This section is from the book "The Book Of Dogs - An Intimate Study Of Mankind's Best Friend", by Ernest Harold Baynes, Louis Agassiz Fuertes . Also available from Amazon: The Book of Dogs: An Intimate Study of Mankind's Best Friend.
THE dog is a species without known beginning, and of all man's dependent animals the most variable in size, form, coat, and color. Furthermore, no breed as we now know can be considered a species, as any dog may breed with any other and produce fertile offspring, which in itself is the very definition of a species.
The great plasticity of the present-day dog is due, of course, to this fact, and no other one of man's domestic animals (excepting possibly chickens) presents the range of possibility and the readiness with which new "varieties" may be produced and stabilized. Thus, up to 1885 the well-known and justly popular Airedale was a nondescript and variable terrier of the lowly poacher - simply a clever, faithful, and dependable mongrel. Today no breed demands a more exacting set of requirements nor meets them so generally!
The illustrator's problem in preparing this series was not the production of a "standard of perfection" of the various "breeds" of dogs. It was to give, as far as possible, the proper appearance of acceptable types that have been dignified by a name, and to show in what way they are entitled to the friendship and care and companionship of man. Let it not be thought that it was an easy task, nor that had time, opportunity, early concentration, and a larger acquaintance with the field been part of the artist's equipment, the result would not have been far more satisfactory to the reader and to him.*
It these pictures it has been less his notion to establish types and a pictorial standard than to show the "man on the street" the general appearance and the special reason for being of the seventy-odd "kinds" of dogs that seemed to the editor and the artist best included in such an exposition as this. There are, of course, other recognized varieties of dogs, but those shown are the kinds best known.
*Outstanding among the many helps in the preparation of this series are the names of many men and women who entered early into the cooperative spirit of the times and gave essential aid where it was much needed. Man is a fickle animal, and as the natural consequence of this trait many loves of earlier days languish and fade as newer beauties meet his eye. Thus it was impossible to get modern material on such dogs as the Newfoundland and pug, no longer extensively bred, as their day of grace is done. For these reference was freely made to books, chief among which were Leighton's "Book of the Dog" and Watson's "Dog Book" (first 2 vol. ed.) to "Field and Fancy," and to the illustrated supplements to "Our Dogs," published in England.
To his "contributing collaborators" the artist desires gratefully to acknowledge the help of Messrs. Skinner and Lewis, of "Field and Fancy," and of Mr. A. R. Rost for information, material, and kindly criticism; Messrs. Harry W. Smith, Miss Amy Bonham, Mrs. Henrv Sampson, Jr., Mrs. C. H. Yates, Mrs. Haley Fisk, Mr. A. J. Davis, Mr. R. M. Barker. Mr A. K. Easton, Mr Jacob Rupert, Tr„ Major B. F. Throop. Mr. F. Gualdo Ford, Mr. F. Kilburn-Scott, Miss Ruth Nicholls. the Mepal Kennels, and others for the generosity with which they supplied photographs and other material bearing on the dogs in which each is particularly interested.
Indeed, should the artist specifically acknowledge each one who has contributed his share in the work, it would, he fears, occupy more space than does the finished article!
 
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