Brace of White West Highland Terriers (Property of Colonel Malcolm, C.B.).
"Colonel Malcolm's views are much as follows:—Dogs should not exceed 18 lbs., nor bitches 16 lbs., in weight. They should be very active, for in power to spring considerable heights they may at times owe their lives in a fox cairn. Heads should be broad, and eyes not closely set. The latter point gives room for the brain pan, and without brains there cannot be much intelligence. The former point provides for the very powerful muscles which enable his dogs to cope successfully with badgers, foxes, otters, etc., in their native fastnesses. He strives also for as light a jaw as may be, contending that the fox is as good a model as can be followed, and against the craze for heavy, or as they are called, 'strong' jaws, that the heads of the cat and otter, both of which animals have a bite of extraordinary power, might almost be called round, so short and so wide are their jaws.
"Another point, practically as yet never looked at by the show-bench judges, is the working coat. Now it is no matter whether the outer coat be hard or soft. It should be long enough first to throw off water with a good shake of the body, and to act as a good thatch to a thick undergrowth of finest down, which will enable the wearer to stand the worst of weather, and for perfection the coat should be strongest on the sit-down portions of the body. Eyes must be dark and nose jet black, and also a good deal of the mouth inside. This dog is as good underground as he is on the show bench. How many champions, I wonder, of other Terrier breeds have killed underground?"
The Welsh Terrier
It is only within the last few years that this variety of Terrier has made his appearance on the English show benches, though indifferent specimens have been in existence in Wales for a number of years.
The Welsh Terrier Club and the Kennel Club have been the chief mediums through which the present standard of excellence has been obtained.
They are nice, smart, active little Terriers, and when properly trained make exceedingly useful companions, being full of pluck and ready to tackle anything their own height.