This section is from the book "British Dogs: Their Varieties, History, Characteristics, Breeding, Management, And Exhibition", by Hugh Dalziel. Also available from Amazon: British Dogs.
The white English terrier, like many other breeds, has undergone considerable modification since public dog shows came into being. How the modern dog of that name was manufactured I do not pretend to say with certainty. Mr. James Roocroft, Mr. Peter Swindells, and a few other Lancashire fanciers could throw light on the subject, but I shall not be very far out if I say a small dash of a light coloured and rather weedy fox terrier, a strong dash of bull terrier, and a double dash of whippet are about the proportions, and the correct ingredients used.
The dog shown in the early days of exhibitions was a comparatively thick-headed and a heavier made dog than those of to-day. The Lancashire breeders appear to have taken the black and tan terrier as their model, and moulded the white terrier to his form, and it was a good line to take, and the idea has been worked out with considerable success, although in many specimens we are still unpleasantly reminded of the Italian greyhound in the wheel back and hooped tail that take off from their terrier character.
Among the old show celebrities, Mr. Walker's (of Bolton) Old Tim stood high, winning at all the principal shows, and sired some good ones, some of his own name, whilst a host of others were called after him - for, in nomenclature, dog fanciers are as imitative as parrots. Gem, by Old Tim, out of Swindell's Empress, was another great success in the ring, and his son Joe, out of Pink, was like his sire and dam, a great prize winner - indeed, when the three last named were in one kennel and at their best, they were invincible. Since they went off from their best form, Roocroft's, now Mr. Alfred Benjamin's Sylph and her son Silvio by Joe have held supreme sway, and Mr. Mather's Vril and his Snow have also at recent shows taken premier honours. These may all be said to be of the same blood, being more or less related, and close inbreeding will still be of advantage in fixing the type that it has been the desire to establish.
Of course in doing this a selection of the fittest must be made, for it is one of the facts connected therewith which should never be lost sight of in breeding, that there is a strong tendency in nature to reproduce individual characteristics as well as the generic features common to the family. I think it will also be admitted that the closer dogs can be bred without loss of vitality the better, when the desire is to preserve type; for in-and-in-breeding is the best safeguard against throwing back to any one of, it may be, the somewhat discordant elements out of which the breed was originally formed.
That the white English terrier is sufficiently established as to breed true, a litter out of Mr. Alfred Benjamin's Sylph by Silvio, by Joe out of Sylph, shows as far as one instance can do. I have had many opportunities of seeing them, and they all show the main characteristics of the breed in a decided manner.
As to points, with the exception of colour, they may be judged by those of the black and tan terrier - they should be pure white, the eye small and black, the nose black, the head well balanced, level, and gradually tapering. The ears are always cropped, which is a great pity, for some of them have naturally pretty drop ears, thin and neat. Smartness of build, a close, dense, but smooth coat, and what is known as a "terrier expression," are desiderata, and as already said, the wheel back and hooped tail, inherited from no very remote ancester, are very objectionable, and are generally accompanied by a soft "unvarmint" look.
Mr. Alfred Benjamin's Silvio: Age, about 3 years; weight, 221b.; height at shoulder, 16½in.; length from nose to set on of tail, 25in.; length of tail, 8½in.; girth of chest, 19½in.; girth of loin. 16in.; girth of head, 12in.; girth of arm lin. above elbow, 7in.; girth of leg lin. below elbow, 4½in.; girth of muzzle, 6in.; colour, white.
 
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