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Dog Articles
Past and Present: Japanese Spaniel
There are
many kinds of toy Spaniels, and in imperfect specimens it is
sometimes difficult to know just where to place them. To add to the
ease of confusion, fashion or caprice sometimes dictates new names
for old friends, and the maze of synonyms is hard for the
uninitiated to follow.
The
Japanese is largely white, with either black or red, brown, fawn, or
orange patches, clearly and as near as possible symmetrically
distributed. It is virtually essential that the head should be
marked about as shown, with the eyes, cheeks, ears, and sides of
neck dark, leaving the muzzle, stop, forehead, and crown white.
This is a
cobby little dog, standing well up on its legs (thus differing from
the Peke). The ears are moderate - in fact, small - for a Spaniel.
The nose is very short and the forehead very high and round. It
would be badly apple-headed in other breeds than toy Spaniels, where
it is a much-cherished dome. The tail is carried on the back or
twisted high to one side. In shows they are classed as above or
below seven pounds. Like all these toy Terriers, they are snobbish
to a degree and view all strangers from a disdainful angle, and are
ready with a repellent snarl or snap to meet any advance.
The
Japanese Spaniel is also of ancient Eastern origin and may have
descended from the Tibet Spaniel, which is supposed to be the
ancestor of the Pekingese. But he is a much smaller dog, weighing
from four to nine pounds or thereabouts. Like other Oriental lap
dogs, he was bred small that he might easily be carried in the
sleeve.
Source:
National Geographic 1919
Recommended Reading
Dog Training
Mastery - An Owners' Manual
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