Little or nothing seems to be known of the history of this dog, now so extensively bred throughout the United Kingdom. At all events, there is no getting at the exact source of the breed, and on that account I am led to think that some non-sporting dog, such as the poodle, has been used. Possibly successful breeders do not like to give information which may lead to a repetition of their success in other hands; but my experience does not lead me to place much reliance on this interpretation of their secresy. It is admitted that the curly-coated dog is remarkably sagacious, and more "tricky" than the smooth, and this confirms the above suspicion; but I confess that I have no proof whatever to allege in its support, and my theory must be taken for what it is worth as such. The general belief is that the water spaniel and small Newfoundland have been used in establishing the breed, and there is little doubt of the truth of the theory.

This variety of the dog has certainly not increased in numbers of late years, or improved in symmetry, and has notably gone off in the shape of head, which is now too narrow by far. The falling off numerically is probably due to the fact that the public have pronounced in favour of the Labrador, which has been largely imported by " Idstone " and others, as well as extensively bred by Dr. Bond Moore and Mr. Shirley, who have with Mr. Lort and Mr. Handley, composed the goodly company of judges in this department. From whatever cause, however, the curly-coated dogs of the present day are not exhibited in such large and good classes as they were about ten years ago, and they are notably deficient in those indications of good temper which should always be looked for in the retriever. There is some little difference in the points of the two breeds, the main ones being those connected with bareness of face and texture of coat. I insert the altered scale:

Points Of The Curly-Coated Retriever

Grand Total 100.

11. The Tail (Value 5)

11. The tail (value 5) is the first point in the list above given wherein the curly-coated dog differs from the wavy-coated retriever. In the latter, as described in the points of that variety, it may be either bushy or setter-like; but in the curly-coated retriever the hair must be short and curly, and though not quite bare as in the Irish water spaniel, it should be nearly so towards the tip. The tail also should be stiff, and only slightly bent, without any approach to a curl beyond a very gentle bend, as shown in the illustration which accompanies this chapter.

12. The Texture Of Coat And Bareness Of Face (Value 15)

12. The texture of coat and bareness of face (value 15) constitute the chief difference between the two breeds. The texture of coat should be intermediate between wool and hair, like that of the Astrakan sheep, with even a crisper curl, each of which should be quite distinct. The breed has naturally a very oily coat, which serves to protect the skin when in the water; but for show purposes artificial oil is often added to such an extent as to soil the hand considerably when stroking the dog. This fraud though not so great as dyeing or clipping, is still one which should be deprecated, and, if clearly established, ought to disqualify a dog from competition. On the whole face, up to nearly the middle of the ears, the coat should be quite short, without the slightest wave even; and here clipping is sometimes resorted to, and should be punished in the same way - it can easily be detected by the absence of bloom at the parts clipped. Plucking is useless, as it leaves the skin bare. With the above exceptions, the whole body should be clothed with short curls, and the occurrence of a patch of uncurled hair on the back, called a " saddle," is greatly objected to.

The illustrations accompanying this chapter are portraits of Mr. Bartram's Nell and Mr. Morris's True. Nell obtained the remarkable distinction of being placed above True as "the best retriever in the show" at Birmingham in 1875, by Dr. Bond Moore and Mr. Shirley, and I have therefore coupled her with that dog in the most prominent position. The following is her pedigree:

Mr. Morris's True is by Challoner's Sam, of the Duke of Portland's breed, out of Watson's bitch. He is a winner of a host of first and champion prizes, including that of the Kennel Club Show, at Islington, in 1877.