Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/168

 148 WOMAN'S PETS This section of Every Woman's Encyct.op.^dia will prove to be of great interest to women and will contain practical and authoritative articles on : Prize Dogs Lap Dogs Dog's Points Dog's Clothes Sporting Dogs How to Exhibit Dogs Cats : Good and Bad Points Cat Fanciers Small Cage Birds Pigeons The Diseases of Pets Aviaries Parrots Children s Pets Uncommon Pets Food for Pets How to Teach Tricks Gold Fish, etc., etc. THE TOY BULL-TERRIER By the LADY EVELYN EWART JJisTORiCALLY, toy bull-tcrricrs hold their own with any breed of dogs. They are the miniature representatives of bull-terriers, doubtless so-called from their bull-fighting talents. This breed of dogs conjures up memories of the Georgian epoch in England, and bull-baiting, bear-baiting, dog-fights, rat-pits, cock-fights, and the prize-ring rise from their century-old obhdon when v^e contemplate these game little dogs. Of late years toy bull-terriers have fallen in popularity as pets, and it is chiefly in the East End of London or in the mining districts of the Midlands of England that specimens of the breed are to be found. THEIR SUITABILITY AS PETS Their plucky quali- ties appear to appeal particularly to some kind of men, and these same qualities seem to make them unpopular as house pets. This is a pity, as their Lilhputian self-assertion is most amusing. As pets they are most affectionate, excellent as watch-dogs, clever at acquiring tricks, and always cheerful and companion- able. They have good no.ses and will hunt diUgently ; but wet weather or thick under- growth will deter them, and they are too small to do serious harm to the best-stocked game preserve. Favourable circumstances may enable them to kill a young rabbit, but Lady Evelvn E wart's toy bull'terriers Photo T. Fall such an event is rare. Persons who have owned this breed generally agree that it is charac- terised by much individuality. The wonder- ful excitement which some of these alert little pet dogs will display at the sight of a rat-trap or on approaching a stack that harbours rats and mice is most remarkable. One little dog which belonged to the writer would fiy at cattle, and once got kicked by a cow for his pains. Equally he would fight any big dog, and the only chance of distracting him from his warlike purposes was for his mistress to run when a fight was impending. Fear of being lost made him follow his ow^ner and abandon his enemy. After many narrow escapes he met his fate in the jaws of a large black retriever which he had attacked in his own kennel. THE TOY BULL- TERRIER IN ART In art one fancies one sees a likeness to these dogs in Morland's " Stable Amuse- ments," and in more modern days in Mr. Briton Riviere's " Giants at Play," now to be seen in the Tate Gallery. It is rather doubt- ful whether dogs of a coarser make than toy bull-terriers were not the models in both these cases ; still, there is a certain resem- blance, and in Morland's case this is interest- ing as a link with the past. The most valuable tov bull-terriers are