There has lately been a tendency to lay too much stress upon diminutive size in this variety of the dog, to the neglect of well-formed limbs and free movement; but on the whole it may be stated with confidence that the Japanese is prospering in England, thanks largely to the energetic work of the Japanese Chin Club, which was formed some three years ago to promote the best interests of the breed.
The following is the official standard issued by the Club:—
* * * * *
HEAD—Should be large for size of animal, very broad and with slightly rounded skull. MUZZLE—Strong and wide; very short from eyes to nose; upper jaw should look slightly turned up between the eyes; lower jaw should be also turned up or finished so as to meet it, but should the lower jaw be slightly underhung it is not a blemish provided the teeth are not shown in consequence. NOSE—Very short in the muzzle part. The end or nose proper should be wide, with open nostrils, and must be the colour of the dog's marking, i.e., black in black-marked dogs, and red or deep flesh colour in red or lemon marked dogs. EYES—Large, dark, lustrous, rather prominent, and set wide apart. EARS—Small and V-shaped, nicely feathered, set wide apart and high on the head and carried slightly forward. NECK—Should be short and moderately thick. BODY—Very compact and squarely built, with a short back, rather wide chest, and of generally "cobby" shape. The body and legs should really go into a square, i.e., the length of the dog should be about its height. LEGS—The bones of the legs should be small, giving them a slender appearance, and they should be well feathered. FEET—Small and shaped, somewhat long; the dog stands up on its toes somewhat. If feathered, the tufts should never increase the width of the foot, but only its length a trifle. TAIL—Carried in a tight curl over the back. It should be profusely feathered so as to give the appearance of a beautiful "plume" on the animal's back. COAT—Profuse, long, straight, rather silky. It should be absolutely free from wave or curl, and not lie too flat, but have a tendency to stand out, especially at the neck, so as to give a thick mane or ruff, which with profuse feathering on thighs and tail gives a very showy appearance. COLOUR—Either black and white or red and white, i.e., parti-coloured. The term red includes all shades, sable, brindle, lemon or orange, but the brighter and clearer the red the better. The white should be clear white, and the colour, whether black or red, should be evenly distributed in patches over the body, cheeks, and ears. HEIGHT AT SHOULDER—About ten inches. WEIGHT—The size desirable is from 4 lb. to 9 lb. The smaller size is preferable if good shape.
CHAPTER XLVI
THE MALTESE DOG AND THE PUG
No doubt has been cast upon the belief that the small, white, silky Canis Melitaeus is the most ancient of all the lap dogs of the Western world. It was a favourite in the time of Phidias; it was an especial pet of the great ladies of Imperial Rome. It appears to have come originally from the Adriatic island of Melita rather than from the Mediterranean Malta, although this supposition cannot be verified. There is, however, no question that it is of European origin, and that the breed, as we know it to-day, has altered exceedingly little in type and size since it was alluded to by Aristotle more than three hundred years before the Christian era. One may gather from various references in literature, and from the evidence of art, that it was highly valued in ancient times. "When his favourite dog dies," wrote Theophrastus in illustration of the vain man, "he deposits the remains in a tomb, and erects a monument over the grave, with the inscription, 'Offspring of the stock of Malta.'"
The "offspring of the stock of Malta" were probably first imported into England during the reign of Henry VIII. It is certain that they were regarded as "meet playfellows for mincing mistresses" in the reign of Elizabeth, whose physician, Dr. Caius, alluded to them as being distinct from the Spaniel, "gentle or comforter."
Early writers aver that it was customary when Maltese puppies were born to press or twist the nasal bone with the fingers "in order that they may seem more elegant in the sight of men"—a circumstance which goes to show that our forefathers were not averse to improving artificially the points of their dogs.
The snowy whiteness and soft, silky texture of its coat must always cause the Maltese dog to be admired; but the variety has never been commonly kept in England—a fact which is, no doubt, due to the difficulty of breeding it and to the trouble in keeping the dog's long jacket clean and free from tangle. Thirty or forty years ago it was more popular as a lap dog than it has ever been since, and in the early days of dog shows many beautiful specimens were exhibited. This popularity was largely due to the efforts of Mr. R. Mandeville, of Southwark, who has been referred to as virtually the founder of the modern Maltese. His Fido and Lily were certainly the most perfect representatives of the breed during the decade between 1860 and 1870, and at the shows held at Birmingham, Islington, the Crystal Palace, and Cremorne Gardens, this beautiful brace was unapproachable.