SIR LIONEL MONTAGUE JACOB KCSI

Born 24th April 1853 - Died 9th February 1934

A son of Major-General Herbert Jacob, he was born on 24th April 1853. Lionel was intended for the Army after schooling at Bath, but the attractions of the first prospectus of the Royal Indian Engineering College, Cooper's Hill, enduced his father to embark him on a civil profession. He passed out of the college with distinction in 1875, and was posted to the Punjab for work in the irrigation Branch of the Public Works Department. He saw and assisted in the early steps leading to the great schemes of development which have brought the harnessing for puposes of cultivation of all the five rivers from which the province takes its name. He had four years in the secretariat at Lahore from 1894, and he then was given charge of the Chenab Canal projects, which were destined to prove so successful and remunerative.

After more than a quarter of a century in Northern India, he was transferred to Burma as Chief Engineer. Confronted with a new and varied line of work, he brought to beat upon in unflagging zeal and quick perception. He was in charge of the Canal Bill passed through the Burma Legislature. After two years in Rangoon he went to headquarters as Secretary of the Public Works Department, combining with the post for a short time the Inspector-Generalship of Irrigation. He was due to retire under the age rules in 1908, but the Government of India placed so much value on his versatile service, that his term was extended for three years. He had been made CSI in 1905, and when he retired in 1911 he was advanced to the knighthood of the order. 

It is perhaps his expert knowledge of dogs, especially Indian dogs, for which he is remembered today. He was one of the founders of the Kennel Club of Northern India, and he drew up a ‘description and standard of points’ for the Lhasa Apso. Although it must be stressed that this was not an official breed standard, this description was published in the Kennel Gazette and Dog Owners’ Annual in 1901. He did not agree with the term Bhuteer Terrier, but felt that as Lhasa was ‘the headquarters of the breed’, Llassa Terrier was the most accurate name and preferable to any other. Clearly he was also of the opinion that the breed should be accepted as a distinct one and should be recognised by the Kennel Club (UK).  

Here in full is the 1901 Description of the "Lhassa Terrier, by Sir Lionel Jacob.   This was the first "Standard" under which Lhasa Apsos were judged.

Head. Distinctly Terrierlike. Skull narrow, falling away behind the eyes in a marked degree, not quite flat, but not domed or appleshaped. Fore face of fair length, strong in front of the eyes, the nose, large, prominent and pointed, not depressed; a square muzzle is objectionable. The stop, size for size, about that of a Skye Terrier.

Mouth quite level, but of the two a slightly overshot mouth is preferable to an undershot one. The teeth are somewhat smaller than would be expected in a Terrier of the size. In this respect, the breed seems to suffer to an extraordinary degree from cankered teeth. I have never yet seen an imported specimen with a sound mouth.

Ears. Set on low, and carried close to the cheeks, similar to the ears of a dropeared Skye.

Eyes. Neither very large and full nor very small and sunk, dark brown in colour.

Legs and Feet. The fore legs should be straight. In all shortlegged breeds there is a tendency to crookedness, but the straighter the legs the better. There should be good bone. Owing to the heavy coat the legs look, and should look, very heavy in bone, but in reality, the bone is not heavy. It should be round and of good strength right down to the toes, the less ankle the better. The hocks should be particularly well let down. Feet should be round and catlike, with good pads.

Body. There is a tendency in England to look for a level top and a short back. All the best specimens have a slight arch at the loin and the back should not be too short; it should be considerably longer than the height at the withers. The dog should be well ribbed up, with a strong loin and well developed quarters and thighs.

Stern. Should be carried well over the back after the manner of the tail of the Chow. All Thibetan dogs carry their tails in this way, and a low carriage of stern is a sign of impure blood.

Coat. Should be heavy, of good length and very dense. There should be a strong growth on the skull, falling on both sides. The legs should be well clothed right down to the toes. On the body, the hair should not reach to the ground, as in a show Yorkshire; there should be a certain amount of daylight. In general appearance the hair should convey the idea of being much harder to the eye than it is to the touch. It should look hard, straight and strong, when to the touch it is soft, but not silky. The hair should be straight with no tendency to curl.

Colour. Black, dark grizzle, slate, sandy, or an admixture of these colours with white.

Size. About 10 in. or 11 in. height at shoulder for dogs, and 9 in. or 10 in. for bitches."

This original description of the breed was sufficiently well regarded that it served as the basis for subsequent English and American standards. As one can easily see from the language employed, the 1934 English and American standards plagiarized whole sections of this 1901 version. ( I happen to think it was superior to any of the present day standards, especially in its description of the body, legs and head.)