interested in the variety met together to see what could be done in connection with the matter, the outcome being that the Welsh Terrier Club was shortly afterwards founded, the Kennel Club recognised the breed, and the terrier himself began his career as a show dog.
The specimens which were first shown were, as may be imagined, not a very high-class-looking lot. Although the breed had been kept pure, no care had been taken in the culture of it, except that which was necessary to produce a sporting game terrier, able to do its work. One can readily understand, therefore, that such an entirely " fancy " point as a long foreface and narrow, clean skull had never been thought of for a moment, and it was in these particulars that the Welsh Terrier at first failed, from a show point of view. Naturally enough, good shoulders, sound hind-quarters, more than fair legs and feet, and excellent jackets were to be found in abundance, but as the body was almost invariably surmounted by a very short and wedge-shaped head and jaw, often accompanied with a pair of heavy, round ears, an undershot mouth, and a light, full eye, it will be realised that the general appearance of the dog was not prepossessing.
The Welsh Terrier to-day is very much improved beyond what he was when first put on the bench. This improvement has been brought about by careful and judicious breeding from nothing but pure bred specimens. No outside aid has been invoked-at any rate in the production of any of the best terriers-and none has been required. It is a matter for great congratulation that the breed has been kept pure despite all temptation and exhortation.
The Welsh Terrier breeds as true as steel ; you know what you are going to get. Had popular clamour had its way years ago, goodness only know what monstrosities would now be being bred.
The colour of the Welsh Terrier is, of course, against him for working with a pack of hounds, especially in water. It is only fair, however, to the breed to say that, barring this
THE WELSH TERRIER 239
colour drawback, there is no better terrier to hounds living. They are not quarrelsome, show very little jealousy one of another in working, can therefore easily be used, exercised, and kennelled together, being much better in this respect than any of the other breeds of terriers. They also, as a general rule, are dead game ; they want a bit of rousing, and are not so flashily, showily game as, say, the Fox-terrier ; but, just as with humans, when it comes to real business, when the talking game is played out and there is nothing left but the doing part of the business, then one's experience invariably is that the quiet man, the quiet terrier, is the animal wanted
On the formation of the Welsh Terrier Club a standard of perfection was drawn up and circulated with the club rules. This standard has remained unchanged up to the present day, and is as follows :
Head-The skull should be flat and rather wider between the ears than the wire-hair Fox-terrier. The jaw should be powerful, clean cut rather deeper and more punishing-giving the head a more masculine appearance-than that usually seen in a Fox-terrier. The stop not too defined, fair length from stop to end of nose, the latter being of a black colour. Ears-The ears should be V-shaped, small, not too thin, set on fairly high, carried forward, and close to the cheek. EyesThe eyes should be small, not being too deeply set in or protruding out of skull, of a dark hazel colour, expressive and indicating abundant pluck. Neck-The neck should be of moderate length and thickness, slightly arched and sloping gracefully into the shoulders. BodyThe back should be short and well ribbed up, the loin strong, good depth, and moderate width of chest. The shoulders should be long, sloping and well set hack. The hind-quarters should be strong, thighs muscular and of good length, with the hocks moderately straight, well set down and fair amount of bone. The stern should be set on moderately high, but not too gaily carried. Legs and Feet-The legs should be straight and muscular, possessing fair amount of bone with upright and powerful pasterns. The feet should be small, round and catike. Coat-The coat should be wiry, hard, very close and abundant. Colour -The colour should be black and tan or black grizzle and tan, free from black pencilling on toes. Size-The height at shoulders should be 15 inches for dogs, bitches proportionately less. Twenty pounds shall be considered a fair average weight in working condition, but this may vary a pound or so either way.
DISQUALIFYING POINTS : Nose white, cherry, or spotted to a considerable extent with either of these colours. Ears prick, tulip, or rose. Undershot jaw or pig jawed mouth. Black below hocks or white anywhere to any appreciable extent, black pencilling on toes.
