fully bears out what I say of the dogs, if properly trained, doing all they are asked to do. MR. N. D. SMITH.-The present type is too large and soft; the dogs should be smaller and more active. I like a dachshund with plenty of room in his chest; if it is deep, what is the use of its being narrow? He would be just as likely to stick one way as another in going to ground, and he must have room for his lungs if he is to bark for any length of time. Also, what is the use of long ears set on low? Something for the badger to hold on to! They generally get them bitten in a fight. I do not agree with the point values laid down by the Dachshund Club, and would apportion them as follows;-Head and skull, 7; jaw, 5; teeth, 4; eyes, 4; ears, 4; neck, 5; chest and ribs, 7; back and loin, 7; shoulders, fore legs, and feet, 15; hindquarters, hind legs, and feet, 8; stern, 7; coat and skin, 10; colour, 4; size, symmetry, and quality, 13; total-100. The Club allows no points for neck, which is of the greatest importance in a dog that has to attack a badger. I enclose a photograph of my old dog Waldmann; it was a name that about half the dachshunds were called by before registration came in. I bought him from Mr. Schuller of Poland Street in 1878. He imported a great many when they first came into fashion in England. I never exhibited Waldmann, as I kept him for work, and he was always covered with scars, as he would fight as long as he could stand. His weight was 18 lbs., and he could go to ground anywhere, and was a very handsome little dog, with a lot of quality, and might have done a good deal of winning. MR. A. BRADBURY.-I cannot say I am satisfied with type. My ideal of type is the one given as a frontispiece in the translation of the "German Standard of Dachshunds," which was presented by Mr. Watlock Allen with his book Dachshund Pedigrees. Imported blood is, I think, the only means of recovering activity in our dogs, in which they are now sadly deficient, and would also, no doubt, considerably check unsoundness, which is so rampant, and probably caused by in-breeding. The only values of points we have are those drawn up by the Dachshund Club in 1881, which were evidently fixed for the "houndy" dogs, with peak very prominent on top of head, as in bloodhounds, whereas breeders now do all they can to avoid this type. It therefore goes without saying that this standard requires considerable modification and amendment, particularly as regards head and ears. MRS. B. F. SCARLETT.-I consider type has been greatly im proved by the introduction of German imported blood. Some six years ago our English dogs were full of quality, but too large, too long, and too weak. Unsoundness was getting to be a common fault, even in puppies. This has greatly improved, and I favour the medium-sized dogs; but we must be careful still about soundness. I like a specialist judge for dachshunds, and if all specialist-judge lists were done away with I should give up showing in my favourite breeds, and I have had considerable success in them. In foreign dogs the all-round judge is sadly out of it. MRS. CANCH-KAVANAGH.-I am far from satisfied with the present type; it is wanting in jaw, bone, and soundness at shoulder -probably the result of in-breeding, and also reducing dachshunds to toys. The useful working points are not sufficiently recognised in the standard adopted by the Club; such details as carriage of ears and tail are not so essential as strength of jaw and soundness of limb. The hound versus terrier type has been so often discussed that there is little good in alluding to it. Personally I have found the hound qualities more useful in the breed. Nature never provided the dachshund with such a magnificent nose with the intention that he should be a terrier pure and simple. Other lady-fanciers write:-"I think the type good, but breeders should be very careful about legs, and especially feet. Nor do I think the whole-coloured ones should be crossed with dappled specimens."-"Dachshunds have been in a whirl of trouble for some time between the English and German advocates. Somehow-perhaps because I have imported German dogs-I am considered to have been on the German side. I certainly have stood up for German soundness, and I hope have helped to introduce it into many kennels. But our quarantine laws will prevent dogs being imported, so they will soon all be in-bred again." "We have some very good and typical bitches in the breed, but there is a lamentable failing in the dogs. Whether this is due to the often accepted theory that bitches are more typical than dogs, or merely to the accident of the moment, I cannot say, but I should dearly love to see a strikingly good sire introduced." The recommendations of the breed include it, viewed from a sporting as well as a domestic aspect. Mr. de Boinville writes: "My love for the breed is probably due to the fact that when only a boy I was constantly in the company of keepers who worked the dachshund daily. I think him a most intelligent, loving, and devoted companion, and, when well trained, as hard and willing a worker as any dog can be. He is all over a sporting dog, with a keen nose, and can, if trained, be used as a hound, a spaniel, a terrier, or even a pointer. All depends on the training he receives." Mr. A. Bradbury: "They are good watch-dogs in a house, and very companionable. If trained to the gun afford excellent sport with rabbits. I have been told that if hunted in packs they make good trail dogs, but have no experience of this." Mr. N. D. Smith: "They are useful to work with the gun, but are not so good as spaniels or terriers. Some of them go to ground well, and are very game and persevering. I have kept and worked them for more than twenty-five years. But they have to be left alone, for they work, and in fact do things generally in their own way." Mrs. Scarlett: "The dachshund is an excellent all-round dog and companion; but still not everybody's dog, as they have tempers and are obstinate. It is not every one that can manage them. This seems to be a fact not generally known. To persons of indecision and let-it-slide manners and mind dachshunds are not the dogs to be recommended, for to such they would become a nuisance. These may get a pug with more chance of comfort to their friends. But to one able to manage it the dachshund is as good in the house as outside; but in quantity, in kennels, many of their good qualities are lost, and some of their bad ones unduly developed, such as a decided turn for fighting. I have heard it said they were too 'soft'; I can only say I have never been troubled in that way, but have had a hard time of it, what with fights and cat-killing-weaknesses very apparent in a favourite of mine, imported from Germany. Three other dear dogs of her own breed have I had to part with because of fights, and yet she is the best of mothers, and the kindest friend and companion. And so clever I always feel I could go away and leave her to look after the house. She was a great cat-killer when I first had her, but having once taken a fancy to adopt a kitten has since then left cats alone. I have done what I could to encourage toy classes at shows for some time. The toys are dear little things, though in England we have them double the size they should be. But, somehow, they do not seem to 'take on' here, though in Germany the Kaninchen tekkel' is a classified and much-kept dog. But to please me they must be good and of quality—not just small as their only merit. My favourite colour is a black and tan; no dog does his coat more credit." Mrs. CanchKavanagh: "Used as a slow, running beagle, and for beating out thick cover, the dachshund has few if any equals."—" They are very clever and full of character, devoted to their own people, most sporting, and most of them will kill both cats and rats." The following is the Standard of Points of the dachshund, as drawn up by The Dachshund Club in 1881. The breed is well catered for, there being four institutions devoted to its fancy-to wit, The Dachshund Club, The Junior Dachshund Club, The Scottish Dachshund Club, and The Northern Dachshund Association. STANDARD OF POINTS OF THE DACHSHUND HEAD AND SKULL.-Long, level, and narrow; peak well developed ; no stop; eyes intelligent and somewhat small; follow body in colour. EARS.-Long, broad, and soft, set on low and well back, carried close to the head. JAW. Strong, level, and square to the muzzle; canines recurvent. LEGS AND FEET.-Fore legs very short and strong in bone, well crooked, not standing over; elbows well clothed with muscle-neither in nor out; feet large, round, and strong, with thick pads and strong nails; hind legs smaller in bone and higher; hind feet smaller. stand true, i.e., equally on all parts of the foot. The dog must SKIN AND COAT.-Skin thick, loose, and supple, and in great quantity; coat dense, short, and strong. LOIN.-Well arched, long, and muscular. STERN.-Long and strong, flat at root, tapering to the tip; hair on underside coarse; carried low except when excited. Quarters very muscular. BODY.-Length from back of head to root of stern 24 times the height at shoulder; fore ribs well sprung, back ribs very short. COLOUR.-Any colour; nose to follow body colour. Much white objectionable. SYMMETRY AND QUALITY -The dachshund should be long, low, graceful, and not cloddy. WEIGHT. --Dogs about 21 lbs., bitches about 18 lbs. Note.-The Dachshund Club do not advocate point-judging; the figures are only used to show the comparative value of the features. To these points I am glad to be able to add a few general remarks sent me by a very old fancier of the breed, as follows: In size the dachshund ought not to exceed the following:Height at shoulder, 10 inches; height at elbow, 6 inches; from ground to brisket, 2 inches; girth of chest should be 201 inches; length of head, 8 inches; occiput to set on of stern, 22 inches; stern, 9 inches; weight, 19 lbs. Bitches should measure less than the above scale, and be much lighter. A dachshund should be a bright, strong, active little dog, with a good-tempered but determined expression; walk with a firm, decided step; carry his neck and head well in front of him, |