The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-07

the best protector of property and
safest companion of children of all OF
his race. Notwithstanding these indis-
putaole facts the mastlff In America to-
DAY Is In diSrepute and suffers from an
undiscovered charge of savageness and
Itreacherous unworthiness The cause
81 this disrepute Is very pain to those
VINO know the history of the mastiff
In this country and who also know what
the consequences are when incongru-
Gus FAMILIES of doge are interbred. The
maStiff fifteen years ago was so popular
that he was In constant demand at good
prices. Breeders who know how to Sc
lect parents and who were faithful to
correct principles OF breeding could not
supply the demand, 50 the dog dealers
and other scampS went into the busl-
ness of supplying mastiffs They bred
recklessly and every large dog resem-
bling the mastiff type was sold as a
mastiff. even though he had In him only
one-quarter OF mastilf blood. These
mongrels and half-breeds were the dogs
whose actions In vartous parts of the
country had given the mastiff a bad
name. for many of them were fierce
and treacherous and untameable. Now
II is well known to all dog breeders
that the crossing of breeds more fire.
quently than not results in the elimina-
ton of the progeny OF all the good
qualities of both breeds and the exag-
geration Of the bad qualities OF both
breeds. Why this should be so l do
not know, but it is so true that every
observant breeder of experience asserts
it is an incontravertible fact. The mas
tiff is not the only dog that has suffered
from this cause, and one OF the best
results of the bench shows for dogs is
that none but purely bred animals can
be exhibited
THE FOX TERRIER.
One of the most attractive dogs bred
in this country is the fox terrier which
in manner and IN habits is the most
gentlenaAplike OF his race. He is clean.
scrupu&8sly clean. nice In his taste.
courageous almost beyond belief, and
as handsome as q clean limbed thor
oughbred race herse. This type is
probably the result OF a careful crossing
of the English terrier and the Italian
greyhound, and he was originally bred
for and used IN the hunting field as
an auxiliary of every pack OF fox
hounds. When a fox went to GRAND
the terrier would by persistent snap
ping in the hole. where he would fol-
low, start the fox again. But long ago
the foX-hound became too fast for the
foX-terrier and in his original occupa-
ton he became obsolete. He was saved
from extinction by his own cheerful at
trautiveness, for a mere compa nionahle
and lively fellow does not exist. He is
| TO be sure, quite useful as a destroyer
| of vermtn, whether rats or ground hogs
| The Fox Terrier Club has fixed the fol-
lowing standard, which applies alike 10
smooth and wire-haired fox-terriers:
Head and ears ................ 10 points
Neck ............ ............. points
| shoulders and chest ........ 10 points
| SACK and loin ............... 10 points
| iind quarters ................ points
Stern Observation-Disclosures. 5 points
| Legs ana feet. 20 points
| SSat ........-....... ......... 10 points
symmetry and character -. 15 points
| Io,al 100 points
| 1t Is u great pity to make q lady's pet
| or q foX-terrier 1t is true that he is
about the least troublesome dog one can
have about house, but he is too much
OF real dog 10 be coddled in a lady's
lap and wear a ribbon about his neck;
II collar, he must have, let it be dogs
collar. and made of plain black leather
me foX-terrier can probably stand the
insidious attentions of indiscriminate
petting as well as any other dog. but a
season or SO of such treatment Is pretty
sure to spoil his courage and uake him
degenerate into an animal no whit bet
Ter than the shivering toy dogs that
steep on pillows In cages originally de-