In mating for colour, although good whites have sometimes resulted from other colours, most of the best whites have been bred from the union of two white parents. Good blacks, blues, as well as browns, on the other hand, have often been bred from a black and a brown or blue; and some of the best browns have been produced in this way. Of course it is best, when possible, to ascertain the colours and sizes of the parents of the specimens intended to be bred from, as Pomeranians very frequently "throw back" to colours and sizes very different from those of their parents.

It must strongly be urged upon those proposing to take up the breeding of this popular variety that it is better to breed from medium-sized bitches, coming from a small strain, using a sire whose stock is known to be also small, than attempt to breed from two specimens of diminutive size, as some of the best Toys the writer has ever seen - and without exaggeration he has had thousands of the variety before him at one time or the other - have been produced in the way suggested. Besides, there is considerably less risk in breeding from the medium-sized bitches than from tiny Toys, to say nothing of the fact that the litter is more likely to be reared by the mother.

In the matter of breeding, a little experience and practice are better than any amount of theory, and there are some black strains that produce excellent browns and blues, as well as blacks; and there are blues and browns capable of bringing out good blacks, besides many charming shades of their own colours. These things can only be discovered by actual experience.

In choosing a puppy, more regard should be paid to the shape of head and body, length of back, set-on, carriage, and size of ears and tail, than to mere quantity of coat; but its texture and character are important, as a soft or silky coat, particularly if lying open, without much promise of undercoat, is a bad fault, and spoils many otherwise valuable specimens. Of course, with this, as with all long-coated dogs, a great deal can be done by careful grooming, for which a small dandy-brush, or a hair-brush with long, stiffish bristles, are better than a comb. Brush the hair from the back of the head straight down the back to the end of the tail, then straight down each side, chest, legs, and feet, taking care that no tangle, or matting, can be found in any part; then lightly brush the whole of the body coat upwards, the reverse way, when the dog's natural tendency to shake itself after brushing will cause the hair to lie in a natural manner.

For any one wishing to take up Pomeranian breeding as a matter of business, blacks, browns, and blues are the best to go in for. The aim should be to get them as small as possible, while not losing the characteristics of the breed. There is evidently room for small whites, and great success will attend those who can bring out dogs of that colour of from 41b. to 5lb weight. Such would be beautiful little creatures, and much sought after, provided they were well proportioned, and pocket editions of their larger brethren.

Pomeranians are going on well, and breeders need have no fear about finding willing purchasers at paying prices for as many first-class specimens as they can produce. They must, however, be of high quality, as the great demand of recent years has brought forward a supply of second and third raters which will not command high figures or reflect much credit on their breeders.

In general build, and coat more especially, the Pomeranian should somewhat resemble the rough-coated Collie, with the difference that the head, which should have a flat skull, should be shorter, ears smaller and carried perfectly erect, and the tail curled up from the root, tightly over the side, or lying flat on the back, and of course very fully furnished with long, straight hair. He should be a compact, cobby dog, well proportioned in build, with a short back, standing on straight limbs, and possessing a profuse coat of long, perfectly straight, glossy hair all over his body, forming a mane and frill round his neck and chest of longer hair, with fore legs feathered behind, and thighs heavily coated, but hind legs not feathered below the knee joint. He should be bright and intelligent in expression, exhibit much buoyancy and activity in disposition, and should not exceed 251b. in weight, smaller specimens being much more valuable. At the larger shows Pomeranians are generally classified as follow: not exceeding 81b. and over 81b. in weight.

Colour is a matter of taste. Pomeranians may be procured pure white, black, brown, blue, sable, red, orange, and shades and combinations of most of these colours. Just now shades of brown and blue are most popular, but there are good specimens to be seen of nearly all the colours above named, and of almost all sizes, from large medium to the tiniest Toys, so that there is abundant choice.

The specimens selected for illustrating this chapter (Figs. 113 and 114) have often been before the writer, and taken many prizes. Park Swell is one of the best of the large-sized whites that have been produced within the last ten years. He is a son of Park Masher, and is much the better of the two, but both are very typical, and carry excellent coats of pure white and of good texture. They were first shown by the late Mr. John Duckworth, of Accring-ton, and sold by him to Mrs. Riley, of Brighton. They were seen a good deal in the largest shows, and must have taken a great number of prizes.

Fig. 113. - Large-sized White Pomeranian Park Swell.