In appearance the French bulldog resembles the Boston in many respects—that is, a Boston of the heavier type and with uncut ears, but he is more muscular and substantial in appearance. His ears must be of the pronounced “bat” variety; his head, large, square and broad; skull almost flat; the underjaw, like the English bulldog, is large, powerful, and undershot, with the muzzle well laid back and the muscles of the cheeks fully developed. The tail should be either straight or screwed (but not curly) short, and hung low. The eyes are wide apart set low down in the skull, as far away from the ears as possible. Back must be short, the chest broad, the forelegs straight and muscular and wide apart, while the hind legs should correspond in the matter indicating strength. The French bulldog standard calls for two weights; dogs under twenty-two pounds and those of twenty-two pounds and not exceeding twenty-eight. The colors are any shade of brindle, though the darker the better. The novice looking for a good specimen, however, should be careful about the absolute disqualifying points as for instance, other than bat ears, any mutilation, solid black, black and white, black and tan, liver and mouse color, eyes of different color (as they will come sometimes), nose other than black and hare lip, which is also a fault that frequently crops up and many unscrupulous breeders are apt to foist such undesirable specimens upon the unsuspecting novice who might be none the wiser.
The English Bulldog is another of the “manufactured breeds” so grotesquely ugly that he is beautiful in the eyes of some. The bulldog will attract attention anywhere, but as to his sphere of usefulness in these days of his grotesque appearance, there is always room for doubt. There was once a time when the bulldog was a shifty and useful animal, but as he is at present bred, this quality has, to a great extent disappeared with his “improvement,” although his admirers will claim stoutly that he is a good watch dog and quite intelligent. His very artificiality makes him a dog which is difficult to rear, being susceptible to various diseases to a much greater degree than most of the more normal breeds.
THE BADGER BITCH BERTHA VON STROMBERG.
This breed was formerly known as the dachshund.
Everyone, even he who is only remotely interested in dogs, knows the Badger Dog, if not under this name, at least under his old appellation of dachshund, by which he was known up to the time of the World War when his Teutonic origin was expediently disguised under the name that he now bears. Owing to his length of body and his abbreviated legs he has always been known as the original “sausage” dog, for his length of body is several times his inches in height, which should be, at shoulder, only from 7 1/8 to 8 1/5 inches. The weight is divided at bench shows, as for instance, dogs under sixteen and one-half pounds, bitches under fifteen and one-half pounds. Middleweights from the maximum lightweight division to twenty-two pounds. Heavyweights, dogs and bitches over twenty-two pounds.
The badger dog, while not classified among the terriers, has the characteristics of that family, for he goes to ground for his quarry, and in every other way shows his terrier characteristics. On the other hand, he is also a fairly good trailer and, like the beagle, will hunt rabbits. As a house companion he is intelligent and cleanly; his short, satiny coat fitting him eminently for a ladies’ dog. The breed comes in a variety of colors: black and tan, all tan, all red, yellowish red and spotted in various shades.
THE BEAGLE HOUND CH. IMPORTED CRUISER.
The Beagle, while not to be considered a house dog, is small and may be kept very nicely in a small place, provided he is allowed to run and exercise in the open every day and is given the opportunity to hunt his favorite game—rabbits—frequently. As a keen-nosed dog for his own sphere he has no equal, and having been bred for years with this sole purpose in view, his intelligence is concentrated along these lines and not toward making him an allround home companion, but given the opportunity and the human companionship, his intelligence may be improved to a wonderful degree. The beagle is in every sense of the word a miniature foxhound, ranging in height from nine to fifteen inches which is the maximum; dogs over this height are disqualified at bench shows and beagle trials. The classification in vogue at the present time is dogs thirteen inches and under, and dogs over thirteen and not over fifteen inches.
The Whippet, which is a miniature English greyhound, is a neat, cleanly dog, not perhaps a desirable companion when all essentials of an intelligent dog are taken into consideration, but he is a trim animal, very distinguished in appearance, and short of coat, hence he is worth considering on this account, if for no other. At the present time the whippet is coming into greater popularity, mainly because of the fact that bench show clubs are giving him ample classification and further, because as a racing dog he has gained quite a vogue in some parts of the country.