CHAPTER VII

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Terriers Used in Sport

fox—dandie dinmonts—skyes—scottish

(OLD TYPE.) SMOOTH FOX TERRIER "BELGRAVE JOE" L. TURNER, OWNER (OLD TYPE.) SMOOTH FOX TERRIER "BELGRAVE JOE" L. TURNER, OWNER
(NEW TYPE) SMOOTH FOX TERRIER CH. "CLAUD DUVAL" G. RAPER OWNER. (NEW TYPE) SMOOTH FOX TERRIER CH. "CLAUD DUVAL" G. RAPER OWNER.

Fox Terriers.—As this breed is associated with my first prize, when a schoolboy, now, some years since, but when dog shows were much rarer than "Black Swans," were supposed to be, I have always taken much interest in it, and have had many good specimens of both the Smooth, and Wirehaired, varieties into which the breed is divided. They are both very good and both have hosts of admirers. Some of the fanciers now exhibiting, will remember, with me, the time when no classes were provided for the "Wirehairs," and you had (as I have often done) to show them as "Broken-haired Terriers," and often meet in your class nearly all the members of that heterogeneous family, such as Dandies, Skyes, Bedlingtons, Scottish (Airedales did not exist then), Irish, and old English, enough to try the temper of judge and exhibitors, and making the decision quite a matter of the specimen best shower and shown. But since those days, Fox Terriers have enjoyed a long term of popularity, and so far from the "Wirehaired" section being ignored, I have seen at some shows more entries in it than that of their Smooth brethren, and the figures given for high class specimens, are certainly not far behind, even if they are not before, them. Of course, hundreds, in fact the great majority of the Fox Terriers in the country, have never seen a Fox, and probably never will, in the course of their natural life, and (as I said of many of the Dachshunds we see about, and the "Badgers," so I say of very many of the Fox Terriers to be met with everywhere) so much the better for them, as a Fox, in his earth, which is where a Terrier is wanted to deal with him, is not a "milk and water" animal to tackle, as a rule, and it requires strength, perseverance, pluck and ability on the part of his assailants. I think the following description of the necessary points required, as expressed by my friend Mr. Francis Redmond, well known to many of my readers as a very successful breeder, exhibitor, and judge of the breed, will fitly conclude my brief notice:—"The points of greatest importance in the Fox Terrier are: Head, ears, legs and feet, neck, and shoulders, back, loin and hindquarters, smartness, activity, size, and 'Terrier character.' Head. The skull should be flat and moderately narrow, broader between the ears and gradually tapering to the eyes, free from wrinkle. But little slope, or indentation, should be visible, except in profile. The jaw should be clean cut, rather long, powerful and muscular, with little or any fullness or bulging out at the cheeks. There is a very slight falling away below the eyes, but this must be very gradual, and not to such an extent as to give a snipey, or wedgy, appearance. The lips should be fairly tight, without any superfluous skin. The nose must be quite black.[Pg 119] The eyes should be small, not set too wide apart, neither too much sunk, or protruding, dark-rimmed, full of life, and intelligence. The teeth, strong, and level, incisors just closing over the under ones. The ears, to which great importance is attached, V shaped, rather small, fairly thick and carried forward, flat, and close to the cheek. The neck should be of fair length, clean and muscular, well set, with shoulders tapering gradually to head. The shoulders, fine at the points, long and sloping, chest deep, narrow rather than broad. Shoulders and chest have of late received much attention by judges; heavy shoulders and broad chests are no good for these dogs' work. Back and loin. Back should be straight and strong, the ribs well sprung, loin strong, wide and square, back ribs deep. Loin may be slightly arched, but with no approach to 'wheel back.' Hindquarters must be very strong, wide seen from behind, thighs with plenty of muscle, long as well as large, stifles slightly bent, hocks straight. Bone, short and strong from hock to heel. Stern set on rather high, carried gaily, not carried above a 'right angle' with back; if anything, a trifle coarse. Legs and feet. Point of extreme value, to which greatest attention should be given. Elbows well let down, in straight line with body. Forelegs, however viewed, 'straight as gun barrels,' with upright, powerful, pasterns; strong in bone, clothed with muscle from elbow to foot, giving a most solid, unbroken appearance; feet, round, and cat-like, very compact, toes short and only moderately arched, soles hard as adamant; foot should neither turn in or out, if any deviation, should turn in; no dew-claws behind. The Coat should be smooth, harsh in texture, very close and abundant, a jacket to protect wearer from all weathers. Colours: white should predominate. Brindle, fallow, liver, or red, markings are objectionable. Size. The Fox Terrier must neither be leggy or too near the ground, neither must he be cloddy, but should have plenty of 'liberty,' and galloping power, with good bone and substance; fair speed and endurance being essentially requisite for his legitimate calling. Seventeen pounds in hard working condition is a fair average weight, but this may vary a pound or so either way. Make, shape, good shoulders and chest, being far better criterions, in this respect, than actual weight.—"

The above applies to "Smooth," but is also an excellent standard for "Wirehaired Fox Terriers," which are judged on same lines, except coat, which in the latter, should be about two inches long, and very dense, and wiry, not shaggy, or woolly, on any account.

DANDY-DINMONT. CH. "BLACKET-HOUSE YET" MRS. RAYNER, owner. DANDY-DINMONT. CH. "BLACKET-HOUSE YET" MRS. RAYNER, owner.

Dandies.—A very sterling and genuine breed is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, which was, I think, first brought to public notice by the writings of Sir Walter Scott, and as I have bred, owned, exhibited and judged more of them than most people, I may be allowed to say they are highly intelligent (according to my experience, much more so than any breed of Terrier, and I believe I have kept most of them), devoted to their owners "born sportsmen," being always open for anything in the way of "sport" on land or in water, full of dash and spirit, have a quaint and picturesque appearance, and make ideal companions for either sex. Of course they are Scottish by birth and origin, but, the more they are seen and known, the better they will be liked, and they have been so much introduced into England, and good specimens bought up, that, at one time, even if not now, there were more good ones in England than could be met with in any part of Scotland. There are only supposed to be two colours allowed in Dandies, "Pepper," which is a sort of pepper and salt, composed of light and dark bluish greys, with topknots of silvery white, and "Mustard," which is a kind of pale yellowish fawn, darker on the neck and back than below, and also with a light silvery topknot. A Dandie of high class, of either colour, shown in good coat and form, is a very beautiful little dog, and fit company for the highest in the land, and, as I said of the last breed I mentioned, may be seen in the possession of all classes. I am not quite certain whether Her Majesty the Queen continues to keep the breed. I do not remember seeing any at Windsor, but I know that in the lifetime of the late lamented Prince Consort, there were Dandies and Skyes amongst the royal pets. Where a person desires to keep but one dog, and wishes to make a friend and companion of it, I do not think that they could improve upon a Dandie, as they make incomparable house dogs. I am speaking from a long and intimate experience of them, as I have bred, owned, shown and judged hundreds of them, and I have rarely found any, who have kept them, but speak in the highest terms of their many charming qualities, and continue to take an interest in the breed, perhaps, long after they have any specimens of it left, and in many cases, several generations of the same families have kept them on. In build they are low to the ground, with long bodies, short legs, possessed of great strength and endurance, and certainly one of the most muscular breeds of its size with which I am acquainted, their quaint, dignified bearing, and deep bark are marked characteristics. The following are the points of the breed, as set out by me for publication, very many years since, and I am not aware they have ever been altered:—Head apparently large in proportion to size, skull fairly wide and covered with top-knot of silky, light hair, muzzle deep and moderately broad, jaws of great strength, teeth level, ears not thick or wide, and feathered to a point, eyes dark hazel, very lustrous and intelligent (dark markings round the eyes very desirable in Pepper Dandies), chest deep, forelegs as straight as compatible with lowness, and, as well as in loins and hindquarters, showing great bone and muscle, tail carried rather gaily, weight under twenty-four pounds, bitches under twenty-two pounds. Colours, pepper or mustard.

DROPEARED SKYE CH. "BALLOCHMY LE BASHFUL" SIR CLAUDE ALEXANDER BART owner. DROPEARED SKYE CH. "BALLOCHMY LE BASHFUL" SIR CLAUDE ALEXANDER BART owner.

Skyes.—Perhaps it will be in order here to mention their fellow countrymen, the Skyes, also admirably adapted as companions and house dogs, the main advantages Dandies can claim over them being, in carrying less coat, and being rather more active. Although blacks, and fawns with black points, are occasionally seen, the predominant colours of Skyes are, undoubtedly, various shades of grey, from light silver to dark iron and steel. The breed is divided into two varieties, principally distinguished by the carriage of their ears, and known as "Dropeared" and "Prickeared;" in the former, the ears being rather large and pendulous to the sides of the head, and in the latter, the ears are carried as by the Pomeranians; each variety has its admirers, and some, as I have done, keep both sorts, but I think there are many more prick-eared to be seen, than drop-eared. These dogs are more active, intelligent and courageous than would be supposed from their appearance, and form strong attachments to their owners. Owing to the unsatisfactory management of one, and the dissolution of the other, of the clubs, founded many years since in Scotland, and England, for the encouragement of this breed (which is another of those either still, or formerly, favoured by royal patronage, both at Windsor and Sandringham), things have not been going on swimmingly, for some years past, in the Skye world, but I know there are a few zealous breeders still "pegging away" with their kennels, and I am in hopes the interests and fortunes of the breed will be again revived, and some more specimens brought forward, as good, or better, than any seen in the past. The greatest fault I find with nearly all the best specimens brought out of late years, is their size, as in my opinion, and I have probably seen all the best brought out during the last twenty-five years, their weight should not exceed twenty-five pounds, even with dogs, and with bitches two or three pounds less, with preference for small, good ones, long, low, hard in coat, strong in bone, and muzzle, and not toys. With proper care and attention, a Skye may be made a most beautiful animal, as is proved by one of the inmates of a well known kennel, on one occasion, actually pulling off, and on another, getting placed "Reserve," for the highest possible honour at a first class London show, where all the competitors were champions of their several varieties.

PRICK-EARED SKYE CH. of CH. "DUCHESS" Mrs W. J. HUGHES OWNER. PRICK-EARED SKYE CH. of CH. "DUCHESS" Mrs W. J. HUGHES OWNER.

The points in Skyes are usually considered to be as follows: Head long with powerful jaws and level teeth. Skull wide in front, narrowing between ears and tapering gradually towards muzzle, with little falling in between or behind the eyes. Eyes, close set, medium size, dark hazel. Muzzle always black. Ears pendant, or pricked, in the former full and well feathered, lying close to face in front, and in the latter standing bolt upright, with a little feathering at the tip, standing towards each other at inner edges from peak to skull. Body, preeminently long and low, shoulders broad, chest deep, ribs oval shaped, and well sprung, giving flattish appearance to sides. Hindquarters and flanks full and well developed. Level back. Neck long and slightly crested; tail, when raised, a prolongation of the incline of the back, gracefully feathered on lower side, and not rising higher or curling over back. Legs, short, straight and muscular, without dew claws. Feet rather large and pointing forward. Under coat, short, close, soft and woolly. Over coat, hard, straight, flat and crisp, averaging five and one-half inches long. Hair on head shorter, softer, and veiling forehead and eyes; on ears, overhanging, inside falling down and mingling with side locks, not heavily, but surrounding the ear like a fringe, and[Pg 135] allowing the shape to appear. Colours: dark or light blue, grey, or steel, or fawn with black points. Weight not exceeding twenty-four pounds, a few pounds less, better than any higher, as so many good specimens are spoilt by being coarse, at least, this is my opinion, after considerable practical experience of the breed, and being one of its staunchest admirers.

HARD-HAIRED SCOTCH TERRIER CH. "KILLDEE" H. J. LUDLOW Owner. HARD-HAIRED SCOTCH TERRIER CH. "KILLDEE" H. J. LUDLOW Owner.

Scottish Terriers.—One of the misfortunes of being a "general lover of animals," is that you can never tell which sort you like best, there are so many breeds, I have bred and exhibited, and I think all breeds I have judged, and I am identified with so many, which are presumed to be my "prime favourites," but, it is a positive fact, although I have never before mentioned it, that, some of the breeds, in which, I have had the largest entries, for years and years, were taken up by me, so warmly, because, I thought them in "low water," and in danger of extinction without they were encouraged, that they were not at all favourites of mine. But I do not intend to disclose preference for any particular variety, beyond what my friends may know, or others may gather from the contents of this book, but this I will say of the Scottish Terrier, that if I was not the first, as mentioned hereafter in my "Doggy Anecdotes," in this work, to introduce him into this country, more than twenty-five years since, I must have been one of the earliest, as I never saw one here until long after arrival of my "Fraochen" (whose life-like picture, coming through the underwood with a Rabbit in his mouth, hangs by me while I pen these lines!). As I said of the Dandie, and might say of the Irish Terrier, that where a man, or woman, for that matter, as they are capital specimens for either sex, wants to keep only one dog, they cannot better one of those three breeds. They are as true as steel, devoted as "pals," and faithful as dogs! The great uniformity of type, and character, now seen in the large classes of these game and picturesque-looking little fellows, at the larger shows, proves the amount of care and attention which has been devoted to them by breeders, within the last quarter of a century. The usual colours are, shades of black, dark grey and grizzle, and sometimes stone colour. My friend, the late Capt. Keen, made an effort to introduce whites, but I do not think it came to much. Although, I am glad to say, the enthusiasm for the breed in "North-Britain," has not abated, not a few good specimens, and to my certain knowledge (for I have the pleasure of numbering them amongst my friends), not a few keen fanciers of "Scottish Terriers," exist on this side of "the border," and it is always my wish, with them, when they meet, as with every other kind of "stock," in rivalry, "may the best win, and the loser do his best to turn the tables next time." With these few remarks on a breed on which much more could be said, if space and time permitted, I will give: The Points of the Scottish Terrier.—Skull of good length, rather inclined to be curved in shape, covered with short hair, and showing a drop between the eyes; muzzle, very powerful, and not too pointed; nose, large and black; teeth, extremely large; eyes, dark, small, piercing in expression, and very bright; ears, very small, sharp at the corners, and carried erect; neck, short, and powerful; chest, rather wide, and very deep; body, only moderately long, and very powerful at the loins; forelegs, straight, short, and heavy in bone, with small, compact feet, well padded with hair between the toes; hindquarters very muscular and the hocks well bent; tail of fair length and carried rather gaily; coat, very harsh, and weather resisting; colours, dark grey, black, brindle, red or wheaten. Much white marking being very objectionable.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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