A Manual of Toy Dogs Part 5

The ears and cheeks should be red, with a blaze of white extending from the nose up to the forehead, and ending between the ears in a crescentive curve. In the centre of this blaze there should be a clear "spot" of red of the size of a sixpence. The tricolour, or Charles the First Spaniel, should have the tan of the King Charles, with markings like the Blenheim in black instead of red on a pearly-white ground. The ears and under the tail should also be lined with tan. The tricolour has no spot, that beauty being peculiarly the property of the Blenheim.

The only name by which the tricolour, or black, white, and tan, in future shall be recognised is "Prince Charles."

That in future the all-red toy spaniel be known by the name of "Ruby Spaniel." The colour of the nose to be black. The points of the "Ruby"

to be the same as those of the "King Charles," differing only in colour.

SCALE OF POINTS.

_King Charles, Prince Charles, and Ruby Spaniels._

Symmetry, condition, and size 20 Head 15 Stop 5 Muzzle 10 Eyes 10 Ears 15 Coat and feathering 15 Colour 10 --- Total 100

_Blenheim._

Symmetry, condition, and size 15 Head 15 Stop 5 Muzzle 10 Eyes 10 Ears 10 Coat and feathering 15 Colour and markings 15 Spot 5 --- Total 100

=The Toy Trawler Spaniel.=--This little dog, having had some cla.s.ses given for it at shows, deserves notice, and its standard and scale of points are appended, together with some remarks made upon it by a lady who has introduced it, and whose kennel of beautiful Toy Spaniels of all breeds is well known. _Points._--Head small and light, with very pointed, rather short, nose, fine and tapery, with a very slight curve upwards of tip of nose. A curve downwards (as in the Borzoi) should be an absolute disqualification. The "stop" well marked, and the skull rather raised, but flat on the top, not dome-shaped. Muzzle just finished, not overshot. Long ears, set high, and carried p.r.i.c.ked forwards, framing the face. Large dark eyes, set wide apart, and showing the white when turned. They must be set perfectly straight, not obliquely, in the head. Whatever colour the dog may be, the nose and lips must be black. Neck arched. Back broad and short. Tail set on a level with the back, and carried gaily, though not straight up in the air, or curled over the back like a Pomeranian. It should be docked to about 4 or 5 inches, and well furnished with long feathering. General carriage very smart and gay. Legs reasonably short, and perfectly straight, bone light, though strong. Build square, st.u.r.dy, and compact, but never heavy. The action should be smart and prancing, coat very curly, but not woolly. It should be rather silky in texture, and very glossy. Liberal feathering, waistcoat, and breechings. Shape is all important; colour a secondary matter. Best colour a brilliant black, with white waistcoat. Next, red with white waistcoat, black and white, and red and white. Best size from 11 to 13 inches at shoulder. Any tendency to weediness should be carefully avoided, and the height at shoulders should just about equal the length from top of shoulders to root of tail. The size should not be judged by weight, but by height, as they should weigh heavily for their size. A dog about 13 inches high should weigh about 15 lbs. Very small specimens--_i.e._, under 9 inches high--are only desirable if the type, soundness, compactness, and st.u.r.diness are unimpaired. Feet close, firm, and hard. They and the lower part of the legs should not be too heavily feathered. The expression of face should be very alert, and very sweet. The dogs should be very bold and courageous. Timidity is a great fault, and should tell against them in the ring. They are excellent ratters and rabbiters. As to proportion of head, if the total length of head be about 6 inches, the ears should be set about 4 inches apart. The whole head, seen from a bird's-eye point of view, should be triangle, with the tip of nose as apex. General appearance should be that of an exquisitely pretty little sporting dog, very strong, and exceedingly smart and compact.

They must _not_ be confounded with c.o.c.kers, being a totally different type.

SCALE OF POINTS.

General appearance, including condition and smartness 12 Coat 10 Head and expression 15 Eyes 6 Curve and proportion of muzzle 6 Set on of ears 5 Legs and feet 5 Colour 5 Action and soundness of limb 10 Size 5 Compactness, levelness of back, and set of tail 10 Boldness and alertness 8 Soundness of teeth 3 --- Total 100

POINTS THAT SHOULD DISQUALIFY.

1. A flesh-coloured nose.

2. A downward curve of muzzle.

3. No "stop."

4. Hanging lips.

5. Crooked forelegs.

6. Light-coloured eyes.

7. Slanting eyes.

8. A very long body.

9. Bad action.

POINTS THAT ARE VERY UNDESIRABLE.

1. Timidity.

2. A straight coat.

3. Low set ears.

4. Exaggeratedly short or long legs.

5. Sluggishness.

6. Exaggeration of any kind.

7. Drooping tail.

8. Showing teeth or tongue.

9. An "apple" head.

MEASUREMENTS OF A PERFECT SPECIMEN.

Inches.

Breadth of skull at eyes from each outside corner of eyes across head 5 Length of skull 4 Length of nose 2-1/4 Circ.u.mference of skull 10-1/2 Circ.u.mference of muzzle under eyes 6-3/4 s.p.a.ce between eyes 1-3/8 s.p.a.ce between ears when not p.r.i.c.ked 4-1/4 Length of ears (leather) 4 Height at shoulders 13 Length from top of shoulders to root of tail 13 Length of forelegs to elbow 7-1/2 Breadth at shoulders 6 Breadth at quarters 6 Girth 19 Feathering on tail flag 6 Waistcoat feathering 4

The origin of the breed is unknown, but it is supposed to be descended from the original curly King Charles Spaniel (see Mr. Watson's "Book of the Dog") and the old-fas.h.i.+oned curly Suss.e.x Spaniel, now extinct. There is no certainty in this. The breed exists in Italy and Holland.

Toy Spaniels also have the Northern Toy Spaniel Club. Secretary, Mrs. E.

A. Furnival, Eastwood, Mauldeth Road, Heaton Mersey, Manchester.

=Griffons Bruxellois.=--Points as defined by the Griffon Bruxellois Club. Hon. Secretary, Miss L. Feilding, 48, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W. _General Appearance._--A lady's little dog, intelligent, sprightly, robust, of compact appearance, reminding one of a cob, and captivating the attention by a quasi-human expression. _Head._--Rounded, and covered with coa.r.s.e, rough hairs, somewhat longer round the eyes and on the nose, lips, and cheeks. _Ears._--Erect when clipped, semi-erect when not clipped. _Eyes._--Very large without being watery, round, nearly black; eyelids edged with black; eyelashes long and black, leaving the eye they encircle perfectly uncovered. _Nose._--Always black, short, surrounded with hair converging upwards and going to meet that which surrounds the eyes; the break (or stop in the nose) p.r.o.nounced, but not exaggerated.

_Lips._--Edged with black, furnished with moustache; a little black in the moustache is not a fault. _Chin._--Prominent, without showing the teeth, and edged by a small beard. _Chest._--Rather wide. _Legs._--As straight as possible, of medium length. _Tail._--Upward, and cut to the two-thirds. _Colour._--Red. _Texture of Coat._--Harsh and wiry, rather long. _Weight._--Light weight 5 lbs. maximum, and heavy weight 9 lbs.

the maximum. _Faults._--Brown nose, pale-coloured eyes, silky tuft on the head, white spot on the chest or paw.

SCALE OF POINTS.

Hard coat 15 Reddish colour 10 Eyes 7 Nose and muzzle 7 Ears 3 Legs and body 5 Height and size 3 General appearance 10 --- Total 60

The Brussels Griffon Club of London (Secretary, Miss A. F. Hall, 2, Park Place Villas, Maida Hill, London, W.) offers practically the same standard, but makes a brown nose, white hairs, and a hanging tongue disqualify, while as faults it cites light eyes, silky hair on head, brown nails, and teeth showing; and its description of the typical coat is as follows:--Texture of coat harsh and wiry, irregular, rather long and thick.

=Schipperkes.=--The description of the Schipperke adopted at a general meeting of the Belgian Schipperke Club, June 19th, 1888, has been adopted by the St. Hubert Schipperke Club, and is copyright. The Schipperke Club, England, advances the following scale of points, and the Secretary is G. H. Killick, Esq., Moor House, Chorley, Lancas.h.i.+re.

_Head._--Foxy in type; skull should not be round, but broad, and with little "stop." The muzzle should be moderate in length; fine, but not weak; should be well filled out under the eyes. _Nose._--Black and small. _Eyes._--Dark brown, small, more oval than round, and not full; bright and full of expression. _Ears._--Shape: Of moderate length, not too broad at the base, tapering to a point. Carriage: Stiffly erect, and, when in that position, the inside edge to form as near as possible a right angle with the skull, and strong enough not to be bent otherwise than lengthways. _Teeth._--Strong and level. _Neck._--Strong and full, rather short, set broad on the shoulders, and slightly arched.

_Shoulders._--Muscular and sloping. _Chest._--Broad and deep in brisket.

_Back._--Short, straight, and strong. _Loins._--Powerful, well drawn up from the brisket. _Forelegs._--Perfectly straight, well under the body, with bone in proportion to the body. _Hindlegs._--Strong, muscular; hocks well let down. _Feet._--Small, catlike, and standing well on the toes. _Nails._--Black. _Hindquarters._--Fine compared to the foreparts; muscular and well-developed thighs; tailless; rump well rounded.

_Coat._--Black, abundant, dense, and harsh, smooth on the head, ears, and legs; lying close on the back and sides, but erect and thick round the neck, forming a mane and frill, and well feathered on back of thighs. _Weight._--About 12 lbs. _General Appearance._--A small, cobby animal, with sharp expression, intensely lively, presenting the appearance of being always on the alert. _Disqualifying Points._--Drop or semi-erect ears. _Faults._--White hairs are objected to, but are not disqualifying.

RELATIVE VALUE OF POINTS.

Head, nose, eyes, and teeth 20 Ears 10 Neck, shoulders, and chest 10 Back and loins 5 Forelegs 5 Hindlegs 5 Feet 5 Hindquarters 10 Coat and colour 20 General appearance 10 --- Total 100

The St. Hubert Schipperke Club standard is practically identical with that of the Schipperke Club, England, the only variation being as regards the weight limits, which this club, however, also fixes at a maximum of 12 lbs. for small-sized dogs, while it allots 30 points to coat and colour, and none to general appearance. They also have the Northern Schipperke Club. Hon. Secretary, T. W. Markland, Ingersley, Links Gate, St. Anne's-on-the-Sea.

=Pugs.=--Standard and acknowledged points:

THE STANDARD.

Symmetry 10 Size 5 Condition 5 Body 10 Legs 5 Feet 5 Head 5 Muzzle 5 Ears 5 Eyes 10 Mask 5 Wrinkles 5 Tail 5 Trace 5 Coat 5 Colour 5 General carriage 5 --- Total 100

ACKNOWLEDGED POINTS.