Dogs as home companions

by A. F. Hochwalt

THE PEKINGESE SPANIEL, TY TOU.

Pre-eminent among the small varieties is the fashionable Pekingese. He is, in the strict classification a toy, it is true. The reader may sneer at the word “toy” and fancy that the Peke, as he is popularly called, is as useless and difficult to rear as the proverbial hot-house plant, but such is not the case. He is a hard, strong, easy-to-raise animal, and one of the gamest for his inches of any breed in existence. His shaggy mane, resembling that of a lion, his dark markings about muzzle and eyes, and his tawny coat, together with his sturdy frame, suggest a big little dog, and he is all of that. He makes an excellent watch dog, because he is always keen and alert and the slightest noise day or night will cause him to give the signal by his loud and rather raucous bark. There is something formidable looking about the Peke as he approaches the stranger, who dares invade the sacred precincts of his mistress or master, and as an alarm there are few small dogs that are superior.

The Pekingese sprang into popularity within the last twenty years, though he is said to be one of the oldest of Chinese breeds, from which country he was introduced into England and then to America where he soon became the vogue, and some of the wealthy people of the East paid almost fabulous figures for good specimens. While prices are now more within reason for good specimens, the Peke cannot be classed as a “poor man’s dog,” although it is possible, nowadays, to go to some of the kennels making this breed a specialty and buy a “waster” at a reasonable figure. By waster is meant a specimen that, while true to his blood characteristics and in every sense as well bred as the winners, is not good enough to win on the bench. The person buying a Peke for a companion only, however, will get as much satisfaction in owning a well-bred non-winner as he probably would if he had a great champion. At the present time the fancy is breeding them as small as possible and the larger ones are not in as great demand, though they often come weighing as high as eighteen pounds when matured. The novice dog-owner would not find a fifteen to eighteen-pound Pekingese objectionable, however, for a house dog, though as a show performer he would likely be unnoticed. As a matter of fact, the fancy is now breeding them so small that their usefulness as a house dog is practically bred away. In buying specimens of this breed for house companions I would suggest one going over the ten-pound weight. First because breeders will always gladly dispose of those that “come large” at a more reasonable figure, and secondly because they are more hardy and useful. It is the under ten-pound weight specimens that are the show dogs, and the smaller the better, it seems.

The Pomeranian is another dog which came into popularity within the past quarter of a century and is a close second to the Peke as a show dog today. The Pomeranian is a smaller edition of the old-time white Spitz dogs which were so popular about forty or fifty years ago. In breeding them down to the present size I have my doubts of the good that was accomplished, though there is no gainsaying the fact that a good Pomeranian of the very small type is a “foxy” specimen in the show ring. They come in all colors; black, sable white, blue mottled and in fact, in any shade imaginable. Indeed it has been said that the fashionable thing nowadays for ladies is to have a Pom of every shade to match their gowns, though this is somewhat overdrawn, notwithstanding the numerous colors to be obtained.

The novice, buying a Pom for a companion only, and not for show, will be able to secure one of the larger specimens at a reasonable price much more readily than he would the very small ones, for, as in the case of the Pekes, the smaller the dog the better the show specimen, though naturally the animal must possess show points. “Foxy” in appearance describes the Pomeranian to a nicety. With full, fluffy coat, bushy tail, carried over an extremely short back, sharp nose, snappy, small black eyes and an erect ear, he is in every sense of the word a dog with a fox-like expression. At shows they are usually classified as dogs not exceeding eight pounds and those over this weight, though the larger the dog, the less chances he has of winning. For utility purposes, the overweight dogs will answer as well, if not better than the extremely small show specimens. Pomeranians, if properly reared, after once attaining maturity are usually hardy.

THE BLENHEIM SPANIEL, CH. ROLLO.

The English Toy Spaniel, though a very handsome, long-coated animal, is not quite so popular as the two foregoing breeds, but they are as easily reared, provided they do not come from stock that has been pampered by generations of coddling. The breed is divided into four varieties: the Blenheim, or white and orange; the Prince Charles, or tri-color (white, black and tan); the ruby, or red; and the King Charles, or black and tan. All are equally handsome, but as a rule they are not as alert, or active, nor do I think as intelligent, as some of the other breeds, though there are exceptions and I have seen specimens of these varieties, reared in out-door kennels and accustomed to exercising in the open, winter and summer, that proved to be hardy and as active as a sporting spaniel. This is the exception rather than the rule, however, for many specimens will be encountered that are very poor movers.

The Japanese Spaniel at one time gave indications of becoming a very popular toy breed, but was superseded by the Pekes and Poms. No doubt much of this was due to the fact that the Japs are not a particularly hardy breed, they are more of the real lap-dog genus than most any of the toy varieties; they lack in action and seem to be well content to lie in a basket of silk cushions most of their lives, or preferably in the laps of their fond mistresses. In appearance they resemble somewhat the English Toy Spaniels, though less sprightly, as a general thing. The Jap carries his tail or plume over his back while that of the toy spaniel is docked. The color, according to the standard, may be black and white, red and white, or parti-colored. The term red in this instance includes all shades of sable, brindle, lemon and orange, but the brighter the colors the more desirable the specimen. The white ground should be a pure chalk white, not of the milky or creamy color often seen in other breeds. At large shows the classification is divided under seven pounds and over seven pounds, and it may be readily observed that a Japanese spaniel under seven pounds will not make a very formidable guardian of the home.