. The new book of the dog; a comprehensive natural history of British dogs and their foreign relatives, with chapters on law, breeding, kennel management, and veterinary treatment. Dogs. 441 CHAPTER XLVIII. THE JAPANESE SPANIEL. BY MISS MARIE SERENA. "An honest creature, Of faithful, gentle, courteous nature ; A parlour pet unspoiled by favour, A pattern of good dog behaviour, Without a wish, without a dream. Beyond his home and friends at Cheam.'' Sidney Smith. AS their breed-name implies, these tiny j-\ black and white, long-haired lap dogs are reputed to be natives of the land of the c
. The new book of the dog; a comprehensive natural history of British dogs and their foreign relatives, with chapters on law, breeding, kennel management, and veterinary treatment. Dogs. 441 CHAPTER XLVIII. THE JAPANESE SPANIEL. BY MISS MARIE SERENA. "An honest creature, Of faithful, gentle, courteous nature ; A parlour pet unspoiled by favour, A pattern of good dog behaviour, Without a wish, without a dream. Beyond his home and friends at Cheam.'' Sidney Smith. AS their breed-name implies, these tiny j-\ black and white, long-haired lap dogs are reputed to be natives of the land of the chrysanthemum. The Japanese, who have treasured them for centuries, have the belief that they are not less ancient than the dogs of Malta. There seems to be a probability, however, that the breed may claim to be Chinese just as surely as Japan- ese. The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, an authority on exotic dogs whose opinion must always be taken with respect, is inclined to the belief that they are related to the short-nosed Spaniels of Thibet; while other experts are equally of opinion that the variety is an offshoot from the Spaniels of Pekin. It is fairly certain that they are indigenous to the Far East, whence we have derived so many of our small, snub-nosed, large-eyed, and long-haired pets. The Oriental peoples have always bred their lap dogs to smaU size, convenient for carrying in the sleeve or for holding com- fortably under the chin. The " sleeve dog " and the " chin dog" are common and appropriate appellations in the East. The Japanese Spaniel was certainly known in England half a century ago, and probably much earlier. Our seamen often brought them home as presents for their sweet- hearts. These early imported specimens were generally of the larger kind, and if they were bred from—which is doubtful— it was by crossing with the already long- established King Charles or Blenheim Spaniels. Their colours were not invari- ably white and black. Many we
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