516

heavy fringe; this is another important point. The tail is carried gaily, but not over the back or in a curl-the more it is in line with the body, the better.

In character Clydesdale Terriers are generally good-natured, and like to be petted; they are lively house-dogs, cleanly in their habits, and show any amount of intelligence. The wonder is that English fanciers have never taken up the breed. They are as show dogs far superior to many other breeds, and for a lady no better pet or companion could be found."

The following are the description of and points for judging the Clydesdale Terrier, as adopted by the Skye and Clydesdale Terrier Club:

General Appearance.-A long, low, level dog with heavily fringed, erect ears, and a long coat like the finest silk or spun glass, which hangs quite straight and evenly down each side, a parting extending from the nose to the root of the tail.

Head.-Fairly long, skull flat, and very narrow between the ears, gradually widening towards the eyes and tapering very slightly to the nose, which must be black. The jaws strong and the teeth level.

Eyes.-Medium in size, dark in colour, not prominent, but having a sharp, Terrier-like expression. Eyelids black.

Ears.-Small, set very high on the top of the head, carried perfectly erect, and covered with long, silky hair, hanging in a heavy fringe down the sides of the head.

Body.-Long, deep in chest, well ribbed up, the back being perfectly level.
Tail-Perfectly straight, carried almost level with the back, and heavily

feathered.

Legs. As short and straight as possible, well set under the body, and entirely covered with silky hair. Feet round and cat-like.

Coat.-As long and straight as possible, free from all trace of curl or waviness; very glossy and silky in texture, with an entire absence of undercoat.

Colour.-A level bright steel blue, extending from the back of the head to the root of the tail, and on no account intermingled with any fawn, light, or dark hairs. The head, legs, and feet should be a clear, bright, golden tan, free from grey, sooty, or dark hairs. The tail should be very dark blue or black.

CHAPTER XLV

THE WELSH TERRIER

ALTHOUGH to many readers it may not be known, it is nevertheless a fact that our Welsh neighbours are very keen dog-fanciers. The writer, having both shown and judged on many occasions in the Principality, can truthfully say that he does not remember anywhere to have seen such excitement and enthusiasm as at some of the Welsh shows. Nor do they allow their enthusiasm to run riot when they claim this dog as of Wales originally; for notwithstanding the fact that some of the most noteworthy specimens have been bred in England, there are fanciers who remember them in the Principality long ere they were taken up here.

It will be well within the memory of many of the older fanciers when classes were first provided for the national Terrier of Wales at some of the shows. It was somewhere about 1884, as none of them are registered in the Kennel Club Stud Books until Vol. XIII., published in 1886, and that contains those registered in 1885. They were but six in number. Many hundreds have appeared in subsequent volumes, and there are few varieties of the great Terrier family that have made such advances in uniformity of type and quality since that period.

The Welsh Terrier may be said to have a good deal of the general appearance of a Wire-haired Fox-terrier, but is rather shorter and broader in head, with small drop ears, and in colour almost invariably shades of black or dark grizzle on head and the upper parts of body and tail, with the muzzle, chest, rest of the body, legs, and feet marked with tan, more or less hound-like in shade.

Welsh Terriers make bright, cheerful companions and sharp housedogs, and they are able and willing to do any work required of them as Terriers, being very active and fond of sport. Their size and character make them suitable for house, stable, or kennel, and they deservedly enjoy a great deal of popularity both in and out of their native land.

Amongst early supporters of the variety may be mentioned Mr. C. H. Beck (Macclesfield), Mr. F. H. Field (Oxford), Mr. W. A. Drew and Colonel Savage (both of Bangor), Messrs. E. Buckley,

W. C. Roberts, W. E. Alcock, F. H. Colmore, A. E. Clear, W. C. Whiskin, the late Dr. Edwardes-Ker, Colonel Platt, Major Johnston, and Messrs. M. C. Ashwin, Maxwell, W. Tatham, E. Powell, jun., the late J. Parry Thomas, E. Wynn, W. E. Sandars, W. A. Newbald, Morton Campbell, W. H. Buller, and L. O'Malley. Other supporters have been Mr. W. J. M. Herbert, of Cardiff, who has brought out many good specimens and often judged this variety, and last, but not least by a long way, Mr. W. S. Glynn, who has probably at the present time the best existing kennel of the variety, as well as the best ever seen in the possession of one owner. On several

FIG. 104.-MR. W. S. GLYNN'S WELSH TERRIER CHAMPION
BRYNHIR BALLAD.

occasions both single specimens and teams of his have held their own, not only in competition with other varieties of the Terrier family, but even against all other varieties of non-sporting dogs, at some of the largest shows in the Kingdom. Mr. Glynn has also the additional satisfaction of being the breeder of many of the greatest prize winners in his kennel.

By the courtesy of his owner, the writer has been fortunate in obtaining a capital portrait of Champion Brynhir Ballad-thought, by many judges, to be the best specimen of the variety ever exhibited as an illustration of the breed (Fig. 104).

At one time small-sized Airedale Terriers, Old English Terriers,

and Welsh Terriers were all shown together, and sometimes in each other's classes; but the Welsh Terrier Club, formed some years since for the protection of the interests of the variety, took steps to prevent such being done in the future. They would not allow any specimen to be shown as a Welsh Terrier unless it was registered as such at the Kennel Club, and disqualified any that had been also shown in Airedale or Old English Terrier classes.

There is no manner of doubt that these Terriers are now being produced, even in type, with good heads, bodies, coats, and legs, and though many of them fail in what may be termed roundness of feet, with the class of fanciers who are espousing their cause from pure love of the breed, there is little fear but that this defect will be remedied as soon as possible.

There is another point that the Welsh Terrier fancier needs to keep in mind-the question of size. There is a tendency, and a growing one, to breed the dog considerably heavier than the maximum allowed by the standard. Unless, therefore, something be done by the practical dog-breeder to reduce the size, a 25lb. or even a 30lb. Terrier instead of a 20lb. will be the order of the day. Then, again, in respect of coat-colour, the lightest tan-coloured specimens should be gradually weeded out, and strains that are known to produce such or the more objectionable fawns should not be used by the breeder.

In selecting a puppy, say, of six months old, the question of coatcolour should be carefully considered. The head should be long and lean, the eye dark, while the ears should be set on high, small, and if possible not so rounded as at present. Ears have been vastly improved in the Airedale Terrier, and what is possible with that variety is also possible with the Welsh Terrier.

The description of the variety, as given by the Welsh Terrier Club, is as follows:

Head. The skull should be flat, and rather wider between the ears than the Wire-haired Fox-terrier. The jaw should be powerful, clean cut, rather deeper, and more punishing, giving the head a more masculine appearance than that usually seen on a Fox-terrier. Stop not too defined, fair length from stop to end of nose, the latter being of a black colour.

Ears. The ear should be V-shaped, small, not too thin, set on fairly high, carried forward and close to the cheek.

Eyes. The eye should be small, not being too deeply set in or protruding out of skull, of a dark hazel colour, expressive and indicating abundant pluck.

Neck. The neck should be of moderate length and thickness, slightly arched, and sloping gracefully into the shoulders.

Body.-The back should be short and well ribbed-up, the loin strong, good depth, and moderate width of chest. The shoulders should be long, sloping, and well set back. The hindquarters should be strong, thighs muscular and of good length, with the hocks moderately straight, well let down, and fair amount of bone. The stern should be set on moderately high, but not too gaily carried. Legs and Feet.-The legs should be straight and muscular, possessing fair

amount of bone, with upright and powerful pasterns. The feet should be small, round, and cat-like.

Coat. The coat should be wiry, hard, very close and abundant.

Colour. The colour should be black-and-tan, or black-grizzle-and-tan, free from black pencilling on toes.

Size. The height at shoulder should be 15in. for dogs, bitches proportionately less. Twenty pounds shall be considered a fair average weight in working condition, but this may vary a pound or so either way.