"DANGER TO DOGS."

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9778, 14 July 1897, Page 2

"DANGER TO DOGS."

Under the above heading Mr Harding Cox, a well-known English canine judge, has written to the Stockkeeper stating that after being -prevented from observing the show ring closely for some years he has comeback to find that breeders have, so to speak, become fanatics or "faddists." Judges have insisted on Borne particular point in conformation, add this is said by the writer to have been bred to the detriment of wellbalanced symmetry, and has in consequence produced monstrosities or cripples. Referring to Pox Terriers Mr Cox says : " In the early seventies there was a reaction against the cloddy or cob built Terrier—the brick with four 'corners knocked off, as it was facetiously called ; this was as U3ual carried- to extremes. The fiat went forth that Fox Terriers were to have narrow chests and oblique shoulders—good ! But what wan and is the consequence ? We novp have dogs so narrow in fronty and so oblique in shoulders, that as a natural result they have flat sides; weak back ribes, long conp. lings, wedge-like, and feeble quarters, with enough daylight' under them to absorb a Norwegian guuimer..- This ie not the first time I have fallen foul of those misguided enthusiasts whose.- ambition ib is to breed Terriers ,to live with the hounds. I have no hesitation in positively stating that no Fox Terrier that ever was bred could live with any decent pack of Fox-hounds when really carrying a head. On the other hand, the Btont-built little. Terrier of the days of yore is always, quick enough to follow on, and when Pug is marked to ground will generally appear on the scene whilst hounds and followers are taking a breather.' X claim

that for purposes of going to ground, staying there ns long an required, I would back a well-balanced sturdy Tei'rier, with good cheat and ribs, against any of tha feggy, narrow, and spirey dogs of the show bench of to-day."

Turning from Fox Terriers to Bulldogs Mr Hai'ding Cox continues to deprecate the present day type: "One now aces on the benches a host of ' bulls' of both sexes, with marvellously finished fronts, but which, when required to move, reveal themselves as little lees than hopeless cripples. Why. is thiel,In the first place because one of the chief characteristics of the Bulldog is the pre-' ponderance of power in the fore-quarters ut compared with the hind. This should 1» obvious, but it should not bo carried to a ridiculous extreme. Secondly, it is certainly correct for a dog to be out at elbows, (Mid consequently have broad and well tucked in chest, and also that the feet should turn slightly out from the paatern joint; but ' surely'it does not fiugpest. that he should ha so much between tho forelegs and so twisted in the feet that he is scarcely able to waddle. I I take it a Bulldog should be a powerful and fairly active animal, not a tottering mon» strosity* Here, again is tho inevitable reauty of breeding for the exaggeration of sonw_particular point at the expense of well , balanced symmetry." ' -1

Retwevers will be .spoilt, Mr Cox con*' tinuea, because «oine judges complain that certain specimen's are a bit too strong in. , ivea'l. and henceforth tluve ia danger thai the; variety will be bred with narrow and cob--sequenfcly (ionioa! sltulls, eyes close set, mid' peaked occiput, whereas the skull should bftJ . flat and mcderateJy broad. The long low' . breeds (such as Skyes, Dandies, &c.) are sSid , to have became, too long and low, and the

crooked legged breeds too crooked. The: > head properties of the Maftiff are said to haye been exaggerated until the dog has lost ite original character, both for-- activity and expression and now presents the appearance of an over, grown Spanish Bulldog. Through the desira; :" to breed Pugs small Mr Cox asserts that"they have lost much of their character, ancL that "it is fashionable to condemn a Bali',, Terrier for being, too cheeky, which mvwi that the muscles of the jaw are well developed, aurely a consummation devoutly- j to be desired in this of all breeds."