York City. L. A. Reedazelle, 158 Gaye Street, Baltimore, Maryland. G. W. Wambach, 2 North Liberty Street, Baltimore, Maryland. William J. Bryson, 204 Dearborn Street, Chicago. Ms. A. B. Van Horn, 180 Penn Avenue, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. J. A. Lawson, 263 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio. L. S. Hudson, Lansing, Michigan. A. F. German, Louisville, Kentucky. Mrs. J. Smith, 7 McLean Court, Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. A. H. Whitney, Lancaster, Massachusetts. W. A. Peck, New Haven, Connecticut. E. E. Parnell, Spencer, Iowa. Dr. S. Plant, 18 Traverse Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Grace M. Hall, Portland, Maine. R. T. Harrison, 84 Cherry Street, New York City. Seminole Kennels, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. G. H. Hardy, 10 Coleman Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. R. T. Prout, Newark, Ohio. J. C. Nims, Plainsville, Ohio. End of Section 44. Recording by Jill Engle. Section 45 of the American Book of the Dog. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tom Mack, Tucson, Arizona. The American Book of the Dog, G. O. Shields Editor. Section 42, The Mexican Hairless Dog. By L. Roy Foote. But little is known as to the origin of this breed or as to its history since that period and the literature of the subject seems to be comprised in the following few references. G. R. Jesse, in his Researches into the History of the British Dog, referring to the dogs of Buenos Aires, says, There are also small dogs without hair, except on the head and tail, which are shagged. They are often companions of the ladies of the country. In his work on The Dog, Uatt calls attention to the vast difference between dogs of the same general type, as illustrated by the members of the Greyhound family, by the Highland, English and Italian Greyhound, and the small hairless one of Africa or Brazil. Again, in the same work we read that, the Turkish Greyhound is a small hairless dog with only a few hairs on his tail, never used in the field and bred only as a spoiled pet. Stonehenge quotes almost verbally from Uatt on the same subject. Varro Shaw, in his fine work The Book of the Dog, in the chapter on the Rampour Dog, says, This dog, we believe, made his first appearance in England on the return of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales from his Indian tour. At all events we have no recollection of having seen any specimens of the Rampour Hound at dog shows, except at the Fakenham Dog Show of 1876. Only two appeared, one was of a mouse color, the other spotted, a sort of pink and blue, somewhat similar to young plum pudding colored pigs. In appearance the Rampour Dog somewhat resembles a small deerhound, but his chief characteristic is the absence of hair, which leaves his body smooth. We have however been informed that since they have been in this country, a little hair has appeared on these dogs. Shaw also quotes Mr. W. K. Taunton, describing the Chinese Crested Dog, so called from having a crest of hair running along the top of the head from front to back. In addition to this, the dog has a tuft of hair at the end of his tail, but otherwise with the exception of a few scattering hairs around the head and muzzle and just above the feet, the dog is perfectly hairless. The skin being more or less modeled in some specimens, there is another hairless dog said to come from China, considerably smaller than the breed mentioned above, and weighing 8 or 10 pounds and without any hair at all. The head is like the apple-headed toy terrier, with large bat ears standing out from the head, a very fine tail, and the skin of a uniform dark color. Here we have several different names for apparently the same kind of dog, although referred to as being native in Africa, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Turkey, India and China, and being as we know also found in Mexico and Southern California. I believe they will be met in all warm climates. Whether these various strains of hairless dogs found in various hot climates are of a common origin, whether they have been distributed from some one country to the others, or whether they are the result of the so-called law of evolution, we can only conjecture. Whether in some quarter of the globe a breed of dogs has always existed, none of which ever had hair, because they did not need it, or whether they were once clothed with hair which gradually disappeared because they did not need it, who can say? If a strain of pugs or fox terriers were colonized in Central Africa and bred there for 25, 50 or 100 years, would their hair gradually disappear? Such a supposition seems scarcely plausible, since the wild dogs of India, many of whom who live almost under the equator, are thickly coated with hair, as are nearly all other quadrupeds in hot countries. Why then should one breed of small dogs exist in so many parts of the world entirely, or nearly hairless? Will some Darwin, some Tyndall, some Huxley kindly investigate and give us the why and the wherefor? Whether hairless dogs are crusted or plain hairless, of uniform mouse color or plum pudding color, as our English writer picturesquely styles them, or whether they have slate or pink points, as I once saw described, it seems reasonable to suppose them all of the same breed and of the same origin, in as much as the smooth and the rough coated fox terrier are of the same breed. Which is the truer type I am not prepared to say, but I will unhesitatingly state my preference for the dark, smooth and strictly hairless dog, as against the modeled and unfinished effect of the so-called crusted dog. That the former is the much rarer style I know to my sorrow, for in breeding from as good hairless stock as could be found, three out of four puppies would exhibit the unsightly pink points, and half of the litter would be blessed by nature with a slight covering for the head and tail. In Mexico, among the natives, these dogs are used externally for the treatment of rheumatism, and internally sometimes to assuage the pangs of hunger. There would necessarily be more virtue in their warm little bodies as a substitute for hot water bags than as an article of diet, at least judging from our civilized standpoint. The hairless dog is a pet and house dog only, and as such has some good qualities that his hairy brethren have not. He is naturally cleanly a peculiarity not possessed by any other native Mexican, never leaves hair about on furniture or clothes, does not have fleas or any odor other than that of the soap with which one can keep his skin as sweet and pleasant to the touch as one's own. Like any other good house dog, he is naturally watchful and suspicious of strange footsteps, and he is strongly affectionate. There is an erroneous idea prevalent that these hairless dogs have to be kept blanketed in all but torrid weather. They do not require any more artificial warmth than the Italian Greyhound, but like them should always be blanketed when exposed to outdoor winds or wintry air, but never in the house. Much covering or coddling has a peculiar effect on the color of their skin, bleaching it more or less according to the warmth and duration of the extra protection. Puppies at birth are much lighter in hue than when older, many of the white spots becoming, by degrees, smaller and beautifully less, and some entirely disappearing. In several litters out of the dogs referred to, three or four puppies only have been born dark all over. It is essential to success in breeding in the north that the puppies should not be whelped in the winter. The early springtime is best when it can be so arranged as they are then pretty well grown and established in health and vigor before the advent of the cold months. Distemper is apt to be a serious matter with them, but I have never seen one afflicted with any kind of skin disease unless I accept one poor little bitch that was suffering from an eruption, the natural consequence of a diet of sweets and indigestible pastry. The dog illustrated, Me Too, is pretty well known in the east and the portrait is a good one. As can be seen he is of neither terrier nor greyhound shape. By the way, nearly all riders who have treated of this dog speak of him as a greyhound and not as a terrier. Me Too is broad-chested and of such muscular development as is rarely met with in specimens of this breed. The hind quarters are extremely graceful and greyhound like in form and action. About the time the photograph was taken from which this engraving was made, Me Too ran 100 yards on an athletics, clubs, grounds in a fraction over 7 seconds without any training or understanding of what was expected of him. This was a trifle longer than the best on record for dogs up to that date and this without turning a hair if I may be allowed the expression. Me Too's tail is short, fine and well set on, the back short and ribs well set on. The lines of the neck are so rounded as to have called forth the remark that it was like the neck of a lovely woman. His head is too short for a greyhound or terrier but as a compensation he has a larger brain pan than either and the soft brown eyes are full of expression. Muscle nicely pointed, ears fine and perfectly erect but not too large for the proportions. Skin all over, soft as undressed kid, almost black in summer and a mouse color in winter. His teeth are bad and this is a peculiarity of the breed, being few in number and indifferent in quality. Yoat in his book mentions this singular circumstance connected with the Turkish hairless dog and I myself observed it. It may be safely inferred that a hairless dog with good teeth gets them as a result of a cross with some outsider. Me Too weighs 18 pounds, his measurements I have never taken and he is so old now that it would not be fair to offer them. His serious faults are two white toes on the fore and hind feet on the right side and a jaw slightly overshot or pig jawed as it is termed. He was shown during five years at 15 large bench shows and judged by 10 different judges without defeat and unusual record. Mr. W. K. Taunton, an Englishman who has had larger experience of foreign dogs than any man living, judged the Mexican hairless class at New York in 1888 and volunteered the remark that Me Too was a rare one and that he had never seen his better. Mr. J. R. Pearson, formerly of Greyhound fame, has seen many of these dogs in Brazil and has always considered Me Too a typical specimen. His breeding is entirely unknown to me but I believe him to have been born about March 1882 as he came into my possession when undoubtedly a year old. Me Too is now aging fast for this climate is not conducive to longevity in the Mexican hairless race. Nelly, now in possession of Mrs. E. C. Moore of New Rochelle, New York is also an unknown pedigree but in her prime was a fine one. She stands badly on her feet but that is also unnatural to her. In color she is even darker than Me Too and her skin is of remarkable softness. A few white blotches are scattered over her legs and feet. Her face would be prettier if her eyes were not quite so prominent. As is proper in her sex she is much less muscular than Me Too, stands a trifle higher on her legs and is yet smaller weighing about 14 pounds. Her action is much like that of the Italian Greyhound and she is a pretty companion for a walk. Piccinini was the result of breeding Me Too to Nelly and she was the prettiest little bitch I ever saw. She lived to the age of 11 months and then died in the agonies of strict nine poisoning. White Wings is a very good bitch out of Me Too and Nelly having however much white on all four legs to which she owes her name. White Wings has been a bench show winner but will never be able to compete again owing to blindness of one eye. I have heard of many fine Mexican hairless dogs but actually have seen outside of my own stock only the few I mentioned below. Meed belonged to a Mr. Palmer of Paseik Falls, New Jersey. She was an all dark one and very good but died when about six years old without ever having been bred. She had however done some winning. I saw on the street in New York a little beauty and took the trouble to find out her home. She was run over and killed soon after and the specimen her owner replaced her with was a poor one. I have seen only two good dogs. One was a puppy of Nelly's named Judge who died of distemper after taking a prize at his first show, New Haven, 1885. He was only half Mexican however having been sired by an Italian Greyhound. Pippo owned by Mrs. L. D. Herd of New York and winner at the 1890 show there is a good dog of heavier frame and holding his age much better. This completes the list of good ones that I have a personal knowledge of. Pedigrees are scarce for the breed has never been cultivated and cared for as is necessary to establish them. Dogs of this breed should be washed occasionally with castile soap and a liberal application of Vaseline once a month well rubbed in will improve the appearance of the skin. Puppies while very young should be kept in a warm room and should be handled with great care as they are extremely delicate and may be easily injured. Their beds should be made of canton flannel and should be frequently washed. The Mexican like all of the dogs that are kept mainly in the house should have plenty of exercise. It is well to teach any house dog to retrieve a ball and someone should put in 20 to 30 minutes each day throwing the ball in the hall or adjoining rooms and having the dog bring it. Make him move as rapidly as possible a lively run as best. Nearly all house dogs enjoy this sport when once taught it and will enter into it with great zest. On every fair day the dog should be given a run of at least half a mile in the street or in the country. The prejudice which exists in the minds of many against the hairless dog soon wears off if given the opportunity for a better house pet with fewer disadvantages can seldom be found than a symmetrically formed dark colored clean skinned Mexican hairless dog. No standard or points of judging this breed have yet been adopted. End of section 45. Recording by Tom Mack. Section 46 of the American Book of the Dog. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Michelle Fry, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The American Book of the Dog. G. O. Shields editor. Section 46. The Toy Spaniels by Miss Marion E. Bannister. The origin of the King Charles and Blenheim Spaniels is obscure and beyond the fact that as claimed by some writers, they came from Spain, little is known concerning it. King Charles II first rendered them popular in England by the care and attention he gave to the breeding and rearing of good specimens. Dr. Keynes writes of them as follows. Quote. Of the delicate, neat and pretty kind of doggies called the Spaniel Gentle or the Comforter in Latin Milatius or Futter, these doggies are little, pretty, proper and fine, and sought for to satisfy the delicateness of dainty dames and wanton women's wills. Instruments of folly for them to play and dally with all to trifle away the treasure of time. These puppies, the smaller they be, the more pleasure they provoke as more meat playfellows for mincing mistresses to bear in their bosoms. End quote. According to the good doctor, the superstitious people of the Middle Ages, even in enlightened England, believed that these little dogs possessed curative powers. On this subject, he writes, quote, We find that these little doggies are good to assuage the sickness of the stomach, being oftentimes there and to applied as a plaster preservative, or born in the bosom of the diseased and weak person, which effect is performed by their moderate heat. Moreover, the disease and sickness changeeth his place and entereth, though it not be precisely marked, into the doggie which experienced can testify, for these kind of doggies sometimes fall sick and sometimes die without any harm outwardly enforced, which is an argument that the disease of the gentleman or gentle woman, or owner whatsoever, entereth into the doggie by the operation of heat intermingled and infected. End quote. So, William Jardine in the Naturalist's Library, 1843, speaks of the King Charles Spaniel as, A beautiful breed in general black and white, and presumed to be the parent of the cocker, who is usually black and shorter in the back than the Spaniel, end quote. The Blenheim Marlboro, or Pyram of Bafoon, is very similar to the above, but the black color is relieved by a fire-colored spots above the eyes, and the same on the breast and feet. The muzzle is fuller and the back rather short. The Maltese dog, Canis Melitius, the Bijan, or Chien Bufet of Bafoon, is the most ancient of all the small Spaniel races, being figured on Roman monuments, and noticed by Strabo, the muzzle is rounder, the hair very long, silky, and usually white, the stature very small, and only fit for ladies' lap dogs. John Scott writes, 1830, in the Sportsman's Repository, quote, 20 years ago, i.e. 1800, his Grace the Duke of Marlboro was reputed to possess the smallest and best breed of cockers in Britain. They were invariably red and white, with very long ears, short noses, and black eyes, end quote. Still another writer claims that at least the King Charles type first came from Japan. Robert Fortune, who traveled in that country in the 17th century, says quote, the lap dogs of the country, Japan, are highly prized, both by natives and foreigners. They are small, some of them not more than nine or ten inches in length. They are remarkable for snub noses and sunken eyes, and are certainly more curious than beautiful. They are carefully bred and command high prices, even among the Japanese, and are dwarfed, it is said, by the use of sake, a spirit to which their owners are particularly partial. End quote. Commenting on this statement, Eidstone says, quote, I have seen several of these Japanese lap dogs. Some have been publicly exhibited, and others have been shown to me by gentlemen who imported them from that country. I recollect seeing two very beautiful specimens brought home by Mr. Clogstone of Wimburn Dorset Shire. These, both of them, had large prominent eyes of the King Charles type, so that the sunken eye named by Fortune was a misnomer and were only deficient in ear, their color was pale yellow and white, and the coat was silky. The noses of those I saw were very short, but the skull was not so round as the London breeder would desire, yet showing a tendency to the spherical formation, which is a mark of the race. In corroboration of my statement, I will give Sir Rutherford Alcock's own words, quote, I am to find a pair of well-bred Japanese dogs with eyes like saucers, no nose, the tongue hanging out at the side, too large for the mouth, white and tan if possible, and two years old, end quote. He goes on to say, my dogs are chosen, a species of Charles II spaniel intensified, and by the by there is so much genuine likeness that I think it probable that Mary Monarch was indebted to his marriage with the Portuguese princess for the original race of spaniels, as well as her dour of Bombay, end quote. There is another reason for believing that the King Charles was imported from Japan. There is a vulgar belief that the spaniel may be dwarfed in size by giving it gin, and possibly the supposed secret of producing lap dogs in Japan, the administration of Saki, was brought over by the importer of dogs. These ignorant ideas are always traceable, and if the confirmation of the King Charles and Japanese is so close, and the means of dwarfing them coincides in both countries, or rather is supposed to dwarf them, for it does not, and the dogs are not referable to the same stock, it is a very singular coincidence, end quote. Thus it will be seen that whatever the origin of the King Charles and Blenheim, they have led a somewhat checkered career, though both have at times been called by other names and have occasionally waned in popularity, they are both ancient, and have maintained their existence in the canine world against frequent neglect on the part of the public, coming down to this more appreciative and dog loving age in a remarkable state of purity, all things considered. They have caused to regret deeply that these beautiful animals are not more popular today than they are. They are far more intelligent, affectionate and beautiful than many of the other breeds that are so extensively sought after and cultivated as ladies pets, and yet thousands of dog fanciers seem not to know this. The reason is that this is an age of crazies and fads, and it matters not how homely, how stupid, or how insipid a breed of dogs may be even getting it said, prominently that it is the fashionable breed of the day. The devotees of fashion, the fattists, to coin a word, will rush to the new kennels in search of the new breed, pay any price that may be asked for any specimen that may or may not be able to show a pedigree and carry it away in triumph. Some of these people have deep drawn sighs of relief and exaltation as they drive away with their treasure in their arms how should I ever have survived if I had not succeeded in getting one of the first of these new pets. The exaltation is to be short-lived, however, for Madame may rest assured that next year, or the year after, or the year after that, at the farthest, some new breed will be boomed and will become the craze. Then this pet that was secured at the cost of such fast driving and so large a roll of bills must be given away and a strange idol must be given away. The more practical, conservative and level-headed people will, however, in time, come to disregard these sensational favorites, these passing crazes, and to value the brainy, silky-haired, bright-eyed, affectionate little Spaniel as the most beautiful and lovable pet dog in the world. The time will come when toy Spaniels will far outnumber the Italian Greyhound, the poodle, the Mexican Hairless, the Yorkshire, or the Sky Terrier, but on the show bench. The time will come when true merit and beauty will count for more than the mandates of dame fashion, and then the Spaniel will achieve his true and proper place in the estimation of dog lovers. What can be more loved or lovable in the Canine world than the richly colored and richly coated Blenheim or the large-eyed, somber, huge King Charles? Not alone in appearance are these dogs attractive, and they come to know them. What say you, intellect in a dog? I, verily, and far more of it in some dogs than in some people whom I know. I will not here go into an argument on this point. Abler pens than mine have laid down the reasons for this faith, and to them I refer all doubters. Speaking of the intellectuality of these dogs, I cannot do better than to quote again from Idstone, who says, quote, I have seen extraordinary instinct in these Spaniels. One, a dog in my possession in 1838 and until his death was from constant association with me and my friends, almost human, and as he held his head on one side, apparently endeavoring to fathom the meaning of conversation, it seemed as though he were almost prepared to join in it. On one occasion he was sleeping in the room where a lady to whom he was much attached was moaning in pain, and waking up, and after a moment's consideration endeavored to pull the bell, though he had never before been taught to do so. Though impatient of strangers, he would at once permit the approaches of my friends at first sight, and more singular still, he understood and appreciated a dislike I did not venture to express and would always dive at the legs of a couple of new college chaplains toward whom I had no cordiality. How did he know this, I wonder, or how divine that I had a sincere pusey to whom I never spoke in my life. But such was the case, I am sure, by his manner and gestures, which, however, the sage never noticed or acknowledged." One of the greatest pleasures to be derived from the ownership of a toy spaniel is in training him to perform various tricks, to carry notes, packages, etc., to persons in various parts of the house or grounds. They take up these tricks readily, and it is intensely interesting intelligence in a young spaniel under patient and practical tutorship. The method of this class of training is simple and as it has been fully treated of under the proper heads by several of the contributors to this work, I need not here go into it. Anyone who engages in it, however, must find it a delightful task, and the pet once thoroughly educated will be a source of pleasure to his owner and of wonder to others as long as he lives. When judging toy spaniels, the head should be domed, and in good specimens is absolutely semi-globular, sometimes even extending beyond the half circle and projecting over the eyes so as to nearly meet the upturned nose. The eyes are set wide apart, with the eyelids at right angles to the line of the face, not oblique or fox-like. The eyes themselves are large, lustrous, and very dark in color, so as to be generally considered the eyes of the pet, the eyes of the pet will be able to see the details, which are absolutely of that color increasing this tendency. From their large size, there is almost always a certain amount of weeping shown at the inner angles, this is owing to a defect in the lacrimal duct. The stop or hollow between the eyes is as well marked as in the bulldog, or even more so, many good specimens exhibiting between the eyes without any indication of artificial displacement afforded by a deviation to either side. The color of the end should be black and it should be both deep and wide with open nostrils. The lower jaw must be wide between its branches, leaving plenty of space for the tongue and for the attachment of the lower lips, which must completely conceal the teeth. It should also be turned up or finished so as to allow of its meeting the jaw. The ears must be long so as to approach the ground. In an average size dog they should measure 20 inches from tip to tip and in some good specimens the length reaches 22 inches or even a trifle more. They should be set low on the head and be heavily feathered. In this respect the King Charles is expected to exceed the blendum and his ears occasionally extend to 24 inches. The most desirable size is about 10 pounds, but we often get found specimens that weigh more than this. In compactness of shape these spaniels nearly rival the pug but the length of coat adds greatly to the apparent bulk as the body when the coat is wet looks small in comparison to that of the pug. Still it ought to be decidedly cobby with strong stout legs, broad back and wide chest. There are many specimens weak in the loin and hind legs but these are not good ones. The symmetry of the toy spaniels is of some importance but it is seldom that there is any defect in this direction. The coat should be long, silky, soft and wavy but not curly. In the blendum there should be a profuse mane extending well down the front of the chest. The feathers should be well displayed on the ears and feet where it is so long as to give it a good look. It is also carried well up the backs of the legs. In the King Charles the feather on the ears is very long and profuse exceeding in length that of the blendum by an inch or more. The feather on the tail which is usually cut to the length of three and a half or four inches should be silky and from five to six inches long making a marked flag of a square shape and not carried by a large glossy black and deep tan without any white. Tan spots over the eyes and on the cheeks and tan markings on the legs. The blendum must on no account be whole colored but must have a ground of pure pearly white with bright rich chestnut or ruby red markings evenly distributed in large patches. The ears and cheeks are red with a blaze of white extending from the nose up to the forehead and ending in a square shape. In the center of the blaze there should be a clear spot of red the size of a six pence. The tricolor or Charles the first spaniel must have the tan of the King Charles with markings like those of the blendum in black instead of red on a pearly white ground. The ears and under the tail must also be lined with tan. The tricolor has no spot that mark of beauty being peculiarly colored. The tricolor is now known as the Prince Charles. The red toy spaniels are known as the ruby spaniels the points being the same as those of the King Charles differing only in the matter of color which should be entirely a rich chestnut or ruby red the color of the nose to be black. Scale of points. King Charles. Symmetry, condition and size value 20 head 15 stop 5 muzzle 10 eyes 5 ears 10 coat and feathering 15 color 10 total 100 blendum Symmetry, condition and size value 20 head 15 stop 5 muzzle 10 coat and feathering 15 total 100 Among the prominent breeders of toy spaniels in this country may be mentioned Mr. A. W. Lucy who has bred many good specimens. His Milwaukee Charlie Syred by imported Duke is one of the best King Charles spaniels ever bred in this country. Duke also Syred Highless winner of first at Chicago Rome first at New York Rome first at New York Rome first at New York And Mr. F. B. Lucy and Mr. F. B. Faye of Boston Mr. Mariner and Mr. R. W. Holmes of Milwaukee And Mrs. L. D. McCord number 67 37th Street, Chicago One of the most successful breeders of toy spaniels in this country is Mrs. F. Sen of 278 West 11th Street, New York City Her King Charles Romeo 92 30 is a beautiful specimen. He won first in puppy class at New York 1888 first and special at Philadelphia 1889 and first at New York 1890 He was helped November 24th 1887 and weighs 8 pounds. Her Blenheim King Victor imported has won five first and two champion prizes and has never been beaten. His weight is 12 pounds and his color is lemon and white. He was formerly owned by Mr. William Phillips who has probably shown more good spaniels than any other person in this country and always winners. Among these may be named such fine specimens as the King Charles Roskius and the Blenheim King Pippin both too well known to need any animals. Section 47 of the American Book of the Dog. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sherry Lothridge. The American Book of the Dog G.O. Shields Editor. Section 47. The Shaperk by E.R. Spalding. One would-be canine authorities have recently asserted that the Shaperk is a mongrel of modern manufacture. This is not the case by any means. It is a distinct breed of remote though unknown origin. The breed is supposed to have originated in Belgium though even this is not definitely known. Belgian fanciers however in the Flemish towns for 300 years. The breed is not generally popular in Belgium though a great favorite was certain classes and good specimens are rare and high priced. Mr. John Lysen of Antwerp and a recent communication to the American field says of this dog, they are always called spits in Belgium. If you were to ask a dog dealer for a Shaperk dog he wouldn't know what you are talking about. The dog was born in the French family and was born in the French family. When I asked later on the one who proposed it why they had not given the dog its proper name, he answered that the Pomeranian was already called spits in Germany and moreover that a queer name would render the dog more attractive to foreigners. Considering the shape of the dog. Until three years ago the black tailless spits have been the dog of the working class of people especially butchers, shoemakers and also not on frequently he was seen on the canal boats whence they gave him the name of Shaperk but he might as well claim the name of Bean Howe Work, Little Butcher or Schoen Marker, Little Shoemaker. Until a year ago and sometimes even now when a wealthy man was carrying eyes by all who passed him. The only ones which were allowed to live among gentlemen and ladies were the toy spits and some were really very small and pretty. Now however the black pariah is becoming a favorite and many a young gentleman takes a walk with his spits which has taken the place of his late fox terrier. The head of the Shaperk much resembles that of the Pomeranian a pair of small triangular strong and the hair is longer on these parts but there must be no excess here as many dogs have been bred and shown already with long soft hair thus losing entirely their true character. The body is rather short and well filled up ribs give the little animal a copy appearance. The spits stand on straight legs covered with short smooth hair. The feet are small and round cat feet furnished with strong black toenails. Most of the good specimens are small in size but some judges want to get rid of them. With regard to the tail much has been said but spits born perfectly tailless do exist and in the opinion of all those who used to breed them years ago a dog born with a tail on it is not a pure bred one and should not be kept for breeding. Many breeders of the present day however and I am sorry to say judges even say quote it's no use breeding this is that they never succeeded in breeding a tailless one it is a fact that out of a hundred bred now scarcely twenty or even less will be tailless but this in my opinion is only owing to the fact that the breed has not been kept pure for on the other hand I have known a bitch who has never thrown any but tailless puppies and that to different dogs. Shepherds usually breed very true for an instance of this woman who was awarded by a fox terrier she threw five puppies all cold black bar a small white spot on the breast of some of the toes for general shape everyone agrees but for several points there is a great diversity of opinion at first is to the length of hair some with Mr. John Proctor who is an Englishman living in Antwerp and who has made pick his type for the breed went along with the body others especially the breeders of Louvain want an entirely smooth shiny coat dog with hardly any frill and narrow ears about one half longer than picks ears with this sort of spits the head is longer also then again Brussels has her type of spits much shorter in head with large eyes broad forehead and usually large ears set far apart and low on the head with this type hard haired main and good coat but unfortunately also all the dogs of this type are much out at the elbows which added to their square short head seem to show bulldog cross the dog usually seen in Antwerp and surroundings is between these and should become the only type admitting that the ears are perfect as well as the head the main does not appear large at first sight but when passing the hand through it one is a quarter's and hair of a fair length on the back sides and below perfectly smooth as well as on the legs much diversity of opinion exists as yet among breeders with regard to the secondary points but it is to be hoped that within a few years everyone will recognize one type and that it will be the right old stamp of spits in America as well as in England the shepherd has recently become extremely popular because of the supply in both countries on this account some on principle dealers have picked up small mongrel dogs which they have crossed on either the black and tan terrier or the spits the product of such crosses they have in some instances sold or palmed off on shows for true shepherds those crossed on the terrier have usually a soft coat while those resulting from a spits crossed usually have 15 puppies have been produced under my observation from four bitches and two dogs all of these are solid black have good coats both as to length and texture are correct in form and size have the fox head the straight pricked ear the small dark brown expressive eye peculiar to the breed another eminent Belgian fancier of this breed writes the shepherd is a tough hearty intelligent attractive he's useful about the house or barn as a vermin exterminator is fond of attention takes readily to amusing tricks and is easily taught he's extremely active has a gay carriage his temper is admirable and no dog is more fond of children than he this little dog whom we meet was so often on our canal boats as a faithful guard is distinguished by a character denoting great intelligence and obedience his good temper toward children his graceful and elegant gait in form as well as his perfect cleanliness he has become the favorite house dog he is also a real demon for rats, mice, etc which he pursues with great eagerness the head approaches the type of the fox the skull is wide and vaulted diminishing before the eyes and finding down toward the tip of the nose which is small and black which is long are pricked and triangular in shape the eyes are lively dark brown in color and are placed rather forward than sideways somewhat almond shaped but become more round when the dog is excited the body is from 10 to 14 inches long from rear to front of shoulder and weight of grown males from 10 to 15 pounds the animal stands well on his legs is neither very stocky nor is he slim the back is straight from shoulder to hip and end somewhat like the rounded hind quarter of the guinea pig a writer and a recent number of the dog owner's annual has this to say of the breed among a few belgium breeders there is some talk of more than one type of sheepherk they enumerate the antwerp and levain types and one between it is true that differences do exist some there are that have the ears very wide at the base and firmly set up bodies these always look to me to require what they unmistakably once possessed to tail this type has a very short coat and seldom any rough they are also rather large then there is a little sort with full eyes head inclined to apple shape hardly any muzzle ears large and at sides of head plenty of coat not very harsh and as most of my best specimens have come from antwerp I am inclined to think that this town deserves to give its name to the type the dog that is now accepted as representative weighs about 10 pounds is a glossy black stands up well on his pins with an air of vivacious alertness he looks stoutly built in front and smaller behind and his back ends like the rounded hind quarter of a guinea pig his head is foxy his tail is pricked and carried upright in parallel lines on the top of the head not at the sides eyes small and dark and showing no white neck and shoulders look heavy partly owing to the thick rough legs straight and smooth feet cat-like coat very harsh about an inch long on the back very dense and weatherproof on the thigh it should be fringy the Belgians call the rough quote crinier and quote in the fringe and quote general appearance smart and intensely vital temperament restless full of curiosity and overflowing with jealous affection the tail question will be a troublesome one for some time to come I am satisfied that the breed in its best days was tailless in time mating was performed with no care or discrimination caudal appendages put in an appearance but there are to my certain knowledge numbers of shepherds that have been born without a sign of a tail and there are plenty of bitches which give birth to several such puppies in every litter with judicious breeding and docking the breed will no doubt in time recover this characteristic a majority of the puppies are born with a small tail which if left on curls up somewhat like that of the pug it is fashionable and it becomes the style of the dog to have the tail docked the hair or quote culottes and quote is natural to the rump and thighs gives the animal a neater appearance than that of any dog with a natural tail in rare cases a puppy is born tailless the chest is rather wide and is well furnished with coat which is of about the same length as that on the neck and rather harsh to the touch the hair on a grown dog should be two inches long and should be straight on top of the neck on the sides and under part of neck it should be of about same length and should grow so as to give the appearance of a ruffle on the throat the hair is shorter on the sides of the body but nearly as long on the line of the back as the top of the neck on the rump and thighs it should be as long as on the neck and should grow so as to make a fringe over the stern and thighs the four legs should be straight and covered with straight hair the ripples curve forward and the hawks backward the thighs are fringe with long hair to the hawk the coat should be rather firm and resisting to the touch and lying straight on the head, ears top of neck, sides, back on four legs and on hind legs below the hawk no scale of points has yet been adopted for judging the shaperk in this country end of section number 47